Archbishop Steven Kaziimba’s 1st pastoral visit to Ankole Diocese

1st Archbishop’s Pastoral Visit to Ankole Diocese 14th – 16th August 2022

The Archbishop of the Province of Church of Uganda The Most Rev.Dr.Stephen  Kaziimba Mugalu  who arrived in Ankole Diocese for his official pastoral visit on Friday 14th August 2022. On arrival, he was welcomed at the Coca Cola round about in Mbarara City and was led to Kyamugorani (parish)Church of Uganda for a prayer stopover before visiting Kyamugorani Primary School.

At Kyamugorani Primary School, the Archbishop planted a souvenir tree and toured a mini exhibition by pupils who make jewelry from used plastics and straws as an environment conservative measure. He commended the school for their academic excellence and the determination of Bishop Sheldon Mwesigwa to have the school grow into a model school.

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On Saturday morning, the Archbishop visited Ankole Diocese Church Community Centre in Mbarara City Centre, a facility that houses Revival Radio,  Millennium SACCO 2012, and accommodation facilities.

He then visited Ankole Revival Radio, a radio station that the Diocese established in partnership with Words of Hope Ministries Uganda.  The radio station covers over 23 districts with inspiring messages for abundant living.

Shortly after that, the Archbishop visited Millennium SACCO 2012 in Mbarara City. According to Mr. Ronald Abaho the general manager, the SACCO has 7 branches with 18000 members, loan portfolio of 13.8Bn, 4.8Bn share capital, 8Bn deposits and 54 staff members.

Archbishop Kaziimba enrolled as a member of the SACCO and called upon people of goodwill to join and support it to grow and transform communities.

He then visited Ankole Diocese Golden jubilee house along Mosque Road in Kakoba Cell, Mbarara City. It has 14 commercial units and 47 residential units. According to Bishop Mwesigwa, the revenues from this project support the Diocese in it’s mission and outreach work. The Archbishop also had a guided tour around St. Paul shopping mall, a 5 storied building in Mbarara City, also a project of the Diocese with 38 shops, 8 apartments and brings 25M per month.

He lauded Mr. Fred Kafooko the chairman of the building project for the visionary leadership.

Shortly after visiting town business projects, he visited Mbarara Municipal Primary School, one of the Church of Uganda founded primary schools. Mr. Wilber Nkwasibwe said, they offer vocational studies and skills development to over 4000 children and one of the best performing in the country with the highest number of first grades. He prayed for a new Class room block that is under construction.

The Archbishop also toured  All Saints Church of Uganda  in Mbarara City, he blessed Isaac and Annah who coincidentally were wedding at that time. He also blessed Bonwel Mwongyeirwe and Fortunate Ninsiima who had just been wedded from the same Church. All saints Church, Mbarara is believed to be the biggest Anglican Church in East Africa with a seating capacity of 7200 people.

He was later given a guided tour of the Ankole Diocese retirement and pension house under construction in Kyapotani in Mbarara City. According to Ven. Canon Bobs Mwesigye the project chairman, the revenues from this project will support retired Bishops, clergy and other ministers in the Diocese. He later visited Bishop Stuart University, one of Church of Uganda’s 5 chartered Universities. He commended Prof. Maudah Kamatenesi the Vice Chancellor and Prof. Kenneth Kagame the Chairperson of University Council, staff and Students for working tirelessly to make the University excel.He toured several projects that have been established to train students to be job creators, not job seekers and making them acquire relevant life transformative skills.

Later in the evening, the Archbishop visited Alfred Ahimbisibwe’s model garden in Nkaka cell, Kashari in Mbarara District. Alfred grows vanilla, apples, mangoes, ovacados and has a fish project on 4 acres. He disclosed that he earns over 35 million  per year.

He then visited Rutoma Archdeaconry in the evening and toured their coffee and banana projects. The Diocese has 122 acres of coffee and hopes to increase it.   He thanked the Archdeacon, Ven Stephen Turyasingura for his visionary leadership at this Archdeaconry.

On Sunday 16th August 2022, the Archbishop concluded his Pastoral Visit with a holy communion service at St James Cathedral, Ruharo where a number of people accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and saviour after the Archbishop’s sermon.

Bishop Sheldon Mwesigwa commended the Archbishop for championing the drive to clear Church house debt, his passion for evangelism, visionary leadership, visiting all retired and serving Bishops of Church of Uganda during the peak of COVID-19 and his drive to support Karamoja. The Diocese contributed 6M to the drive.

The Archbishop of Church of Uganda The Most Rev Dr Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu commended Ankole Diocese under the visionary leadership of the Rt Rev Dr. Fred Sheldon and Maama Dr. Alice Mwesigwa for establishing development projects aimed at ensuring that the Diocese is self sustainable.