About Archdiocese of Mbarara Development Association

The Archdiocese of Mbarara Development Association (AMDA) is an umbrella association uniting all Catholics that hail from Mbarara Archdiocese living in Kampala and Surrounding areas such as Entebbe, Mukono, Wakiso, and Jinja. The Archdiocese of Mbarara has 66 Parishes and each one has members in AMDA. The Association currently has over 3,000 members and the number is still growing.

3000+

members

Humble beginnings.

AMDA started in the early 1990s as MDDA (Mbarara Diocese Development Association) with just a few members who shared the vision of seeing a united Catholic group sharing a common home background. MDDA (now AMDA) started with the objective of uniting members hailing from the same region to use this as an opportunity to Worship together and also keep in touch with the home parishes.

AMDA Pillars

AMDA stands on 7 Pillars as its Core Values and these are;

UNITY

SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT

ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT

Leadership Development

Health and Wellness

Environmental Sustainability

Members believe that the above Pillars are a necessity for the total transformation of a Person.

Aims and Objectives

The aims and objectives for which the Association is being formed are;

To promote and foster unity, camaraderie, goodwill and cooperation among the members of the Association and all Catholics in the Archdiocese of Mbarara and beyond.

Promote Spiritual growth amongst its members and all Catholics in
the Archdiocese of Mbarara through regular activities tailormade for the purpose.

To foster and promote economic empowerment and self sustainability of its members, mother church and all Catholics in the Archdiocese of Mbarara and beyond.

To promote and nurture effective leadership skills and to act as a
launchpad for good governance practices in the Archdiocese.

To carry out research in areas of interest to the Catholic church and influence policy change in all socio-economic matters affecting its members. and all Catholics in the Archdiocese of Mbarara and beyond

To undertake/ carry out acts of charity in the areas of health, education, economic empowerment, environmental protection and any such areas that the members of the Association may from time to time determine.

To solicit assistance, financing and donations from amongst its
members or other sources for key strategic projects of the Archdiocese of Mbarara.

To lobby/engage government and other stakeholders for support in form of grants and donations for the purposes of achieving the aims and objectives of the Association for the benefit of its members and all Catholics in the Archdiocese of Mbarara and beyond.

To do all such other lawful things as are incidental or conducive to
the attainment of the above objects or any of them.

Promote quality Education Standards in the Archdiocese of Mbarara and beyond.

Promote Health and Wellness among its members and in the
Archdiocese of Mbarara and beyond as well as access to specialist medical care.

Promote environmental sustainability through conservation efforts,
sustainable practices, and awareness campaigns.

Foster the spirit of ecumenism among its members and promote
initiatives for its realization.

Organs of the Association

1. Board of Trustees

2. General Assembly

3. Executive Committee

4. Parish Coordinators

5. AMDA Families

6. Search Committee

7. Standing Committees/Councils

8. Adhoc Committees

How AMDA has stayed Together

Monthly Holy Mass:

The Saying goes; “A Family that prays together, stays together” and this is the key factor that has kept AMDA together and growing. AMDA Members congregate for Holy Mass, once a month (the Last Sunday of every Month, except December). Mass is said in the ‘Home Language’ which is Runyakitara and these brings members even closer as brothers and sisters.

Parish Coordinators:

Each of the AMDA Parishes is represented by a Coordinator and this way, it has become a lot easier to have more members come on Board. These Coordinators play a very pivotal role in mobilizing members from their home Parishes and bring them into AMDA. They also act as the major medium to pass on any communications and updates from AMDA to their Parishioners.

AMDA Whatsapp Group:

This is another uniting factor that has kept AMDA together. The first AMDA Whatasapp Group was formed on 01/03/2014, thanks to Mr. Emmanuel Mbarebaki, the then AMDA Chief of Protocol, for thinking about this. At that time he probably never imagined it would, in 2 years become what it is today!! Currently there are 6 AMDA Family Station Whatsapp groups and over 20 AMDA-Related WhasappGroups. Whatsapp has become an amazing platform that ensures AMDA Members stay in touch almost all the time, sharing news, opinions and thoughts, light moments and even shouldering each other in dark moments.

AMDA Current Major Projects

AMDA is currently focusing on 3 main Projects, namely; The Rubaga Construction Project,the AMDA SACCO and the AMDA Bereavement Fund. AMDA also holds an annual Caravan to one of the Parishes in Mbarara Archidiocese.

The Rubaga Construction Project:

AMDA is championing the Construction of a Multipurpose building in Rubaga. It obtained an agreement of undertaking from the Mother Archdiocese of Mbarara to put up a multipurpose Hall on the land owned by the Archdiocese. In addition to a Multipurpose Hall, there will be offices and a priests’s house. The project is expected to cost close to UGX 6Billion. Once completed, the project will be a source of Income to be used in running AMDA Activities and taking care of the 7 Pillars. Currently Giles German Aijukwe a seasoned leader heads the Construction Committee.
The First Construction Committee for this Project was headed by Eng. Dr. Silver Mugisha, the Managing Director of National Water & Sewerage Corporation. AMDA was blessed to have Dr. Silver, an immensely experienced engineer and dedicated catholic to head this project.

Parish Coordinators:

The AMDA SACCO:

This was started with the objective inculcating in the members a spirit of Saving and Investment which are cornerstones to Economic Empowerment. Since its inception in May 2012, The SACCO has grown to have a total Capital base of more than UGX 1,930,000,000/= There are amazing testimonies of members who have been helped to grow economically by the AMDA SACCO through extending affordable Credit Facilities to them. The AMDA SACCO is currently headed by Mr. Stephen Magara with diverse experience in banking.It was formely headed by Mr. Venny Birutsya, an accomplished Accountant by profession.

AMDA Annual Caravan

What started as a Courtesy Call by a few AMDA Members when they visited Rugazi Parish in 2013, has grown into now a very popular and exciting event – the AMDA Annual Pastoral Visit. On an Annual Basis now, a significant representation of AMDA members visit selected parishes that are in close proximity with each other. Since the commencement of these Annual Visits (Caravan), over 10 Parishes in the Archdiocese of Mbarara have been visited, the last one being Rushanje Parish that was visited in September 2018. During the visits, AMDA chooses a flagship event that it can carry out to benefit the parishioners being visited. For the 2018 Caravan, it was a Medical Camp and this saw an estimated 3,500 people get free treatment in various illnesses, thanks to the AMDA Health and Wellness Council for spearheading this.
Also during the visits, AMDA members share experiences, give inspirational talks to the parishioners being visited and interact with them freely. This is aimed at staying in touch with the Home Parishes and offer them a shoulder to lean on.

AMDA Bereavement Fund

A Look into the Future

AMDA is headed for a Bright Future, where Members shall be living satisfying and spiritually nourished lives, with God Almighty at the Centre Stage. The operationalization of the AMDA Pillars that look at the holistic welfare of an individual shall no doubt be a grand milestone in achieving this.