Archdiocese of Mbarara Development Association

Mrs Schola Ndyagambaki, hands over AMDA cheque to Minister Karooro (PHOTO/R. Kabuubi).

KAMPALA – The Archdiocese of Mbarara Development Association (AMDA), a grouping of catholic faithful from Ankole have donated UGX. 6 million to the National Response Funfd to COVID-19 as the country battles the effects of the Coronavirus disruptions.

AMDA Vice Chairperson Schola Ndyagambaki flanked by other officials delivered the donation on Monday, May 4.

The donation was received by General Duties Minister Mary Karooro Okurut, who also oversees the fundraising effort and the Fund on behalf of the President.

Ms Ndyagambaki said:

“This money has been collected from AMDA members and the association is happy to join efforts by government and all stakeholders to fight this pandemic. This is our humble contribution,”.

Minister Karooro thanked the association for always supporting the governments developmental effort and noted that a united front against the Coronavirus pandemic was the only way to winning the war.

MEPA officials led by Dr. Peter Ngategize handover the UGX. 5m to Minister Karooro (PHOTO/R. Kabuubi).

On the same day, the Catholic grouping of Mbarara Ecclesiastical Province Kampala Residents Association (MEPA), which brings together all catholics from the Western Uganda dioceses of Mbarara, Kabale, Kasese, Fortportal and Hoima also donated another UGX. 5 million, making it UGX. 11 Millie from the two associations.

MEPA Chairman Dr. Peter Ngategize, in the same vein, said the association was happy to join the government and other stakeholders for a united firm response to the Coronavirus pandemic, that has disrupted business and social life.

Ms Karooro said: “We appreciate all these generous contribution that will aid the COVID-19 National Taskforce in conducting the various activities and providing medical teams countrywide with safe working conditions as they fight the pandemic.”

Mrs Ndyagambaki speaking at the handover ceremony af the Prime Minister’s office (PHOTO/R. Kabuubi).

“With your contribution and those from many others we believe that the fight against COVID-19 will be won especially because our frontline teams have been given the necessary support,” Hon. Okurut added.

“I also wish to extend our utmost gratitude to all the individuals, businesses and organizations that have made contributions during this period,” she stated, adding that, “This pandemic is one not to be taken lightly given its global effect and we therefore need to work together to achieve our desired goals.”

Officials from the Catholic Church led by the Chairman of the bishops conference Joseph Antony Zziwa handover donations to the Minister for General Duties Mary Karooro Okurut (PHOTO/Courtesy).

KAMPALA – The Catholic Church on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 donated five tonnes of maize flour and five tonnes of beans to the Covid-19 national taskforce.

The aid was handed over to the Prime Minister, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, in Kampala by the Chairman of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, Bishop Anthony Zziwa, along with the Secretary General, Msgr. John Baptist Kauta and Mr. Gervase Ndyanabo, the head of laity in Uganda.

Dr. Ruganda hailed the Catholic Church for this gesture. He remarked that has also it has gone an extra mile to distribute food to people in the different dioceses all-over the country.

In his remarks, Bishop Zziwa appealed to Ugandans against being complacent with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prime Minister, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda and the Chairman of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, Bishop Anthony Zziwa pose for the photo (PHOTO/Courtesy).

Bishop Zziwa said the community is filled with all sorts of myths and talks, with some saying COVID-19 is not a disease for the Africans while others say it’s not in Uganda which talks he said, put the lives of Ugandans at risk.

This comes as the country has now registered 97 coronavirus cases the latest being two cases from the community while six are truck drivers who were tested from 2,061 samples by the Ministry of Health.

AMDA Leaders led by the Vice Chairlady Mrs Scholar Ndyagambaki give a brief to the COVID-19 National Response Fund as they donate towards National food relief

AMDA donates UGX 6,000,000 to COVID-19 National Response Fund

Ugandan Bishops have decided to call-off this year’s Martyrs Day celebrations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Though a bitter pill for many Ugandans, the decision was widely expected

English Africa Service – Vatican City

3 June Martyrs Day has not been cancelled in many years. The almost year-long fundraising and preparations for the annual celebrations were already at an advanced stage. Dioceses in Uganda take turns to prepare and animate Martyrs Day celebrations at the Namugongo Shrine. It is a massive gathering of the faithful that usually brings together close to a million pilgrims. The Diocese of Masaka was expected to animate the Liturgical celebrations, this year.

COVID-19 pandemic hampered preparations

The decision to cancel was taken by the Bishops at the request of the Bishop of Masaka Diocese. Bishop Joseph Anthony Zziwa, the Bishop of Kiyinda Mityana and Uganda Episcopal Conference Chairperson announced the “postponement” in a letter dated 29 April, obtained by Vatican News.

Given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the world and Uganda, “Right Rev. Serverus Jjumba, the Bishop of the Diocese of Masaka, has officially informed me that his Diocese will not be in a position to organise the 2020 Namugongo (Shrine) Martyrs Day,” wrote Bishop Zziwa. He continued, “The position of Masaka Diocese should be understood in light of the fact that organising the celebrations at Namugongo requires frequent meetings involving several people.”

Masaka Diocese ready to animate celebrations at an opportune time

Later, Fr Ronald Mayanja, the Masaka Diocesan Communications Director informed Ugandan media that the Diocese of Masaka would remain ready to host the celebrations at a later date. As a result, the diocese was not dissolving the preparatory committees.

“Masaka Diocese had already raised over 300 million Ugandan Shillings (appx. 80 000 USD) in preparation for the feast which required a total of 950 million Ugandan Shillings (appx. 250 000 USD),” disclosed Fr Mayanja.

The Church of Uganda, which also celebrates the Anglican Martyrs on the same day, at a nearby shrine, was yet to make its decision public.

Who were the Martyrs of Uganda?

Martyrs Day is marked as a public holiday in Uganda. In recent years, the celebration has grown by leaps and bounds. It is now an essential fixture on the African pilgrim’s calendar.

The Uganda Martyrs were a group of 22 Catholic and 23 Anglican converts to Christianity in the historical Kingdom of Buganda. Most of the converts were young men. The new Christian converts abandoned traditional forms of worship. This in turn led Kabaka Mwanga II (the King) to fear that the new religion and presence of the missionaries were severely eroding his authority in the Kingdom. He ordered the execution of the converts between 1885 and 1887. The decision unleashed a wave of persecutions against Christians in the Kingdom.