NEWS FROM SOUTH RWENZORI DIOCESE
All are from the mountainous regions around Kasese and will serve in these very rural parishes
The link between South Rwenzori Diocese and All Saints’ has existed since 1978 when All Saints’
supported Rob and Jen Morris working at Kagando Hospital. The Diocese, led by Bishop
Jackson Nzerebende, particularly appreciates the long standing nature of All Saints’ support
throughout the 28 years of its existence. Support has been provided individually and
collectively for a number of projects, including dentistry at Kagando Hospital.
All Saints’ currently provides financial support for four theological students at Uganda Christian
University/Bishop Barham University College and six studying to be lay readers (in effect, parish
pastors) at Kisinga Divinity College. It also provides support to Kagando hospital where
committed Christian staff provide a service to the very poor while receiving salaries
substantially below those paid in Government hospitals.
when commissioned in December 2013. At least some are expected to become school
chaplains. As South Rwenzori Diocese has 500 congregations and only 50 priests, the lay
readers perform all the pastoral duties in a parish, with a priest visiting for administration of
the sacraments.
AS-supported lay
reader students at
Kisinga Divinity College
Education
Currently the diocese has 52 people training for lay readership and 8 for ordination. In the last
two years over 30 lay readers have been commissioned each year.
Primary school teachers have been trained to teach using slates. There are now 9 Church of
Uganda secondary schools in the Diocese. Most schools have active school chaplains, who are
helping to guide pupils morally and spiritually.
The 2012 Synod resolved to start a nursery class for all 500 congregations and a programme of
building work has begun for use as Sunday schools on Sunday and weekday nursery classes.
New Sunday School/Nursery in Kasese
Those being supported on ordination training, all at Bishop Barham University (part of Uganda
Christian University) are:
Alice Nabirye on Degree training (first class degree) to be ordained on 30th Dec 2012 - to be
appointed as Assistant Education Coordinator- In charge of Christian Education.
Jennifer Terangoma and Joset Baluku on Diploma training to finish in May 2013.
Anna Bonabana on Diploma training to finish in May 2014
Jennifer, expected to become
manager of the Liturgical
Resources Centre in Kasese town
and to lead lunchtime fellowships
in town (about 200 attend,
including Muslim converts)
Bishop Jackson at St Paul’s Cathedral,
All Saints’ Supported Students
The 6 studying part-time for 2 years to become lay readers are: (from L to R below)
Reuben Basolene (newly married, secondary school teacher)
Yubu Muhindo (married + 4 children, secondary school teacher)
Fahadi Baluku (married + 4 children, secondary school teacher)
John Kule (single, primary school teacher)
Moses Baluku (single, teacher of Senior 6 and also studying)
Luka Karoli (single, secondary school teacher)
Administration and Finance
The strategy is to start income generating projects to aid the Diocese which has been heavily
dependent on Sunday collections for its finances, including salaries. A quota system for parishes
is now in place but requires review to address current financial strains.
There is also a need to introduce a computerised accounting system.
Development and Planning
Jerusalem Hall
Gospel Bible readings in All Saints’ in 2008 raised significant funds to enable building of the
Jerusalem Hall/Children’s Cathedral now used for 300+ very poor children cared for by
Compassion International, providing educational, nutritional, health and spiritual support.
The Estates Department has overseen a number of developments with potential for income
generation. These developments include the following:
 A hostel which accommodates 75 students
 A conference hall with a capacity for 200
 A guesthouse that accommodates at least 8 people – there is a proposal to supplement
this with a number of self-contained guest cottages at Kamaiba Youth centre, hopefully to
be financed by international partners who would then use the cottages.
 A seedling nursery producing coffee, fruits, eucalyptus and flowers for sale as an income
source. Trees have also been planted over a large area of church land to improve the
environment and as a source of firewood and timber.
 Sheppard House, a building with rooms for letting in Kasese town – this has been
incomplete for some years owing to lack of finance.
Health
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A new maternity ward with 26 beds has been built at St Paul’s Health Centre and now
handles around 120 births per month, about 40% of which are Caesareans.
A 20-bed medical ward in the former cathedral is now open, and new private wards (7
beds) in the former Diocesan offices are almost complete (these will provide income).
Kamaiba hostel showing
some of available land for
guest cottages
Mission and Evangelism - Ministries within this department include the following:
Ward at St Paul’s Health
Centre created from
former cathedral building

Forty-two parish teams have been formed to monitor community health issues and to
provide health education.
Mothers’ Union – including the oversight of Kasese Women’s Learning Centre where girls who
have dropped out of school (including young mothers) are taught vocational skills including
knitting, tailoring, cooking and computing. A new building ion church land requires completion
to enable more students to be accommodated.
Young women producing school
uniform badges at the Women’s
Learning Centre
Kagando Hospital – new developments


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A new neonatal ward has been constructed. This has additional facilities for the mothers,
with staff taking greater care of the babies, a new concept in Uganda.
Work is continuing on the hydro-electric dam to increase water flow to provide muchneeded additional electricity.
Psychosocial support is being provided to children living with HIV/Aids and their carers
through a monthly fellowship group aimed at providing medical, nutritional and spiritual
advice and reducing isolation in rural communities.
Radio Messiah – with 3 million listeners, covers all of Western Uganda and Eastern parts of the
Congo. Aim of informing, educating and evangelising. Radio is an important means of
communication in the rural villages.
South Rwenzori diocese does much valuable work in needy communities with very limited
resources. They value the prayer and financial support that All Saints’ provides but as well as
continuing financial needs would value professional advice in any of their areas of operation.
Richard and Elaine Browning - Ropeholders