Ankole Diocese, India experts sign pact to produce advanced herbal medicine

________________

MBARARA

Ankole diocese is partnering with health experts in India to start manufacturing advanced herbal medicine at Ruharo Mission Hospital in Mbarara City.

The move was disclosed by the Bishop of Ankole diocese, Rt Rev. Assoc. Prof. Fred Sheldon Mwesigwa, who recently led a team of scientists from the diocese for a benchmarking visit in India to get ideas on herb medicine production. The team visited different areas including hospitals treating patients using mainly herbal medicine.

In the partnership, Bishop Mwesigwa also said they will have an exchange programme where students and lecturers from Ruharo Mission Hospital and Bishop Stuart University go to India and train in herbal medicine and these will after training, support Ruharo Mission Hospital in the manufacturing of the herbal medicine once the factory is established.

Pupils of Mbarara Junior School lining up waiting for Bishop of Ankole diocese, Rt Rev Assoc. Prof. Fred Sheldon Mwesigwa to commission their sh270m building dormitory at Mbarara Junior School in Mbarara City on Tuesday. The dormitory was constructed with funds raised by parents. (Credit: Abdulkarim Ssengendo)

Bishop of Ankole diocese, Rt Rev. Assoc. Prof. Fred Sheldon Mwesigwa, commissioning and blessing the sh270m building dormitory for Mbarara Junior School in Mbarara City on Tuesday. Looking on is Nathan Mugume, the headteacher of Mbarara Junior. (Credit: Abdulkarim Ssengendo)

Mwesigwa made the revelation on Tuesday while officiating at the commissioning of a sh270m dormitory for Mbarara Junior School in Mbarara City.

Bishop Mwesigwa informed guests that teams at Ruharo Mission Hospital are manufacturing drugs to treat different eye ailments. 

He said, in India, they witnessed success stories on the effectiveness of herbal medicine which he said should be adopted in Uganda.

Mwesigwa challenged researchers to invest much in researching how herbs can be used to address disease burden in Uganda.  

“When Indira Gandhi the founder of India was asked the most important things India should concentrate on, he mentioned education, education and education. But education in India doesn’t mean English; some are educated in their own language but are very highly qualified in hospitals, they have hospitals where they use local herbs but are manufactured into advanced tablets,” Mwesigwa added.

Mbarara Junior School project

According to Nathan Mugume, headteacher Mbarara Junior School, the commissioned building cost sh270m and it was funded by parents, the complex accommodates 290 students.

Mugume reported that they have produced 15 buildings in the last 15 years. 

“Every year I have been coming here to inaugurate a building, it is amazing, the leadership of the headteacher has been faithful with funds, he has a very supportive school management committee, PTA and parents who are willing to support the education of their children,“ Bishop Mwesigwa stated.

Bishop re-emphasized his call to parents to support their schools with some contributions. In communities; he appealed to schools and those who have money to support needy children in their communities.

Agasha Muhwezi-Ankole diocese education secretary challenged schools that are performing well to take the initiative to support those that are performing poorly by exchanging ideas on how they can do better.

Jane Barekye Murinzi, Town Clerk Mbarara City, expressed the City’s commitment to addressing issues affecting the education sector in the area and to developing schools.