Serenity Centre marks 25 years, attracts presidential salutation
Museveni was happy to note that the centre had treated/rehabilitated thousands of young people who were now participating in the country’s economic development.
Fr. Dr. Richard Kyazze (left) and other stakeholders of Serenity Centre look on as Hon. Anifa Kawooya launches the book on addiction treatment and recovery. (Photos by Mathias Mazinga)
________________
President Yoweri Museveni has paid glowing tribute to Serenity Centre, a Catholic Church-founded alcoholism and substance use treatment facility at Kabulamuliro-Bwebajja, on Entebbe Road, in Wakiso district, which celebrated its 25th anniversary on Thursday, August 27 (2026).
In his message delivered by the state minister for health, Hon. Anifa Kawooya, during the function (at Kabulamuliro), Museveni lauded the founders, contemporary managers, staff, benefactors and affiliate partners of Serenity Centre for their dynamic involvement in the service of restoring the mental health and wellness of young people struggling with mental illness and substance use.
The archbishop of Mbarara, Lambert Bainomugisha, the state minister for health, Anifa Kawooya and Serenity Centre Executive Director Emmanuel Mubangizi cutting cake in celebration of the deaddiction facility's 25th anniversary at Kabulamuliro, Bwebajja (on Entebbe Road), in Wakiso district on Thursday, August 27, 2026.
He was happy to note that the centre had treated/rehabilitated thousands of young people who were now participating in the country’s economic development.
He nonetheless encouraged them to take their services to the country’s remote areas, where they are even more needed. He assured the stakeholders of uninterrupted government support and partnership with the private sector. He pledged sh20m towards the infrastructure development of the centre.
Earlier during the pontifical thanksgiving mass, the Metropolitan archbishop of Mbarara Archdiocese, the Most Rev. Lambert Bainomugisha called on mental health professionals, social workers and all other stakeholders to come up with effective strategies for protecting young people from alcoholism and substance use.
He argued that the consequences of addiction had serious effects on families, communities and the country, which was why it was preferable to confront the problem before it occurred.
“We must acknowledge that substance use remains a significant challenge in Uganda. Alcohol is widely available and is part of many of our social and cultural activities. We are also increasingly confronted with cannabis, misuse of prescription medicines and other psychoactive substances, particularly among our young people. The consequences of harmful substance use go far beyond the person using the substance. In our hospitals, we see the physical complications, including liver disease, cardiovascular problems, injuries and other chronic illnesses. We also see the mental health consequences, including depression, anxiety, psychosis and suicidal behaviour.”
The state minister for health, Hon. Anifa Kawooya (sixth-left,front-row) shares a photo-moment with archbishop Lambert Bainomugisha (wearing a mitre) and the members of staff of Serenity Centre.
“As a community, we should not wait until someone’s life has been severely affected before an intervention is made. Prevention should begin early, particularly among children and young people. Parents, schools, churches, health professionals and communities must be willing to have honest conversations about alcohol, drugs and addictive behaviours. We must give young people accurate information, but we must also teach them how to manage stress, disappointment, peer pressure and emotional difficulties.”
“We must create homes, schools and communities where a young person can say, “I am struggling,” and receive help before alcohol or drugs become the answer. Our faith calls us towards those who are suffering, those who have been rejected and those who may believe that they have fallen too far to return. Our response to addiction must therefore never be condemnation alone. It must combine truth with compassion, responsibility with forgiveness and treatment with restoration. Every person in recovery must know that his or her life continues to have dignity and purpose. A person is more than an addiction, or a relapse. A young person is more than the mistakes he or she has made. A difficult chapter does not have to become the entire story of a person’s life.,” Bainomugisha said.
The Prelate of Mbarara paid tribute to the founders, the affiliate doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, addiction professionals, pastoral teams and support staff of Serenity Centre for their selfless service, sacrifice and commitment to the care of Ugandans engulfed by addiction.
“Your 25th anniversary is a celebration of lives touched, families supported, relationships restored, and, men and women who have been given an opportunity to begin again. Today, therefore, we celebrate not only the existence of an institution. We celebrate recovery, hope and second chances.”
The archbishop then commended the clients/patients and alumni/beneficiaries of Serenity Centre for their courage.
Hon. Anifa Kawooya (third-left) shares a moment with some of the beneficiaries and stakeholders of Serenity Centre during the deaddiction facility's silver jubilee celebration at Kabulamuliro, Bwebajja (on Entebbe road), in Wakiso district on August 27, 2026. 
“Your journey reminds us that change is possible. For anyone who may have experienced relapse, do not allow a setback to become the end of your story. Seek help again, return to treatment and continue the journey. May we all renew our commitment to building a Uganda where people affected by substance use and addictive behaviours can seek help without shame, where families can find support, where our young people are protected through prevention and early intervention, and where treatment is compassionate, professional and accessible. May Serenity Centre continue to be a place where professional care meets compassion, where science and faith work together, and where those who arrive feeling defeated can rediscover dignity, purpose and hope.”
Archbishop Bainomugisha finally called for stakeholder collaboration to strengthen prevention/early intervention, professional addiction treatment, mental health services, family support, community outreach and long- term recovery programmes.”
“Twenty-five years ago, we, the missionaries, saw our brothers and sisters bound by alcohol and substance addiction, rejected by community, with no place to heal with dignity. We responded not with judgement, but with compassion. We put our charisms together and founded Serenity Centre - a place of welcome, healing and hope. Today, that small seed of faith has grown. From four Congregations, we have grown into a family - Government, Church, health professionals, families, our alumni and our friends and collaborators in mission. What started as a missionary project is now a national resource.”
“We thank God for 25 years of grace. We thank the Government of Uganda for walking this journey with us. We thank the Church right from the Nunciature, the Episcopal Conference, all dioceses in Uganda through their bishops and all families from all walks of life in the Great Lakes region that have continued to entrust us with their loved ones for us to support. We thank our staff and beneficiaries who teach us every day what courage is.”
“With the blessing of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, Serenity Centre was established as a Catholic-founded, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to helping individuals affected by alcohol and other substance use disorders. The centre continues to be at the forefront of assisting individuals struggling with substance use and other addictive behaviours, while also supporting their families and communities. As Founding Congregations, we pledge our continued spiritual, moral and institutional support to the centre. This mission is still ours,” Kyazze said.
The Board Chairman, Emmanuel Ngabirano, paid tribute to partner-organisations and all people of good will who have combined efforts with the centre to save young Ugandans from the debilitating effects of drugs.
The Executive Director of Serenity Centre, Emmanuel Mubangizi assured the stakeholders and the general public that the deaddiction facility would always remain a sanctuary of compassion, restoration and dignity for the most vulnerable.
“Today, we not only celebrate the past but also recommit ourselves to the future – to build a centre that is more inclusive, more responsive, and more sustainable for the next 25 years,” Mubangizi pledged before hailing the strong/healthy partnership that exists between government and the faith-based institutions.
The Angelicum musical ministers (from St. Padre Pio Kabulamuliro Catholic parish) leading the singing during the thanksgiving mass.
The function was also graced by the Chargé d'Affaires at the Apostolic Nunciature, the Rev. Msgr. Georges Kwami Kouwonou, who also congratulated Serenity Centre before declaring the Apostolic Blessing of Pope Leo XIV.
Highlights
During the function, a book on advancing treatment and recovery in addiction was officially launched. The project of constructing the proposed women’s accommodation block was also officially unveiled. The family of Serenity Centre also commemorated the Feast of St. Monica, the facility’s patron saint.
The celebration ran under the theme: Empowering and Nurturing Women to Overcome Addiction.