Bwanda Sisters take vows, celebrate jubilees in consecrated life

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The professions day of the Catholic religious institute of the Daughters of Mary, locally known as the Bannabiikira Sisters, was celebrated at the institute’s Mother House in Bwanda, Kalungu district, on January 8, 2026.

The ceremony was presided over by the Bishop of Masaka Diocese, the Rt Rev. Serverus Jjumba, alongside the institute’s mother general, Sr Noeline Namusoke, and her vicaress, Sr Mary Claire Nakubulwa.

Bishop Serverus Jjumba (wearing a skull-cap) prays a blessing on the 19 Sisters of the Catholic Religious Institute of the Daughters of Mary who took their perpetual vows during their function at Bwanda Convent, in Kalungu district on Thursday, January 8, 2026.

The 19 Sisters of the Catholic Religious Institute of the Daughters of Mary who took their perpetual vows prostrate as the congregation recites the litany of the saints during their function at Bwanda Convent, in Kalungu district on Thursday, January 8, 2026. Prostrating is a sign of humility, obedience and total surrender of self to God.

During the celebrations, the congregation received 19 new perpetual members, who were formally admitted as permanent members of the institute after renewing their religious vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, and committing themselves to the rules and charism of the congregation for the rest of their lives.

Bishop Jjumba commended the newly perpetually professed sisters for their commitment to serving God through the practice of the three evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience.

At the same function, 11 sisters marked their silver jubilee, celebrating 25 years in religious life. Eight sisters and nine sisters celebrated their golden jubilee of 50 years and diamond jubilee of 60 years in religious life, respectively.

Seven young nuns also took their first vows.

The mother general of the Daughters of Mary, Rev. Sr Noeline Namusoke, paid tribute to parents for passing on the Catholic faith to their children and urged them to remain steadfast in fulfilling their God-given responsibility.

The event was also attended by the Bishop of Hoima Diocese, the Rt Rev. Vincent Kirabo, who praised the Bannabiikira Sisters for the significant role they continue to play in the Catholic Church’s evangelisation mission.

The Daughters of Mary, commonly known as the Bannabiikira Sisters, is the oldest indigenous Catholic religious institute of women in Uganda and Sub-Saharan Africa.

The congregation was founded in 1910 by Archbishop Henrique Streicher of the Missionaries of Africa, formerly known as the White Fathers. The sisters are engaged in a wide range of ministries, including catechesis, education, special needs education, social work and administration, social development and healthcare.

A spectacle of Catholic priests during the progression of the Pontifical mass for the professions celebration of the Bannabiikira/Bwanda Sisters during the function at Bwanda Convent , in Kalungu District on Thursday, January 8, 2026.

An elderly Christian woman takes on a professional cultural dancer.

The newly perpetually professed Bannabiikira Sisters are Sr Proscovia Nassaka from Masaka Diocese, Sr Teopista Namagembe from Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese, Sr Christine Barongo from Kenya, Sr Carolyne Nakangu from Kampala Archdiocese, Sr Mary Justine Nabasagala from Masaka, Sr Teddy Namata from Masaka, Sr Agnes Namatovu from Masaka, Sr Maria Kizza Namagambe from Kampala Archdiocese, Sr Harriet Bakosera from Tororo Archdiocese, Sr Rose Nabatanzi from Masaka Diocese, Sr Josephine Najjuma from Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese, Sr Maxensia Nabasumba from Mbiriizi Parish, Sr Josephine Kamukisa from Kampala Archdiocese, Sr Teddy Namugerwa from Masaka Diocese, Sr Annet Kemigisha from Fort Portal Diocese, Sr Anna Achinga from Jinja Diocese, Sr Elizabeth Namukasa from Masaka Diocese, Sr Josephine Kisakye from Jinja Diocese and Sr Estella Nakakande from Masaka Diocese.

The silver jubilarians are Sr Victoria Babirye Nambalirwa from Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese, Sr Alice Maris Aguma from Hoima Diocese, Sr Florence Nassaku Ndikirya from Masaka Diocese, Sr Mary Beatrice Nantongo Abwooli from Hoima Diocese, Sr Rose of Lima Ruhangariyo from Kabale Diocese, Sr Angella Nannyonjo from Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese, Sr Rosemary Bright Katagira Abwooli from Masaka Diocese, Sr Paskazia Nawangi from Masaka Diocese, Sr Stella Nabuggwawo from Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese, Sr Agnes Gesare from Kenya and Mary Sylvia Nakasaabo from Kasana-Luweero Diocese.

The golden jubilarians are Sr Constancia Mary Laurencia Nabyanzi from Masaka Diocese, Sr Thomas Aquinas Anna Maria Immaculate Namatovu from Masaka Diocese, Sr Mary Victoria Nambaziira from Masaka Diocese, Sr Maria Constantino Immaculate Nalubega from Masaka Diocese, Sr Mary Cabrine Nakirijja from Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese, Sr Theresa Dolorosa from Hoima Diocese, Sr Anne Gertrude Namata Lukowe from Masaka Diocese and Sr Generosa Bukirwa from Kampala Archdiocese.

The Bannabiikira/Bwanda Sisters who took their perpetual vows sharing a photo moment with their parents/relatives and the Catholic prelates after mass.

The diamond jubilarians are Sr Dominica of the Rosary from Kabale Diocese, Sr Pio Sylvia from Kampala Archdiocese, Sr Maria Venansio from Hoima Diocese, Sr Margaret Nelly Namirembe from Masaka Diocese, Sr Radigonda Margaret Zabona from Masaka Diocese, Sr Aloysius Gonzaga Teopista Nankinga from Kampala Archdiocese, Sr Restituta Nabiryo from Masaka Diocese and Sr Paul of the Cross Christine Erabula Namuddu from Hoima Diocese.