Archbishop Lwanga opens health centre in Mpigi

By Juliet Lukwago             

Residents of Kitekyusa, Bukemba, Kitigi, and other areas along Masaka road in Mpigi district are to benefit from a new community health centre set up by two Americans, Bob Maher and Dave Kimbell.

The centre was officially opened by the Archbishop of  Kampala Archdiocese, Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga on Thursday, and named it "St Francis Health centre".

The new centre will ensure easy and improved access to health care services in the community of Kitakyusa and to the growing population in the area by attending to a variety of ailments in existence.

Maher and Kimbell were given local names by the residents as Katongole and Ssemanda respectively.

These two philanthropist Christians from St Peter and St Paul Parish in Pallmyoa in United States constructed the health centre at a cost of US$ 37000 (about sh92m) for the wellbeing of the community.

According to Maher, the money was collected from individuals and Christians in the US to help the area locals because when they last visited in January last year they realized that health care was one of the pressing concerns.

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This tree was planted to stand as a memory of the opening of the health centre. PHOTO/Juliet Lukwago

Maher said, "The community health Centre’s mission will be to provide appropriate care to residents in a timely manner.”

He added that the services have been tailored to benefit residents’ diverse population and needs, also noting that the University of Virginia had donated US$ 5000, to purchase 30 beds, gloves and other equipment.

Residents were awestruck by the new facility. They exclaimed how it was evident of their hope for a brighter tomorrow and their love for God.

Special thanks went to the ‘good Samaritans’ especially former area assistant Parish Priest,  Fr.Gerald Musubiire now studying in the US for soliciting the funding for the health centre for the  benefit of their community, and neighbouring communities as well.

According to Parish Priest, Fr. Remigious Ssemujju, the construction of the health centre started in July 2013. The health centre now stands on the Church land, and  includes four consultation rooms.

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The centre was officially opened by the Archbishop of  Kampala Archdiocese, Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga

At the same function Archbishop Lwanga continued with the Uganda Martyrs campaign dubbed “Kikungo” which is meant to traverse all parishes in Kampala Archdiocese and climax on October 18 when the Catholic Church will mark the Golden Jubilee of the Uganda Martyrs.

The main issue of this campaign is to explain to the congregation about who the Uganda Martyrs were stating that people abroad know more about the Martyrs than Ugandan nationals.

He said Pope Francis sent greetings to Ugandans after they watched a film about the Uganda Martyrs during his visit to Rome.

 “Lets us love our Uganda Martyrs because they raise our profile. When you tell someone that you are from Uganda, they immediately think about the Uganda Martyrs, and some might ask questions about these saints. So let’s be proud of our Martyrs,” Lwanga said.

This is the third parish to be visited by the Uganda Martyrs team.