By Mukama Phillip Kahigiriza,
Kampala
Archdiocese Of Mbarara Development Association (AMDA) is a catholic faith based association that unites all catholic believers originating from Mbarara Archdiocese but staying in Kampala and its surrounding areas such as Mukono, Wakiso and Jinja.
The association is comprised of different councils that govern different projects and and these include; The Leadership Development Council, The Media ,Press and Communication Council, The Leisure,Sports and Events Council, The Health and Sanitation Council.
The Caravan ideology incepted way back in 2013 as a way of giving back to the communities and with its seven major pillars which include medical camp and education as its pivotal and focal strategies.
The importance of this caravan is to extend medical facilities to the patients,counselling and guidance of the patients and troubled individuals, extending healthy education to people and promoting education to the communities most especially those that are less privileged.
Last year’s caravan was held in Ibanda catholic parish with the theme ” Be Vigilant, Stay Firm In Faith” and the medical camp attracted the highest number of patients with a total of 9,334 individuals that were all treated with different diseases.
The caravan was a true and a vivid success that portrayed happiness amongst both the AMĎA and Ibanda parties where the Medical and Sanitation chairperson Dr.Chricent Tumuhaise was carried off the ground as a significance of joy and delight. And in return the Ibanda parish Christian’s awarded the AMDA fraternity with a surprise of a white party as a form of appreciation for their services rendered to their people during the caravan.
This year’s caravan is scheduled to take place in September from 6th to 8th at Rushoka catholic parish in Ntungamo District.
Preparations have been under the pipeline since the inception of the year till last week when the AMDA fraternity spearhead by the chairperson Mr.Chris Gumisiriza (Emanzi Ya Ruhinda) and its chaplain Rev.Fr.Dr.Darius Magunda alongside other council committees officially launched the caravan fundraising drive.
The official launch was held at Silver Springs Kampala where Rt.Hon.Thomas Tayebwa graced and rocked the occasion as the chief guest together with his wife.
Mr.Chris Gumisiriza while addressing the attendees at the launch,he asserted that 500 millions Ugandan shillings are required to provide basic,equitable and specialised services to communities. He individually acted by contributing 15 millions Ugandan shillings.
He further promised that its during this year’s caravan that they will give mindset change talks to their parents and donate coffee seedlings and other high priority survival livelihoods of the societies.
He also accorded that during this caravan, the education council will give out new curriculum textbooks which were unreachablè in local schools but also take teachers through the traits and corners of the novelty curriculum.
Hon.Thomas Tayebwa the Ugandan Parliament Deputy speaker while addressing the gathering, appreciated AMDA for contributing to the government programmes especially in keeping a healthy population.
“When you mobilise yourselves, you become the government by aiding its work as you’re doing, “Hon.Thomas commented.
“The medical camp is important because some individuals in our villages are not aware that they are even sick. ” Hon.Thomas further asserted,pleading to stage it in order to multiply what AMDA does.
Hon.Tayebwa also made a revelation that Uganda is a state that exports malaria to her neighbours due to our conservatism.
“Uganda is third leading state with malaria next after Nigeria and DRC.
We therefore need to understand that malaria is worse than COVID 19 in terms of death numbers. The only difference is that COVID 19 killed the rich while malaria kills the poor.” said Tayebwa.
He praised AMDA for maintaining its initial cores values and tasked them to sustain it for the Archdiocese.
He however lamented that some people have had a french leave from the church due to too much financial demand during services,something he accorded that it must stop if the values of the church are to be maintained and sustained.
Rather,our Archdiocese ought to support her people through scholarships, treating the sick but that requires a hand willing program.
Hon.Tayebwa pledged a physical presence during the caravan and contributed 30 millions Ugandan shillings only. His wife the Chief Executive Officer of Wanderers Comany Limited a leading manufacturer dealing in liquid soap and sanitizers also contributed 10 millions Ugandan shillings only and pledged the materials from her factory speciality to use during the caravan worth 10 millions Ugandan shillings. In the same spirit Dr.Flavian Zeija,the principal judge also contributed 5 millions Ugandan shillings.
Mr.Chris the chairperson was excited and stated that since the caravan project began,there have been positive and ameriomental changes in the livelihood of the citizens.
“When you read our reports, you recognize life changing and motivating stories as well as positive testimonies.
Some people have been able to see,reformed broken families through our guidance and counselling services, aided orphans to acquire scholarships among others”noted Chris.
Mr.Chris noted that in all these services,they serve humanity despite and regardless of religion or s political indifferences and tasked all people of good ewill to partner with them for a common good cause.
A few days after the launch,the AMDA youth gala took place for the promotion and publicizing the caravan.
A hive of activities were carried out including tag of war,rillilies, volleyball, athletics, aerobics, football that were participated in by different AMDA youth members dressed in a sports kit branded “Rushoka Caravan”
The event was honoured by Mr.Chris Gumisiriza the AMDA chairperson, Mr.Rucukye the AMDA Secretary General, Mr.Tumusiime Collins the AMDA Benevolent Fund Exco Member and Rev.Fr.Dr.Darius Magunda, the AMDA Chaplain.
Mr.Tumusiime Collins appreciated the youth for the awareness to the caravan and highlighted key requirements and importance of joining the AMDA Benevolent Fund 2 as he urged the youth to be part of it.
Rev.Fr.Dr.Magunda while addressing the youth as the chief guest,he thanked them for being United in faith and tasked them to continue the same spirit.He ultimately concluded the event by giving a spiritual blessing and cake cutting.
