A total of 1.49 billion shillings was on Sunday, March 20, 2025 collected at the fundraising launch for the renovation of St. Mary’s Mutolere church in Kisoro district, a function held at St. Paul’s Secondary School Mutolere. The fundraising was preceded by sacrifice of Mass presided over by Rt. Rev. Callist Rubaramira, Bishop of Kabale Diocese who thanked all people for their generosity and showing love to their Church. He called on the people to work towards unity.
While preaching during Mass, Rev. Fr. Joseph Sebatwale, parish priest of Mutolere Parish and Dean for Mutolere Deanery hailed Bafumbira for their Spirit of generosity and hard work. He said that “we come together to renew or commitment to the Lord and also evaluate ourselves in the faith which we Bafumbira received almost 100 years ago.” He said that as Mutolere Deanery prepares to celebrate 100 years since the seeds of the Catholic faith were planted by catechist Yohaana Kitagana and the White Fathers in 1929, people need to renew their commitment to the Lord especially in this Jubilee Year, ask the Lord for forgiveness where they have fallen short of his glory and come back to him as the prodigal son returned to his father’s house (Luke 15:11-32).
Fr. Sebatwale noted that God calls all the people to share his love in the Blessed Eucharist but with proper disposition. The Holy Eucharist is a banquet prepared by Christ as the prodigal son was welcomed with a banquet prepared by his father.
Our banquet as Mutolere Parish and Deanery will be climaxed in 2029 at the thanksgiving to God when we are celebrating 100 years of faith in Bufumbira. We shall all partake of the banquet.”
Dr. George Kwizera, the Chairperson Mutolere Parish Council thanked all the people of God for showing their generous by contributing towards the noble cause of renovating the Church. Mutolere parish was established in 1929 by White Fathers (Missionaries of Africa) having been prepared by catechist Yohaana Kitagana and is gearing up for its centenary celebrations in 2029. It is the seat of Mutolere Deanery which covers 8 parishes of Kisoro district (Mutolere, Gisoro, Sooko, Kinanira, Nyagisozi, Gatete, Rubuguri and Muhanga).
Dr. Kwizera noted that 2 billion shillings was needed to renovate Mutolere church and construction new presbytery with parish and deanery offices. He said that many activities will take place prior to the celebration of 100 years of the existence of Mutolere Parish and thanked Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa for gracing the fundraising launch as the chief guest. He also thanked Rtd. Gen. Kale Kaihura and Dr. Pius Bigirimana for the mobilization and enormous contributions made.
The Honorary Consul of Vietnam to Uganda, King Ceasar Mulenga said it was a blessing to witness the celebration of 100 years of Catholic faith in Bufumbira. He said people should thank God for the gift of faith, and remember to thank the priests, catechists and all who toiled to sow seeds of faith that this generation is reaping. Mulenga said, “this day marks the journey of celebration of 100 years in Bufumbira, but we have to celebrate it in the house of the Lord which is nice looking” hence he is called to people to support works of renovation of Mutolere Parish Church, the seat of Catholic faith in Bufumbira. Quoting Psalm 103:1-2, Mulenga urged people to always bless the Lord and forget not the good he has done for them. He contributed 100 million shillings towards the cause and pledged to continue supporting the works till the end.
Speaking as the chairperson of the organizing committee for the fundraising, Rtd. Gen. Kale Kaihura thanked Mutolere Deanery leadership for entrusting him with the responsibility. He said the day was not only for launching of the fundraising drive, but also commencement of celebrations of 100 years which will be culminated in 2029. He said since the planting of Catholic faith in Bufumbira, life has not remained the same, a reason people should express gratitude to God. Seven (7) other parishes have been born by Mutolere (making a total of 8 parishes in Kisoro district) and these have brought people closer to God. Schools have been built to fight ignorance, hospitals have been built to fight disease, financial institutions have been established to hell people fight poverty among others. Gen. Kaihura deliver a contribution of 500m from President Museveni and his own 35m towards the renovation of Mutolere church.
While speaking as chief guest, the Deputy Speaker of Uganda Parliament, Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa appreciated the contribution of the Catholic Church towards uplifting people’s standards. He thanked Gen Kale Kaihura who is retired from the party for ‘re-tyring’ literally meaning “putting on new tyres” to serve his community so that the young generation can learn from him. He reminded the people of Kisoro to remain united and that politics should not divide people who have the same ethnicity.
Tayebwa promised to lobby for the tarmacking of Nyakabande-Mutolere road and that a special consideration would be made by the government to support and facelift Bishop Barnabas Memorial Secondary School in Gatete Parish, a school named after Bishop Barnabas Rugwizangoga Halem’Imana, the first residential Bishop of Kabale Diocese from 1969-1994. He contributed 100m to the renovation of Mutolere church and led the actioning of the portrait of president Museveni which raised 150m shillings.