Wambale Catholic Charity Mission in Uganda, under Fr Francis Mayinja’s direction, provides schools, medical clinics, clean water, and sanitation facilities to the underprivileged. This monumental effort is made possible through the generous donations of individuals like you.
Uganda, landlocked in East Africa at the equator, is about twice the size of Pennsylvania. The Congo is on its western border, South Sudan is to the North, Kenya is on its eastern border and on the south it is bordered by Lake Victoria, Tanzania, and Rwanda.
The equator slices through the southern third of Uganda, just south of Kampala and near Fr Francis’ parishes. Kampala, the capital, is located in a hilly area at the Northern edge of Lake Victoria.
Even though nature presents Uganda as a wild and enchanting country with abundant wildlife, the social, political, and economic profile of Uganda is quite dismal.
For nearly a decade, South Sudan has suffered a brutal civil war conflict driving over a million Sudanese refugees south into Uganda. The vast majority are women and children fleeing from the horrific oppression of ethnic cleansing. Traveling alone for days through the bush to avoid indiscriminate killings by the marauding armed groups on the roads, they arrive in Uganda weak and malnourished. Their plight is exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ebola outbreak, and the looming drought and food insecurity inherent in Uganda.
The United Nations and relief agencies reported catastrophic acute hunger and an overwhelming war-wounded population migrating into Uganda. The 20+ year-long battle in Sudan has wreaked staggering havoc throughout the region. Nearly 10,000 children have been abducted by the rebel groups, Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) guerilla groups. The boys are turned into soldiers and the girls into sex slaves.
Up to 1.5 million people in northern Uganda have been displaced because of the fighting and the fear that their children will be abducted. The infant mortality rate is @60/1,000 and the life expectancy is @54 years old. Uganda remains one of Africa’s poorest countries.
The political landscape of Uganda is riddled with corruption as the recent presidential election campaign is tagged as the most fraudulent to date. It had been seen by many in Africa as emblematic of a struggle between longtime ruling elites and a younger generation mobilizing against them, unfortunately unsuccessfully.
The Wambale Catholic Mission in Uganda is a safe space for these children and families. Wambale is funded, engineered, and maintained by dedicated and caring people. The Catholic mission efforts aim to provide the village children with an education and the village families with a healthy environment. Teaching the young boys and girls a trade is the first step in breaking the cycle of the SPLA’s influence in their lives. Therefore, clean water collection, sustainable farming, and irrigation systems maintenance responsibilities are all important lessons for young men and boys to learn. And teaching the girls a trade like sewing and crafting becomes a wholesome income source breaking the oppressive cycle of the LRA.
So building schools, medical clinics, engineering clean water collection systems, and sanitation facilities directly affect the children and families of the region. This is the Wambale Catholic Mission: ministering to physical needs, teaching Catholic values, administering the Sacraments, and tending to their spiritual well-being. These goals and values are apparent in all the actions of the mission.
According to Fr. Francis, his village and sub-parishes often experience drought conditions leaving everything extremely dry and dusty which makes clean water a very high commodity. In contrast, the monsoon season brings a deluge of treacherous floodwaters. Since most of the villagers grow their own gardens for personal use, the ‘drought-flood’ condition weakens the crops substantially and leaves the villagers scrambling for food. When relief from the drought finally arrives, it is often in the form of a high wind monsoon rainstorm. Weak crops are then flooded and wash away. Homes are destroyed by the high winds and sudden flooding.
In the village of Wambale, north of Kampala, where Fr. Francis grew up as a young man, construction on the staff housing has been completed and is occupied by four teachers who work at the recently built school. This staff housing unit was built for several reasons. The first was to compensate the teachers with a place to live close to their work. Secondly, it created a staff presence available at all times for tutoring and special studies classes. And finally, with staff living right there on campus, their security dimension was heightened significantly.
In the Nakauka village, at the sub-parish of Nasaggu, Church improvement work has been completed. New concrete floors, altar steps, landing, and the altar itself have been completed. Plastering the walls and installing windows and doors have improved the exterior architecture of this very interesting and uniquely charming church. Clinics, schools, and orphanages are outstanding results of your generosity to Fr. Francis and the Ugandan Catholic Mission effort of Wambale.
And now, assigned to Bulo parish, Fr. Francis is continuing the Catholic Mission effort, building schools, clinics, water and sanitation systems. Check out the most current projects on our blog.
Please donate to the Wambale Catholic Mission effort! Keep Fr. Francis in your prayers. He is continually gaining new souls for the Catholic Church in spite of the growing numbers of Muslims populating the area which is financially backed by the Saudi Arabian Government.
In 12/2021, Fr Francis celebrated his 40th Ordination Anniversary. And the formal 40th Anniversary Celebration included the entire village and a special visit from His Excellency Archbishop Augustine Kasujja and many other priests, deacons, and seminarians on Saturday, September 24th, 2022.
- Through the Lord’s hands may we give to those in Uganda.
- From our hands to Father Francis Mayinja’s hands giving education, healthcare and welfare to Uganda.
- The importance of helping others has inspired Father Francis since 2008.
- We trust the Lord to guide our ways in giving, sharing and loving through the gifts he has given.
- Supporting education, health, and welfare associated with the work of Father Francis.
- May the Lord guide our hands in every way, through our thoughts and actions, loving the people of Uganda.
- Giving love to the people in Uganda through the works of Father Francis.
- Love those who need loving, give to those who need to receive, through the Lord and the hands of Father Francis.
