Nzimba Kleziya Yange Yields Remarkable Transformation at Our Lady Of Fatima Mubende Catholic Parish in Kiyinda Mityana
By Community media Team
Fifteen (15) years ago, Our Lady of Fatima Mubende Catholic Parish under the stewardship of Rev. Fr. Dr. Emmanuel Mwerekande championed a campaign dubbed “Nzimba Keleziya Yange” aiming at infrastructural development of the parish to which congregants contributed massively towards the transformation of the parish. The campaign has seen local communities participating into parish activities in both spiritual and monetary terms filling the gap that befall the parish duet to decline on foreign aid.
“Nzimba Keleziya Yange” has been a community engagement drive where congregants through their respective sub parishes gave in resources, to see Our Lady of Fatima parish transform from the ancient look to a magnificent parish which a church worth Ug 2 Billion and a modern priests’ presbytery valued at about Ug 2.35 Billion shillings.
Established in 1925, Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Parish Mubende has grown from a humble mission of evangelism into a vibrant educational and social economic developmental hub, molding ‘a whole person’ in the community and from around the country.
As the parish celebrates a century of faith, unity, and resilience, it is also reflecting on its remarkable achievements in infrastructure, education, agriculture, and socio-economic empowerment which is centered on local community participative approach.
INFRASTRUCTURE MILESTONES: A NEW ERA OF GROWTH
One of the most visible symbols of the parish’s progress is the construction of a magnificent new church building, an architectural gem that reflects both spiritual and material growth.
Adjacent to it is a newly constructed two-story priest’s residence house, offering modern and comfortable accommodation for clergy and visiting pastoral teams.
These developments not only fulfill practical needs but also symbolize the unity, faith, and determination of the parishioners. They are the result of years of fundraising, sacrifice, and a shared vision for the future a biggest achievement from Nzimba Kleziya Yange.
Under the expert guidance of Eng. Ssebayiga John, Projects Engineer Kiyinda Mityana Diocese, the church has embarked on an ambitious series of construction and development initiatives that not only enhance its spiritual mission but also uplift the lives of parishioners and the wider community.
Majestic Parish Church Construction
One of the crowning achievements of the church is the magnificent parish church, constructed at a cost of approximately 2b.35 million Uganda shillings.
Notably, the central government contributed 100 million shillings towards this massive undertaking. Construction began in July 2013 and was brought to completion by 2016 with remarkable dedication.
The church is a masterpiece of architectural design, featuring a raised foundation comparable to a two-story building, and soaring to a height of 113 meters with a length of 50 meters. It accommodates up to 2,250 people in full capacity, making it a vibrant hub for worshippers. The raised ceiling adorned with unique purses furniture adds to the stunning interior, creating an environment that inspires reverence and awe. Remarkably, funding for this project was sourced primarily from the parishioners, whose unwavering support made the dream a reality.
Two-Story Fathers’ House at Ssenkulu Parish
As the common saying goes, that ‘Like a father like a son…’ the newly created St Joseph’s Ssenkulu Catholic Parish is seen as a product of Nzimba Kleziya Yange. The new parish that was curved out of Mubende is also rapidly growing with alot both spiritual, social material and economic developments.
Among them to note is the significant addition is the two-story fathers’ house Valued at 1.4 billion Uganda shillings.
Reflecting both functional and aesthetic ambitions, the structure houses offices, fathers’ living quarters, and a garage, projecting an image of dignity admired by the community. Construction commenced in 2018 and reached completion in 2021.
Income-Generating Permanent Store
Recognizing the importance of sustainable income, the church developed a permanent store valued at 107 million shillings. This facility is rented out to different denominations, generating an annual income of about 18 million shillings.
The store primarily serves as a storage center for agricultural produce such as maize and coffee before sale, contributing to the church’s financial independence.
Latest Fathers’ Building Project
This year witnessed the completion of another impressive two-story fathers’ building. Estimated to cost around 2b.35 million shillings, it provides vital office space, 17 rooms for priests, and 4 guest rooms. This facility enhances the church’s capacity to accommodate clergy and guests, fostering a supportive atmosphere for its pastoral mission.
EDUCATION
Some of the long-time parishioners in this parish and also members of the community recall how the parish has been touching the lives of the people in all spheres of life, regardless of their religions.
Recalling the past, Mr. Sserugo-Lugo Joseph, a long-time parishioner and resident of Katawa B, West Division, Mubende Municipality, notes that education has remained one of the strongest pillars of the parish’s legacy.
“As early as 1918, the parish founded a modest church-based school, laying the groundwork for a broader educational mission which later developed into bigger education institutions,” Sserugo narrates.
One of the earliest milestones was the construction of St. Mary’s Primary School which is near the Parish Church. Originally built using unbaked bricks by the parents and Christians, the school now remains one of the best performing Church founded but government aided school in the region.
Currently, a number of prominent figures in the country are proud that they were brought up in this church founded school.
The church’s commitment to education is evident in its project to fence the playground at St Mary’s Primary School. The project involved playground leveling, grass planting, and installation of chain-link fencing to secure pupils and create a safe environment for sports and community events.
In collaboration with the central government, the church also benefited from the tarmacking of the road leading to the church and the installation of streetlights, ensuring safer access for parishioners and visitors alike. Additionally, government-funded works included renovating a seven-classroom block, a two-classroom block, and constructing a two-stance pit latrine at the primary school.
A few meters away from the Church is St Peters technical Institute, one of those the country is proud of.
Training thousands of students from different parts of the country, St Peters started in a humble environment by the church in its projects to boost the education sector in the communities.
St. Peter Technical Institute currently equips youth with vocational skills like in carpentry, mechanics, tailoring, and electrical installation among others, empowering young people with practical skills, which has significantly reduced youth unemployment and promoted dignity through work—core principles of Catholic social teaching.
“Iam not rich but iam happy that for ten years since I left St Peters, I have never looked for job but I earn a living and I can take care of my family, Matia Kalemba, a carpenter from Mityana who went through Peters Institute witnesses.
Innocent Ssekiziyivu, apolitical leader is one of the prominent figures in Mubende who also went to the Institute.
Ssekiziyivu, a civil Engineer is currently the Mayor of Mubende Municipality and has held a number of leadership positions before, in addition to his humble services as an Engineer.
GRASSROOTS EMPOWERMENT
The Catholic Church puts much emphasis on empowering the small Christian communities (Obubondo) which helps the faithful to remain active and strong in faith.
Mr. Isagala Raphael, a devoted parishioner in our Lady of Fatima parish, is happy that his parish boasts of a vibrant network of Christian Church Communities (CCCs) which are also involved in a number of activities that keep them together, active and strong in faith.
“We hold activities like the outreaches to the vulnerable families, providing spiritual nourishment, home visits, food aid and basic health support for the elderly and sick,” said Isagala, a member of St Antonio Small Christian Community in Mubende town.
These groups form the spiritual heartbeat of the parish, fostering compassion, inclusiveness, and solidarity.
The parish has also organized successful fundraising campaigns that not only support church infrastructure but also motivate parishioners to improve their household incomes and fulfill both church and family responsibilities.
AGRICULTURE AND OTHER INCOME-GENERATING PROJECTS
In the past few years, the Bishop of Kiyinda Mityana diocese Rt Rev Dr Joseph Antony Zziwa has been traveling around the diocese, promoting agricultural projects, especially the rearing of animals and growing of coffee and banana.
According to Bishop Zziwa, the biggest percentages of the people in his diocese depend on agriculture as the source of income.
Our lady of Fatima Mubende parish being an urban parish has not been left out, but has also benefited from the Bishop’s projects.
Channeled through Caritas and the Integrated Cow Project of Kiyinda Mityana diocese, Mubende also was recently introduced to this project, where the residents received high Percentage Frisian in- calf cows, regardless of their faith.
Apart from the support from the diocese, the Parish has also adopted an innovative agricultural and economic project, aimed at self-sustainability in homes.
Mr. Balikuddembe S. M. Lousi, the head of Laity at Our Lady of Fatima Parish Mubende says that the projects are aimed at improving the lives of the people both socially and economically.
Currently, A 5-acre coffee demonstration garden has been set up, serving both as a source of income and as a training ground for local farmers, who learn best practices in coffee production.
“Any earning generated from this initiative is directly sent to support the parish programs,” Mr Balikuddembe said.
At the parish, the Priests are no longer buying food like Matooke from the markets but just harvests from the 3-acre banana plantation that was set up at the parish land.
The priests at Mubende have always struggled not to depend on the faithful but to find means of sustaining themselves, another source was identified is the stone quarry, which is tendered out and the proceeding are used to fund various pastoral and development initiatives.
For long, entertainment events, social gathering and bigger meetings have always been held in the Parish Hall.
With it’s recently renovation, the hall in now equipped with a state-of-the-art public address system and new furnishings and is regularly hired out for weddings, seminars, and community meetings—creating a consistent source of income.
A multi-purpose shelter and store also supports local farmers by providing space for storage and market access, promoting agribusiness and economic collaboration.
A LOT MORE COMING UP
In abid to fully evangelize and let the faithful worship well, a lot more projects are being held and others being planned to be held at the parish.
Currently, the Church is setting up a Parking Lot to accommodate growing attendance, the church is presently constructing a parking space designed for up to 100 vehicles. The facility will feature an asphalt concrete surface to provide durable, organized parking for parishioners and guests.
Next to the church is also St Charles Lwanga Secondary School, a church-founded institution which will further be developed into a very modern secondary school to provide the best education services in the region.
The Priests and Lay leaders are also planning for a Commercial Building Opposite Mubende Regional Referral Hospital which will create rentable rooms, generating sustainable income streams for the church.
The church is further planning to expand and further develop St Mary’s Primary School with better school facilities, boarding section among other, which may call for its relocation.
LOOKING AHEAD: A VISION FOR THE NEXT CENTURY
According to Mr. Balikuddembe, as the parish looks to the future, it is committed to strengthening its 35 sub-parishes, 25 of which are currently in the process of constructing permanent church buildings. The leadership has pledged to offer both technical and financial guidance to ensure every community has a dignified place of worship.
There are also ambitious plans to establish commercial farms on church-owned land in each sub-parish. These farms aim to enhance food security, create employment, and promote long-term sustainability—further reinforcing the Church’s role as a catalyst for rural development.
The centenary celebration of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Parish is not only a time to honor the past but also to celebrate transformation, resilience, and unwavering faith. From education and agriculture to infrastructure and spiritual formation, the parish has empowered generations and laid a solid foundation for the next 100 years.
