By Kitts D.Mabonga
The women of South Ankole Diocese have been commended for undertaking strategic projects that help them boost their household incomes.
The call was made by Rt.Rev.Hathan Ahimbisibwe during an exclusive interview with the East African Gazette while explaining the numerous development programs and projects as funded by both the government and development partners.
He pointed out that the women of his diocese are very productive given the many projects they have undertaken such as coffee growing, modern fishing and banana growing on a large scale among others.
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He commended President Yoweri Museveni for his continuous support to the diocese especially economic empowerment programs that have seen many of the women overcome the burden of poverty and urged the women who are active to join the programs which aim at empowering them to fight household poverty.
He exclusively thanked her diocese president of the mothers Union Rita Byomuhumuza whose proactive mobilization efforts for the women to join the income generating programs, that has paid off hundreds more are now directly benefiting from some of the high value programs such as coffee, fishing and banana growing.
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He remarked that South Ankole Diocese was able to receive a Sprinkler Irrigation System worth Shillings 786 million, thanks to the Ministry of Water and Environment.
The Sprinkler irrigation system sits on twenty acres of land and that the irrigation system has effectively boosted agriculture in the diocese.
These include 300 acres of coffee and banana plantations, which are intercropped with beans, cabbages, and watermelon and passion fruit gardens.
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Bishop Ahimbisibwe says with the projects, they aim at improving the social welfare and economic development of the church and Christians of the area to eradicate poverty in the entire diocese.
The president Mothers Union South Ankole diocese Rita Byomuhumuza named some of her successful women involved in the coffee growing sector including Robinah Mujuni,Twinobusingye Aida and Gumoshabe Carlorine saying they have become role models in Ntungamo district in particular and the church in general.
‘We wish to thank our Bishop for extensively lobbying government to provide the diocese with the key machinery tools and appliances especially in the agricultural value chain which has effectively boosted both group and household incomes’ noted Bymuhumuza
She added that as women leaders of the church, they will continue mobilizing more women to join in fighting household poverty.
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About South Ankole Diocese
South Ankole Diocese is one of the fastest growing Diocese in the Province of the Church of Uganda located in the South Western part of the Country which was consecrated on 8th January 2012. It covers Ntungamo District with a population of about 405,600.
Background of the Mothers Union in Ankole diocese
Mothers’ Union was introduced into Kigezi- Ankole Diocese in 1914. Then in Ankole Diocese the idea of Mothers’ Union was initiated by Mrs. Flore Clayton in 1924 and It was officially introduced
at the Diocesan headquarters by Rev. Florence Spetume Njagali in 1957 as the first Mothers’ Union Worker. Rev. Florence Njagali was ordained from Hoima and she was the first woman to be Ordained in the Province of the Church of Uganda. She was succeeded by Mrs. Mrs. Naome Bishaka who worked closely
with her. Since then, this is the lineup Ministry for Mothers’ Union
Workers and Coordinators in Ankole Dioc