2.3BN RAISED IN BAAF 2023 FOR STARTING ST. IGNATIUS UNIVERSITY KABALE

A total of 2.3 billion shillings was raised by Kabale Diocese during the Bishop’s Annual Appeal Fund (BAAF) for the year 2023.  this was crowned with an thanksgiving ceremony held on Saturday, November 25, 2023 at Our Lady of Good Shepherd Rushoroza Cathedral parish grounds, with Mass presided over by Rt. Rev. Callist Rubaramira, Bishop of Kabale Diocese.

Msgr. John Vianney Sunday, Vicar General of Kabale Diocese in his preaching said the gathering was intended for two reasons:  The first being a Thanksgiving to God for all he has done for us, remembering that every mass is a thanksgiving sacrifice and secondly to conclude the Bishop’s Annual Appeal Fund (BAAF) drive which had started from family level to the level of small Christian community (akataagi), parish level and district level district level and was concluded on Diocesan level.

Thank you My Lord Bishop for the BAAF program which has yielded many fruits downs the years and this year’s intention is to establish St. Ignatius University Kabale (IGUKA). The mandate to start a university stems from the mandate of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew 28:19, “Go and preach to the whole Nations.” The Bishop is fulfilling the mandate of Christ to teach people what he commanded and the intention of St. Ignatius University is to offer integral education of the whole person (head, hand and heart) – Msgr. John Vianney Sunday.

In the Gospel of St. John 17:20-26, Jesus Christ prays that his followers may remain one and united and eventually work together. the diocese has achieved a lot with the unity of the people of Kabale Diocese.  However, Msgr. Vianney Sunday noted that there are some people who are joyous seeing people divided, they are enemies of unity and cooperation. He concluded that our root of unity is in Christ, that is why he says those who

Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, Minister for ICT and National Guidance while representing Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, Prime minister of Uganda as Chief Guest thanked Bishop for projects. He thanked Bishop Callist for the visionary idea of supporting the government in the education sector by establishing St. Ignatius University. He said it is education that has made people what they are. He also thanked Bishop Callist and the University Council for making fees affordable to the people noting that St. Ignatius University has subsidized tuition, relatively cheaper than other universities.

He promised to connect and link St. Ignatius University to other International Universities so that there is partnership in carrying out joint programs. He presented a cash contribution of 10 million shillings from the Prime Minister and a personal contribution of 5 million shillings.

The summary of contributions as per districts, individuals and institutions was as follows:

1. 1. Kabale District                                                                              256,815,800/=
   2. Kigezi Kampala Catholic Residents Association (KKCRA) 379,471,000/=
   3. Rubanda district                                                                          196,348,300/=
   4. Kisoro District                                                                              452,161,500/=
   5. Rukiga District                                                                             273,118,800/=
   6. Rukungiri District                                                                       362,742,300/=
   7. Kanungu district                                                                          312,738,100/=
   8. Institutions and Individual contributions                             121,883,000/=

Grand Total                                                                              2,355,278,800/=

Bishop Callist Rubaramira, in his remarks thanked all the people of good will for the various contributions made towards the establishment of the St. Ignatius University. He said  BAAF 2023 has been a great achievement right from the family level, Small Christian Community level (akataagi) to the parish level, district level and finally to the Diocesan level.

Bishop Callist noted there of recent there is a peak human revolution especially by youth who are on streets looking for jobs, but said that St. Ignatius University will create a difference. He noted that poverty level in Kigezi stands at 27%. The aim of University is to reduce this percentage by providing hand on courses, offer tourism services among others. The function was crowned by rewarding all groups that contributed each with a cake.