SOCIAL COMMUNICATION OFFICE – KABALE DIOCESE
MOTTO: The Voice of the Church
MISSION: To evangelize through words and deeds as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ, the Perfect Communicator in the pursuit and defense of Truth with Transparency, Honesty and Service with Competence and Dedication.
VISION: To be an Effective and Efficient department that responds to Holistic Development and Information needs in a timely manner.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Diocesan Social Communications Office was formally established in the year 2001 when the then Bishop Robert Gay appointed Rev. Fr. Andrew Karwemera as the one in charge of the Kabale Diocese Bulletin. The idea of establishing the Diocesan Bulletin was born in the 7th Pastoral Council held in September 1999 and resolution number 8 was: “there should be an improvement on the flow of information from the Diocesan Administration to the grass-root; a Diocesan Information Bulletin should be organized.” this was because the flow of information had been limited to the usual basic means of letters or radio-calls from the Pastoral Coordinator or various heads of departments.
Fr. Andrew Karwemera worked tirelessly and produced two issues of the “Kabale Diocese Bulletin”. Unfortunately, he died in the same year (2001) and the office went into slumber. May his soul continue resting in peace. However, since it was prior built on ‘interest’ the diocese had not obtained another personality until she conceived an idea of resuming it and making it a separate department of the Diocese, run by respective personnel. This was in 2009 when Sr. Immaculate Princess Kyarisiima (OLGC) was appointed into this office. she worked hard to bring out the real picture of social communications. She resumed the production of Diocesan Bulletin and establishment of Radio Maria which was realized in 2017. Sr. Immaculate was succeeded by Sr. Jacinthe B. Tumwine (OLGC) who continued the work in Communications Office until when she was replaced by Mr. Salvino Mubangizi in 2022.
COMMUNICATION DIRECTORS SINCE INCEPTION
1. Fr. Andrew Karwemera (2001 but died shortly the same year).
2. Sr. Immaculate Kyarisiima (2009 – 2016)
3. Sr. Jacinthe B. Tumwiine (2016 – 2022)
4. Mr. Salvino Mubangizi (2022 to date)
CURRENT MEMBERS OF SOCIAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
- Fr. Marius Byamukama (Chairperson)
- Mr. John Bosco Mutesigensi (Secretary)
- Mr. Acleo Tubenawe
- Fr. Placid Mugumya
- Mrs. Florence Musiimenta
- Mr. Leodinas Barigye
- Mr. Alex Byakatonda
- Sr. Olivia Tumuramye
- Mr. Salvino Mubangizi (ex officio)
Kabale Diocese, covers what was formally known as Kigezi District, which is, now according to recent civil demarcations has been subdivided into the Government administrative units, namely Kabale, Kanungu, Kisoro, Rubanda, Rukiga and Rukungiri districts respectively. In the North, Kabale Diocese boarders with Mbarara Diocese; on the extreme south-west with the Diocese of Byumba and Ruhengeri (RWANDA). On the West, it boards the Diocese of Goma (Zaire – Lake Edward).
The inhabitants of Kabale Diocese can be classified into three main ethnic groups
a) The Bakiga, occupy largely the districts of Kabale, Rubanda, Rukiga and Kanungu.
b) The Bahororo, inhabit mainly the district of Rukungiri.
c) The Bafumbira occupy largely Kisoro district.
Our goal
As the Catholic Church was founded by Christ Our Lord Jesus to bring salvation to all, and feels obliged, therefore, to preach the gospel. In the same way, it believes that its task involves employs means of social communication to announce the Good News of salvation, to teach people how to use these means properly.
Objectives
- To provide information of the day to day newsworthy elements through the Diocesan website, newsletters, magazines, radio and television for effective communication.
- To seek variety of media channels and revive the traditional media, which is slowly dying, like storytelling, use of drama, theatre, and dance, and find for better ways of bringing it to the people in a way that is meaningful, attractive and entertaining.
- To encourage freedom of by providing room for people’s views, opinions, suggestions, and in so doing making communication a two-way process.
- To educate the public within their respective age groups about their ‘defined’ needs on their attempt to improving their standards of living and development in general, through making various presentations in different organized localities.
- To train correspondents through various courses and workshops especially those with much interest in different departments such as priests, catechists, Christians movement leaders, among others.
- To carry out Social Responsibility in form of services not only to the community around but also those whose requirements can easily be ‘identified.’
- To work in collaboration with the external publics, namely; Government, financial institutions, competitors (other media houses), critics, other public Relations officers, media clients, the community around, to mention but a few.
ACTIVITIES
Linking up with the National Office of Social Communications under Uganda Episcopal Conference.
As an office, we are the mouthpiece of the Diocese.
For more information you can reach us on:
Office of Social Communications
P.O Box 56,
Kabale.
Tel: +256 779 651985/+256 756 374441
Email: salvemubs@gmail.com