Christians of Kakore Rugambwa Catholic Parish in Rubanda District on Sunday commended the Bishop of Kabale Diocese, Rt. Rev. Callist Rubaramira, for spearheading sustainable development through the Bishop’s Annual Appeal Fund (BAAF). The BAAF initiative, launched Kabale Diocese in 2009, brings together thousands of Catholics across the six districts of Kabale Diocese, Kabale, Rukiga, Rubanda, Rukungiri, Kisoro and Kanungu, to raise funds for key projects in the Diocese.
While addressing the gathering at the 2025 BAAF Climax event held at Kakore Parish on Sunday, October 12, 2025, Hon. Ninsiima Evelyn Kikafunda the President of Green Environment Promotion (GEP) and aspiring Woman MP for Rubanda District applauded Bishop Callist Rubaramira as a visionary leader whose legacy has shaped the socio-economic future of Kigezi.
Through BAAF, Bishop Callist is leaving a legacy that all of us will have to learn from. It’s something that has laid a foundation for sustainable development for years to come, and I’m personally inspired to do the same – even before I’m elected as MP – Ninsiima Evelyn Kikafunda.
Kikafunda also highlighted some of her own charitable works aligned with the BAAF ideology. These include lobbying 100 computers from ICON Apex for St. Agatha Girls Secondary School Kakore, donating 5,000 Pines spatula tree seedlings planted across Kakore Parish Church land, distributing 450 wheelchairs for persons living with disabilities, organizing medical camps that offered specialized treatment to over 7,000 people, and providing over 2,000 goats to women’s groups, among other initiatives. She also contributed 7.5m on the BAAF project.
Since 2009, a number of BAAF projects have been established in Kabale Diocese such as St. Ignatius University Kabale, Radio Maria, commercial building housing Centenary Bank branches in Kabale, Kisoro and Rukungiri, Commercial house in Kabale town (still under construction), Golden Jubilee House at Rushoroza housing Diocesan offices among others. This year’s Bishop Callist Rubaramira allowed that BAAF be used to fund establishment or completion of parish projects.
In his remarks as Chief Guest, Dr. Byamugisha Joseph thanked Bishop Callist Rubaramira for starting up BAAF program which has seen many projects established across the Diocese. He also thanked the Vicar General, Msgr. John Vianney Sunday for an inspiring homily in which he reminded people to spare time for God in prayer. He thanked the Parish Priest of Kakore parish and Parish Council for development plans for the Diocese. He finally thanked all people of God for their generosity towards developing their parish and urged them to keep working together to make Kakore Parish great. He contributed 39 million shillings (from family and friends) towards the BAAF project.
A total of 160.9 million shillings was raided during the fundraising drive at Kakore Parish and Rev. Fr. Maniragaba Deusdedit, the Parish Priest revealed that their target was Shs. 200 million and that these funds collected would be used in the completing commercial building for Kakore Parish in Hamurwa Sub County, along the Kabale–Kisoro road, while the remainder will support the construction of a presbytery (priests’ house) for Kibuzigye Sub-Parish in its preparation for the attainment of Parish status.
Fr. Maniragaba Deus also expressed gratitude to Bishop for giving back to the Parishes. “We are humbled that the Bishop has allowed us to use his name in fundraising for our parish projects,” he said.
While preaching during Mass, Msgr. John Vianney Sunday explained the four-fold purpose of BAAF, namely: to aid in Apostolate, to further Spiritual Worship, to carry out Charity or Generosity by church and to provide for the liturgical needs of the Church leaders. In the same celebration, S.4 and S.6 candidates of St. Agatha Girls Secondary School Kakore were prayed for dedicated to the Lord by Msgr. John Vianney Sunday as they prepared to start their national examinations.
He urged people to always be attentive and follow advice given to them the way Naman, the Syrian army commander heeded the advice of the slave girl who advised him to go to the man of God in Israel to cleanse him of leprosy. Having been cured of leprosy, Naman went back to give thanks to God through Elisha.
Msgr. John Vianney Sunday urged all people of God to always be grateful for the good done to them. He said each family should have an altar where they offer prayers to God, and after he has answered their prayers, remember to go back to him and give thanks. On this, Msgr. John Vianney Sunday also thanked Dr. Byamugisha Joseph and his family for his generosity and always supporting his Church and people in his community.