NDAMA PARISH GETS PIONEER PRIEST AFTER 40 YEARS

All was joy, ululations and jubilations at St. Benedict Ndama Catholic parish on Sunday, August 24, 2025 as thousands of Christians gathered to witness Rev. Fr. Stephen Niwandinda celebrating his first Mass in thanksgiving to God for the gift of priesthood bestowed upon him. He is the pioneer priest of Ndama Parish since its inception in 1984.

Fr. Stephen was ordained a priest together with other three (Fr. Onesmus Ahabwe of Muchahi Parish, Fr. Mark Aheisibwe of Nyarushanje Parish and Fr. Frank’s Atuzarirwe of Kitanga Parish) on Saturday, August 23, 2025 at Rushoroza Cathedral by Rt. Rev. Callist Rubaramira.

While preaching during the thanksgiving Mass, Rev Fr. Benedict Mubangizi congratulated Fr. Stephen upon beating the odds to become the very first priest born from Ndama Parish. He thanked him for hearkening to God’s call to which he responded positively like the prophet Isaiah: “I then heard the voice of the Lord saying: ‘Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I, send me.”‘ (Isaiah 6:8).

Fr. Benedict thanked Fr. Stephen for starting ministering from his own family, having administered the sacrament of Matrimony to his paternal uncle Mr. Byamazima Clement who tied knot with Nahabwe Dorcus. He urged Fr. Stephen to execute he priestly duties with due diligence since he has been chosen from among people and sent among the people to be a mediator between them and God and so he must apply mercy and truth while dealing with them.

Every high priest is taken from among human beings and is appointed to act on their behalf in relationships with God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins; he can sympathise with those who are ignorant or who have gone astray, because he too is subject to the limitations of weakness. That is why he has to make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. No one takes this honour on himself; it needs a call from God, as in Aaron’s case (Hebrews 5:1-4).

Fr. Benedict also admonished the faithful especially married couples to be tolerant with each other, remain faithful to their matrimonial vows and support each other. The Christians should also support their priests so that they too can serve them better.

The family members of Fr. Stephen Niwandinda represented by his father, Mr. Agapitus Kyarikunda talked about him a well behaved, patient and hard working son who exhibited priestly traits from childhood. The family entrusted him to the intercession of Blessed Virgin Mary for his successful ministry. The family also thanked Bishop Callist Rubaramira for ordaining their son into ministerial priesthood and thanked all those who contributed to his priestly formation.

In his remarks, Fr. Stephen Niwandinda thanked God for calling him to serve him among his people. He thanked the Bishop who accepted to ordain him a priest. He also appreciated the teachers and formators at all levels of education for imparting knowledge and virtues into him. In a special way, Fr. Stephen recognized the parents who sacrificed all for his formation. He was grateful to Parish priest, fr. Achilles Tumukurate and all people of good will in Ndama Parish and beyond for their contributions and organizing a thanksgiving ceremony, first of its kind in the parish.

The parishioners of Ndama Parish gifted him with bran new car (premium new model with registration number UA 916BS) and wished him fruitful and successful priestly ministry. The requested him to pray for win incred of vocation to priesthood in Ndama Parish and Kabale Diocese in general.

Who is Fr. Stephen Niwandinda?

Rev. Fr. Stephen Niwandinda was born on June 8, 1996 in Mabanga Hiika, Ndama Parish, Nyakibale Deanery. His parents are Mr. Agapitus Kyarikunda and Mrs. Jane Tuheirirwe.

He is the 2nd born in family of five children, the others being Mr. Norbert Byamukama (first born) Bridget Musimenta (3rd born), Urban Kyarikunda 4th born) and Adella Akatukunda (last born).

He attended primary education at Kebisoni Parents Primary School from 2003 to 2009 after which he went to St. Charles Lwanga Seminary – Nyakibale for Ordinary Level (senior one to four) from 2010 to 2013. He also pursued his advanced education (A level) at St. Charles Lwanga Seminary – Nyakibale from 2014 to 2015.

In 2016, was admitted to St. Thomas Aquinas National Major Seminary, Katigondo in Masaka where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy in 2019. He was sent for his Pastoral Spiritual Year (PSY) at St. Paul’s Seminary Rushoroza in 2019 but did it for two years up to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic which had become a global threat.

In August 2021 he was sent to pursue theological studies in St. Paul’s National Seminary, Kinyamasika, Fort Portal where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology in 2025.

On August 10, 2024 Stephen Niwandinda was ordained to Diaconate by Rt. Rev. Callist Rubaramira at Our Lady of Good Shepherd, Rushoroza Cathedral together with other three, and on August 23, 2025, they were ordained priests at Rushoroza Cathedral.