Landslides burry people in Uganda

Calamity after calamity hit Uganda this year.

Just one month with Ugandans still recovering from the July Thunderstorms that claimed over 18 lives; school  children including their teachers died while many others  were left hospitalized in this months landslides.

After a heavy down power, early this week, mudslides came down the hills uprooting trees, bulldozing soaked grounds and burying many households and properties deep.

Its believed that about 27 people; "16 in Sisiyi and 11 in Buluganya sub-counties", have died and many others have been made homeless or displaced. Look at these horrifying pictures of a helpless mother.

She is being consoled by the relatives as she learns of the death of her family members still trapped  in the mud with no hope to find them soon and alive.

Calamities are surprises but technology has saved many lives in the combat of unpredictable weather concerns like in the current hurricane Irene hitting the East cost of the USA. Technology helped to forecast its strength and an alert system developed. Many who listened to the warning, their lives have been saved. Even if one was caught up and suffered the effect, it didn't appear a surprise. There was an early warning system that populations trust.

Its so sad when it comes to developing countries like Uganda where everything is a strangle and a day's concern. Its so saddening to find oneself in a situation of such disaster where technology is a myth. No spade, no excavator, ambulance, no    helicopter for airlifting and so on. Even where one thing is possible to find, the other becomes an obstacle until lives are no more. Such situations remind one how poverty is a real sting and in human society. However, our failures could be an opportunity for the better. They can always facilitate our minds, motivation  and hope to do things better and differently, if we are able to learn from them..

Today, with natural world disasters at the increase, one would say why not develop a global weather focus center that would assist in saving lives and reduce disaster emergencies?  More efforts could be invested in developing or expanding available modern technologies for a better early warning system even for poor nations and populations. More than a relief charity, we could think of donating an early warning system technology to a country. Perhaps this could save many lives, more monies and be more timely and sustainable. We should work contrary to the story of that guy who was never concerned of the needs of  his sick neighbor's  healthy  in the hospital but more so on his funeral. It seems funny.

Give your comment.

Meet the African Missionaries in USA

Dear Parishioners, special greetings from my fellow priests of the order of the Apostles of Jesus at our Annual Assembly in Easton, USA.

Apostles of Jesus pause for a group pic. after celebration

As you recall, I left here July 24^th and was able to arrive in Philadelphia on time. I know most of you have been praying for me. I have enjoyed the fruits of your prayers and just two days ago returned to St. Ann’s sound and safe. Thank you.

My journey out of Grants Pass to Medford was less nervous for I was in the company of Biagini, Ray and Janet and their two friends to the Air port. It was fun being with them and given a ride to the airport.

From Medford my journey was fantastic though I regretted running short of the information that they do not offer meals in internal flights. Any way, it was all fine.

In Philadelphia, Easton, I was able to meet fifty five of our sixty confreres working in different states of America. It was a special brotherly and gracious moment to share, pray and learn from each other in the spirit of the Apostles of the Lord.

AJs enjoy healthy discussion during the assembly

The Apostles of Jesus is my Order of a religious and missionary character. What’s unique about this Order is that it’s the first ever religious and missionary congregation of the Catholic Church founded on the African soil in Uganda in 1968 and already supplying religious missionaries to all continents of the world with Asia coming next.

 Apostles of Jesus were founded during the famous episodes of 1960s of the then Sudanese government with the North Islam and South Christianity. During that period the government in Khartoum expelled most missionaries from the south Sudan.

On their run, missionaries of the religious order of St. Daniel Combon, Bishop Sixtus Mazzoldi and Fr. John Marengon both of great memory, went through northern Uganda and took refugee in Moroto Diocese from where they got an inspiration to start a congregation of African religious and missionaries that would keep their evangelization work moving forward with no risk of repatriation or expulsion from their own continent and countries.

Superior General (middle) enjoys classmates photo

Indeed the church and the world have started enjoying the fruits of the vision of these two great men with  the current ability of this Order supplying over 399 missionaries around the world within a period of forty years since its birth in 1968.

To the amazement of all priests present at the assembly was the reflection on the newest country of the world, the South Sudan that just received its independence. The Superior General reminded all of us present that our congregation was conceived in the Sudan, born in Uganda and now working in the world of which the united sates of America is privileged to have over sixty members serving the church and the nation in various professions and fields.  It’s always amazing to see how bitter beginnings procure lots of blessings and graces for one who has faith and God as the anchor of life.

One of the first members in the USA reminded all present of the universality of the church when he said, “We, the Apostles of Jesus have a noble mission here in the United States of America. We have the mission to serve the church here but also the mission to assist the poor in Africa”, he added.

It was an energizing moment of laughter when different representatives narrated the work being done in different missions including Grants Pass, St. Ann’s. Our superior General sent his blessing and greetings to all Bishops, pastors and Christians with whom we work and I am honored to deliver the one of Grants Pass, St. Ann’s parish.

God bless you

Fr. Dominic Tumusiime,AJ..

Kids of Darkiness plead for light

These kids smile in the day but walk by the heart at night

 Think of yourself walking in your house just for one week without light at all. For generations, people in Rubanda community have done so and their kids are keeping suit. Actually once asked of how they managed to live in darkness, one of them sarcastically said, “We have become immune to darkness”.

Seemingly normal, in 2002 Fr. Dominic Tumusiime initiated a community based organization (CBO) known as Rubanda Solidarity Development Association (RSDA), a non profit making organization with an intention to assist vulnerable mothers, children and school drop out youths. In 2005 this association was approved and registered with the government of Uganda with a registration number 160.

To the children, in 2004 the association initiated child study program with the intention of finding out why many kids resented going to school in many families. The tool was to provide just a cup of corn porridge to each kid every morning as they arrived at the school under a designated tree serving
their classroom for a period of one year.

See the density of darkness kids endure each night

The findings were very successful and in 2005 Rubanda Solidarity Nursery/Primary School was started with a Day and Boarding school program. The interest and number of kids to this school has since increased overwhelmingly that financial constraints are our only limitation. In a period of seven years the number of kids has moved from 90 to 260 just concentrating on the neediest kids.

With this huge number of needy kids one would imagine how a non income generating organization can manage to push from one year to another. It’s through lots of sacrifices and tough methods of coping with situations. The community makes lots of sacrifices and the administration does a good job to bring to the attention of our friends and people of good will, the situation of Rubanda community and our kids. It’s working and things are certainly getting better for our kids.

Kids have many needs; they need to sleep, eat and drink, dress, shower, see, write, play and pray, read, study trips, treatment but above all, "light to see". Follow this link to see lights wonders before these children's song: http://www.murphylightworks.com/winterland/

“Light, Light, we need light TO our toilets, Light, Light we need light IN our toilets”, was one of their songs at their school’s 7^th anniversary last year. They certainly need light not only to and in the toilets but also  to the whole compound. It’s an amazing reality to see how much these kids suffer when it comes to nights. They wake up to go to a toilet which is 500 miters away in total darkness, on a steep hill, in torrential rains. Just look keenly through the darkness on the photo above, you will be amazed of little kids tossing darkness to find their way to the toilet.

Do you feel moved and concerned about the situation of these kids? Would you like to contribute in improving  to their safe environment and security by providing a solar energy light?

Education & Poverty Eradication through Life Skills @ Rubanda Solidarity School

Piggery farm, source of skills education & food security to our kids

Home economics teachers instructs kids on bread baking

Developing a rural community demands sustainable programs and projects. Rubanda community has had many government and non governmental development project initiatives but barely have they offered expected impact on existing poverty.

One visitor may be inquisitive to know the reason. History has it that most of the programs initiated in this community are either  always too big a project or peoples' involvement and participation has always not been considered a priority. This is very crucial for rural community development to be real.

While programs and projects designers and implementers ought to incorporate full community involvement and participation, the contrary alienates the project of its basic ingredients of , project security, human resource and change of attitude and breeds indifference and unsustainable projects and dependence. And so a failure.

Coaching school kids in their cultural dance

 On the other hand, young generations in rural communities like Rubanda, need quality education. Education that equips them with academics but also with life skills. This is the principle of Rubanda Solidarity. Our kids learn to read and write but also learn how cook, dance and make  their uniforms.

They are mentored how to repair their torn dresses, feed their pigs to make sure that nothing of their food left overs is wasted.

They also prepare some vegetable beds and whenever they get a visitor in the compound in the car, they are excited, curious and beg to look at the engine and know and know what makes it possible to move. Our kids are sharp, curious and cute but handicapped.

Kids love cars and are curious to learn every thing

Do you feel interested in supporting one of these skills  by contributing to its sustainability and quality education?
Let us know by positing your comment and wish in the window provided below this blogger article. You will be attended efficiently. You can make things different.

Terry and Cristina for Summer mission @ Rubanda Solidarity school

Rubanda Solidarity nursery/Primary school kids surround their friends Terry &Cristina 6-8-2011

 Hello friends,

This year our community is blessed with visitors and friends. Just a month after Dr. Bruce's visit from USA to our community and school kids, we are once again with Terry and Cristina from Europe, Italy. Its always fantastic to host our friends. 

This summer is unique at Rubanda Solidarity. For the whole country going through hard moments with of food crisis and high  inflation rising everyday,many boarding school have already closed earlier than planned due to lack of finances and food but Rubanda Solidarity kids have thrived through to the last date of the term because of our friends financial backup. 

"As we go for our summer vacation, we wish you Terry and Cristina a safe trip back to your home land in Europe and a quick return to find us where you are leaving us", one of the kids representing the others jubilantly said.

The community of Rubanda is highly appreciative of your support and lives to remember all the generosity and love you are putting in to provide quality education for our kids. Our kids are our future hope. Once they receive quality education, they will have sustainable knowledge, good employment, better services, equivalent salary, good deity and better sleep and things will never be the same.

Our kids are very creative, cute and are receiving their in academic and life skills. They are determined to  change  the environmental, think of how to create alternative energy serving stoves and water harvesting in for their poverty stricken mothers and homes. They are also inquisitive of how Rubanda Solidarity administration straggles to to find financial support to the vulnerable children through children education support program and are getting more enthusiastic of making its future a successful continuity.

 The Rubanda Solidarity administration is always proud of hosting visitors because the needs our kids are so huge that only with combined efforts are we able to absorb them. Our kids too need to learn from friends within and out of the community.

Once again, we welcome Terry and Cristina and wish you a wonderful stay and safe return to Italy to return next year 2012