The Bishop of Mukono Diocese, the Rt Rev Enos Kitto Kagodo, has called on government to improve health and education services in Buvuma District, urging urgent action to reduce maternal deaths and keep children in school.
Bishop Kagodo made the appeal on Sunday at St. Peter’s Church, Walwanda, the headquarters of Buvuma Archdeaconry, as he concluded a four-day pastoral visit to the 52 islands under his diocese.
He asked the government to establish mini-theatres (surgical maternity units) in all health centres across Buvuma to tackle preventable maternal deaths during childbirth.
The Bishop also pressed political leaders and local authorities to strengthen education initiatives, warning that many children were being drawn into fishing while others remained at home instead of attending school.
“This challenge must be addressed urgently if Buvuma is not to lag behind in development,” he said.
He further cautioned youth against drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana, encouraging them instead to pursue meaningful futures. Kagodo appealed to government to design programs that lift young people out of poverty.
Highlighting the diocesan pineapple project, he urged Christians to support the initiative, assuring them that its proceeds would fund schools, health facilities and clergy welfare across the islands.
Delivering his sermon from Luke 24 on the resurrection of Christ, Bishop Kagodo encouraged believers to focus on eternal values.
“Life is full of challenges, but that is not the end; there is One who cares for all who call on Him in times of trouble,” he said.
Other church leaders also weighed in. The Archdeacon of Ngogwe, Rev. Canon Stephen Kironde, urged politicians to avoid divisive politics and instead promote peace as Uganda prepares for the 2026 general elections.
The Vicar of Buvuma, Rev Brian Kiggundu, noted transport shortages and a lack of evangelists for the fast-growing Christian population, but welcomed the pineapple project’s contribution to building schools and clergy housing.
Buvuma District Chairperson, Mr. Wasswa Adrian Ddungu, acknowledged that poverty in the district partly stems from residents’ reluctance to engage in productive work.
He encouraged locals to embrace the pineapple project as a sustainable solution and appealed to the Bishop to acquire a speed boat to ease clergy transport across the islands.
The mission also had strong spiritual outcomes: more than 80 people gave their lives to Christ, two children were baptized, 50 children received blessings, and a couple, Richard Basoga and Brendah Ajambo, were joined in holy matrimony.
During the four-day visit, Bishop Kagodo toured schools, police stations, district offices, and health facilities, baptized children on several islands, and visited the diocesan pineapple farm.
The Buvuma Archdeaconry, under Mukono Diocese, covers 52 islands, each with at least one church of Christ.
