📸 North Kigezi Christians in Kampala raise Sh2.47b for Emmanuel Cathedral completion

KAMPALA - Christians, politicians and friends of North Kigezi Diocese, Kampala Metropolitan Fellowship Sunday raised sh2.47b in cash and pledges at a single fundraising event at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds for the completion of Emmanuel Cathedral Kinyasano in Rukungiri, Western Uganda.

The chief guest, President Yoweri Museveni, was represented by the second deputy prime minister, Dr. Crispus Kiyonga and contributed sh300m, out of a total of sh3.7b needed to complete the magnificent Cathedral.   

Fred Enanga, who represented the IGP, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, State Minister for Internal Affairs Juma Witonze and Minister for Internal Affairs, Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu, mentioning their contributions at a fundraising event for Emmanuel Cathedral Kinyasano in North Kigezi Diocese. The event took place at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds on November 01, 2026. (All Photos by Eddie Ssejjoba)

Security minister Jim Muhwezi (R) and the PPDA executive director, Benson Turamye (L) during the event.

Security minister, Jim Muhwezi, who participated in the drive, mobilised sh120m from his friends and doubled it with his personal contribution to raise a total of sh240m, which he said was in appreciation of his mother and Kinyasano area, his birthplace.

Earlier, Muhwezi had contributed sh50m at the event graced by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa.

The Minister of Gender and Community Development, Henry Tumukunde, was the chief fundraiser and received big contributions from ministers, Members of Parliament, and individual businesspeople and government officials.

The commisisoner general of Prisons, Canon Johnson Byabashaija and wife handover some of the cash that was collected to Bishop Onesimus Asiimwe during a fundraising event at Kololo.

Christians from North Kigezi Diocese celebrate with a dance during a fundraising dinner at Kololo.

The ministers present included Judith Nabakooba (lands), Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu (internal affairs), Juma Witonze (state-internal affairs), and Lydia Wanyoto (state-public service).

The function doubled as a thanksgiving ceremony for the Commissioner General of the Uganda Prisons, Canon Johnson Byabashaija and started with a service led by the diocesan bishop, Onesimus Asiimwe.

At 69, Byabashaija celebrated 43 years in government service and 21 years at the helm of the institution. He also serves as the leader of the laity in the diocese.  

In a speech read for him by Dr. Kiyonga, President Museveni called upon all religious and civic leaders to help people in their respective communities to identify productive ventures in the four sectors for job and wealth creation in the advancement of the Parish Development Model (PDM) programme.

The sectors include commercial agriculture, industrialisation, modern services, and information and communications technology (ICT). He added that the country must not have spectators in the drive towards increasing household incomes but must make sure they work together to eliminate subsistence farming and bring every homestead into the money economy.  

He committed that the Government would continue to provide support and funding for organised groups to engage in productive wealth and job creation ventures, adding that there should not be any spectators in the drive towards increasing household incomes.

“Let us ensure we eliminate subsistence farming and bring every homestead into the money economy,” he stated.

The President commended Byabashaija for his dedicated and distinguished service to Uganda and to the church and thanked believers and friends of North Kigezi Diocese for supporting the completion of the cathedral and its community development programmes.

The President said supporting the Cathedral project and its broader community initiatives was a worthy cause and urged everyone to give it generously.

He quoted 2Corinthians, 9:6 and urged Christians to generously contribute to God’s work with cheerful hearts.

“While the most obvious task of the church is the spiritual wellbeing of the people, the Church has always engaged in developmental projects for the betterment of the communities,” he stated.

The President, however, said that while working for God’s coming kingdom, Christians should not neglect their lives on earth and implored them to concern themselves with the affairs of the earth and tangible development even as they wait for eternity in heaven.

He re-echoed the message of wealth creation at a household level, saying the Government had prioritised investment in electricity, roads, schools, hospitals, peace and security.

“The NRM government has established a solid foundation for Uganda’s development and socio-economic transformation. However, development alone is not enough, though it must come first,” he said, adding that development is a collective good for everyone, but wealth and jobs belong to individuals, families, groups or companies.

Tayebwa commended Byabashaija for transforming the Uganda Prisons Service from a largely punitive model towards a more rehabilitative correctional institution. From an oversight role, Tayebwa said Parliament had not found any incidents of diversion of money under Byabashaija’s leadership.

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The Commissioner General of Prisons, Canon Johnson Byabashaija and his wife handed over some of the cash that was collected to Bishop Onesimus Asiimwe during a fundraising event for Emmanuel Cathedral Kinyasano in North Kigezi Diocese. The event took place at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds on November 01, 2026. (All Photos by Eddie Ssejjoba)