Over 95 Million Raised at BAAF 2024 Fundraiser

Summary:

• Over 95 million shillings were raised at a fundraising dinner organized by the Kigezi Kampala Catholic Residents Association (KKCRA) as part of the Bishop’s Annual Appeal Fund (BAAF) 2024. The event, held on December 13, 2024, at Hotel Africana, highlighted ongoing and completed BAAF projects, including commercial buildings and educational institutions.

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Over 95 million shillings, including both cash and pledges, were raised during a fundraising dinner hosted by the Kigezi Kampala Catholic Residents Association (KKCRA) as part of the Bishop’s Annual Appeal Fund (BAAF) 2024. The event took place on Friday, December 13, 2024, at Hotel Africana.

KKCRA Chairman, Mr. Narcis Tumushabe Rwangoga, welcomed the guests and expressed his gratitude for their generous contributions. He introduced Mr. Alex Baguma, Chairperson of the BAAF Central Organizing Committee, and highlighted several successful projects funded by BAAF. These include the commercial building in Kabale Town (2009-2013), the renovation of Rushoroza Cathedral (2014), the establishment of Centenary Bank branches in Kisoro (2015), Kabale (2019), and Rukungiri (2021/22), and the creation of St. Ignatius University Kabale (2023). Currently, efforts are focused on completing the Kabale commercial building that was started but not finished during the 2009-2013 phase.

The success of BAAF is reflected in the Golden Jubilee building, Radio Maria at Rushoroza Hill, and other tangible developments like the renovated cathedral and various Centenary Bank buildings in Kisoro, Kabale, and Rukungiri, which are generating rental income for the Diocese, according to Rwangoga.

Mr. Alex Baguma thanked all contributors and invited them to the grand finale of BAAF 2024, which will take place at Rushoroza Cathedral on Saturday, January 11, 2024.

Rt. Rev. Callist Rubaramira, represented by Rev. Fr. Davis Keinamura, also expressed deep appreciation for the generosity of the donors. He encouraged continued support to help the Diocese achieve financial sustainability, noting the Diocese’s five-year strategic plan aimed at becoming self-sufficient through income-generating projects.

Fr. Keinamura urged Christians in Kampala to use the Christmas season as an opportunity to educate their counterparts back in the Diocese on starting financial projects, ensuring that as the Diocese progresses, so too do the individual parishes and households.

The fundraising dinner was followed by a marathon on Saturday, December 14, 2024, at Kitante Hill School. The marathon winners in the children’s category were Tumusiime Cephas, while Agaba Moses and Kajura Martin emerged as winners in the youth category. Each received medals and Christmas hampers, courtesy of Sumz Food Industries Limited.

Fr. Benedict Mubangizi, the caretaker of KKCRA, thanked the marathon participants and organizers, as well as Sumz Food Industries for sponsoring the event. He encouraged KKCRA members to maintain physical fitness through regular exercise.

The BAAF 2024 campaign in Kampala will conclude on Sunday with a solemn Mass presided over by Rt. Rev. Callist Rubaramira at Uganda Martyrs Shrine Namugongo. Following the Mass, Parish Coordinators from Kabale Diocese’s Greater Kampala Christian communities will announce the total contributions raised by their respective groups.

The goal for this year’s BAAF drive is to raise 1.5 billion shillings to complete the commercial building in Kabale Town, located on Plot 10 along Kabale-Mbarara Road, which is set to generate income for the Diocese.