Uganda Projects – Mbale and Kampala
By Pat Reese
If you know much about the life of an American minister,
you know that he has many responsibilities beyond preaching
the weekly sermon. His life is often hectic because of the de-
manding work. Pastor Mukhooli in Mbale and Pastor Musungu
in Kampala have duties far beyond a typical American pastor.
Pastor Musungu has fourteen widows and their families that he
cares for, as well as six children he has brought into his home.
Pastor Mukhooli has sixteen widows and their families and thirty
other orphans, along with thirty children in his home, which he
calls “Bridge of Hope Center.” [Note that our Board has consid-
ered making the Bridge of Hope Center an official orphanage of
our ministry, but has had to put that request on hold until things
settle down a bit at the
Glory Children’s Center.
Editor]
The pastors make
sure that all the widows
and orphans have shelter,
food, clothing, medicine,
bedding, etc. Some of
these widows live in re-
mote areas, causing the
pastor to walk many
miles carrying needed
supplies. When they get
to the widow’s house,
they may help repair a
roof or tend to some medical needs.
Dealing with the sick widows and children can be very
time consuming. When someone gets sick enough to go to
the hospital the pastor takes them to the hospital and fre-
quently must stay with him or her, as the hospitals do not
provide food or much nursing care. Last month, one of the
widows that Pastor Musungu cares for, and who lives in a re-
mote area, was very sick with headaches. Another of the
widows that he cares for was in the hospital with a fever. Ten
children who live with Pastor Mukhooli had malaria and
several of them had to go to the hospital.
Getting an education is of utmost importance to these
children. It is the only chance that they have to learn to pro-
vide for themselves and their futures. Several young people
have passed the primary level and would like to learn a trade.
David Wabonga would like to study tropical agriculture.
Nelima Anursery and Garrent Nanduto would like to study
teaching. Sam Soita would like to study block laying and
Betty Malemo would like to learn tailoring and knitting. The
pastors see that the children are enrolled in school. Making
sure that they have the necessary uniforms and supplies can
mean sewing the uniforms and making several trips into the
city. Unfortunately, our secondary students in Uganda are
out of school this term, along with those in Kenya, due to lack
of funds for their school fees. This is very unfortunate. In or-
der to provide food for so many people, the pastors must tend
large vegetable gardens and purchase large quantities of food.
Last month, the pastors were able to purchase corn, beans,
millet, wheat, rice and ground nuts to distribute.
Pastor Mukhooli has been dealing with the long illnesses
and deaths of some close family members. He wrote, “I am
so grateful that I have been and am still in your prayers…”
He also says thanks for the condolence cards for him and for
Jane Khanawa’s family.
Just as we were going to press, we received word from
Pastor Mukhooli that the owner of the house they are living
in has sold the house and at any time the new owner may take
occupancy, so Bridge of Hope Center is
looking for a new home.
This month we would like to feature
Betty Kakayi. Betty was born in 1992 and
vividly remembers the events surrounding
her parent’s deaths. After her mother passed
away from AIDs in 1998, her father became
ill. His parents believed it was witchcraft
that was making him ill and brought in a
witch doctor who ordered all of the goats
slaughtered. Her grandparents had to sell
the father’s land to pay for the services ren-
dered. After her father died, Betty stayed for
a time with the grandparents, who could not
afford to send her to school.
When Pastor Mukhooli’s wife visited after hearing of
her conditions, only the grandmother was surviving. Betty
was living in dirty conditions and dressed in rags. The grand-
mother asked Mrs. Mukhooli to
please take Betty with her so that
she could attend school and have a
better life. She has been in Pastor
Mukhooli’s home since March 2006
and is in primary grade three.
Even though we cannot always
send enough to supply their needs,
our pastors in Uganda have not com-
plained. They are always thankful for
our assistance and prayers. In the last
month, we have had requests for food,
school fees and mosquito nets. When
we were not able to supply all that
they asked, they graciously thanked
us for what we were able to do.
Please keep these pastors in your prayers. They need the
strength and wisdom that only God can give to face the daily
challenges before them.
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-5-
Mealtime at Bridge of Hope Center, with children eating
in the living room as well as the dining room.
Betty Kakayi
