Ankole diocese commissions sh3b investment projects

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MBARARA CITY

The Golden Jubilee House constructed in Mbarara city centre for sh2.8b will generate an annual earning of sh264m for the diocese while the coffee factory will boost the growth of coffee projects which the diocese started in 2021 implemented at all church land.

The projects unveiled by the Ankole diocese were commissioned on Friday (Feb. 7).

At the commissioning ceremony, Bishop Fred Sheldon Mwesigwa, the bishop of Ankole diocese and dean of the province of the church of Uganda, thanked the government for the donation of a wet mill coffee processor, part of the factory, and said as the diocese they bought a solar drier.

Bishop Mwesigye encouraged all church leaders to plant coffee on their land as this would motivate their followers to implement the same.

He expressed hope that the diocese will soon acquire a coffee hauler and lorry thereby making the supply chain of coffee complete.

Simon Kwikiriza, the household and community transformation coordinator of Ankole diocese, said the commissioned coffee washing station will help the diocese to produce premium coffee and compete on the international market. It has a capacity of producing one and a half tons per hour.

Bishop Fred Sheldon Mwesigwa, the bishop of Ankole diocese and dean of the province of the church of Uganda (left), getting an explanation about the commissioned coffee factory on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. (Credit: Abdulkarim Ssengendo)

According to Kwikiriza, the diocese has already planted 233 acres of coffee on church land.

He reiterated the diocese campaign encouraging all churches to ensure wherever there is church land, the custodians should plant at least they plant at least two acres of coffee. The pilot projects, he said, had yielded positive results.

“When I was going through the diocese, I saw some coffee gardens and saw some flowering plants, I saw people selling coffee before it matures at very low prices, we aim to see we get better prices for our people out there and irrespective of religion, we are going to deal with only quality specialty coffee,“ he said.

Lauben Kimusya, an officer from the Ministry of Agriculture hailed the diocese for investing in what he termed as one of the best and latest wet mill machines and establishing a complete wash station.

According to Bishop Mwesigwa, funds received from the commissioned projects will help the diocese in preaching the word of the Lord.

Bishop Fred Sheldon Mwesigwa, the bishop of Ankole diocese and dean of the province of church of Uganda and Lt Col James Mwesigye, head of RDC’s in-charge of Western with other officials posing for the photo shortly after commissioning sh2.8b Golden Jubilee House in Mbarara City on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. (Credit: Abdulkarim Ssengendo)

He encouraged all farmers in Ankole to make better use of the projects to better their earnings.

Mbarara Mayor, Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi, appreciated the diocese's investments in Mbarara city saying they are boosting the city's growth through tax generation.

Other diocesan projects include: Bishop Stuart University, Ruharo Mission Hospital, Millennium SACCO, four commercial buildings among others all established in Mbarara city.

Dignitaries at the vents included Lt Col James Mwesigye, head of RDC’s in-charge of Western, who represented the state minister for Animal Industry, Lt Col Bright Rwamirama.