Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Tarehe Sita team, led by the Joint Staff Political Commissariat, Major General (Hon.) Henry Masiko, on Monday paid a courtesy visit to the Bishop of Kabale Diocese, Rt. Rev. Callist Rubaramira.
The meeting, held at the Kabale Diocesan headquarters, focused on the critical role of faith-based institutions in providing moral guidance, promoting social development, and strengthening national cohesion.
Addressing the meeting, Maj Gen Masiko emphasised the UPDF’s recognition of the Church’s role in guiding communities and supporting national development efforts.
“The UPDF values the longstanding partnership with the Church, whose moral authority and community structures remain critical in fostering unity, patriotism, and national cohesion,” Maj Gen Masiko said.
He commended the Bishop for his visionary leadership, particularly the establishment of the Bishop Annual Appeal Fund (BAAF), which has supported development initiatives across Kabale Diocese.
“The Bishop Annual Appeal Fund is a transformative and sustainable engine for development,” Maj Gen Masiko noted. “It has strengthened parish-level self-reliance and directly addressed critical needs in education, health, livelihoods, and social welfare.”
He further thanked the Bishop for encouraging religious leaders to participate in a recent three-day ideological training symposium that brought together leaders from various denominations.
“Such engagements provide a vital platform for dialogue on national values, patriotism, and socio-economic transformation, and they contribute significantly to nation-building,” Maj Gen Masiko said.
Regarding the forthcoming general elections scheduled for 15 January 2026, Maj Gen Masiko appealed to the Catholic Church to continue guiding citizens towards peaceful and responsible participation.
“We appeal for continued guidance in discouraging election-related violence and divisive language that could undermine national unity,” he said.
In his remarks, Bishop Rubaramira expressed gratitude to the UPDF for the courtesy visit and reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to peacebuilding and community empowerment.
“While we continue developing the diocese as a whole, for 2025 we resolved to take development to the lowest level — the parish. Whatever is raised through the Bishop’s Annual Appeal Fund is now directed towards parish-level projects, with neighbouring parishes coming together to support a common development priority,” the Bishop said.
He explained that the approach was aimed at promoting self-reliance and empowering communities through wealth creation initiatives, particularly in agriculture.
Bishop Rubaramira welcomed collaboration with the UPDF under the Tarehe Sita programme, noting that such partnerships are valuable in promoting mindset change and national consciousness among communities.
He expressed appreciation to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for supporting infrastructural development projects within Kabale Diocese.
The engagement concluded with both the UPDF and the Diocese reaffirming their commitment to continued collaboration in advancing peace, unity, and prosperity for the people of Uganda.
Maj Gen Masiko was accompanied by senior UPDF officers, including Maj Gen Ambrose Musinguzi, Joint Staff Health Services; Brig Gen Gerald Ahimbisibwe, Deputy Joint Staff Human Resource Management; Brig Gen Johnson Niwamanya, Head of Research at the National Defence College–Uganda; Lt Col Evelyn Asimwe; Lt Col (Rtd) Vincent Bakarweha; and Maj Kiconco Tabaro, Public Information Officer, 2 Infantry Division.
