Patron Saint: Holy Family of Nazareth

In 1938, the mission was shifted from Kakoni to Kyamuhunga to be nearer to the newly constructed Ishaka-Kasese road. In one way or another, Kakoni was abandoned, which is why the current Kakoni doesn’t have much land compared to Kyamuhunga.

The missionaries continued the evangelization of the area operating from Rugazi Parish in Bunyaruguru. In 1965, Kyamuhunga was elevated to a Parish status. As a new Parish, it comprised areas around Kyamuhunga and Bitoooma, with Nyakishojwa, Kigoma, and Nyakatooma centers curved off from Kitabi Parish. The people worked hard with zeal to develop the Parish, despite social, economic, and political difficulties.

The priests who served in the new Parish for many years were Fr. Ikazire, Fr. Wamala, and Fr. Blanchard. Fr. Blanchard is well remembered for constructing the Parish Church, which is still serving with some modifications, the presbytery, and some center Churches. After his death, there were no resident priests until 1990. The Parish was served by priests from St. Kagwa Parish.

In 1990, Bishop John Baptist Kakubi invited the Comboni missionaries to take over Kyamuhunga Parish. Fr. Berto Franco was the first Comboni missionary to arrive, followed shortly by Fr. Paolino Tomaino, who became the first Comboni Missionary Parish Priest (1990-1989) in Kyamuhunga Parish. Other Comboni missionaries who have served and are still serving in Kyamuhunga Parish include Fr. Tanieli Ereminio (R.I.P), Fr. Pascuale Carlo (R.I.P), Gino Tosello (R.I.P), Fr. Paulino Mondo Twesigye, Fr. Ssempera Emmanuel, Fr. Leo Tibenda (Parish Priest 2000-2006), Fr. Charles Ndagij’Imana (Parish Priest 2006-2017 Dec), Fr. Besigye Christopher (R.I.P), Fr. Joseph Kibirige, Br. Angelo Drago, Fr. Ayebare Archangel (Parish Priest 2017 Dec to date).

Worth noting is that Kyamuhunga Parish gave birth to St. Comboni Bitooma Parish in 2010, initially under the pastoral care of Fr. Berto Franco and later handed over to the Diocesan Clergy.

Geographical Location

Kyamuhunga Parish is located in Bushenyi District, Igara West constituency, Kyamuhunga town council. The Parish covers the whole of Kyamuhunga Town Council, Kyamuhunga sub-county, parts of Kizinda-Kigoma town council, and parts of Nyabubare sub-county. The majority in the area are Catholics, followed by Anglicans.

Institutions

  • Primary Schools: 11 full primary schools and 3 nursery schools
  • Secondary Schools: St. Mary’s Vocational School Kyamuhunga, St. Mark Vocational School Nyakatooma, Sedes Sapientiae St. Mary’s Kyamuhunga Technical Institute
  • Health Facilities: Comboni Hospital

The Parish has 11 centers, 13 Hiikas, and 126 Basic Christian Communities. These centers and Hiikas are served by Fr. Ayebare Archangel and Fr. Paolino Tomaino, along with 24 catechists. Fr. Felix Tumuhaise is the headmaster of St. Mary’s Vocational School, and Fr. Kihembo is the Chaplain of the same school. The Missionary Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church manage Comboni Hospital in agreement with the Archdiocese of Mbarara.

Plans of the Parish

As a Parish, our program is to be a self-sustaining, self-propagating, and self-ministering Parish. We aim to achieve this with the combined efforts of the priests, catechists, Parish council, all leaders at all levels, and all Christians at large.

Parish Projects

Our projects include eucalyptus plantations, commercial houses near the parish and in Butare trading center, a banana plantation, a farm, and tea plantations. All these serve as sources of income to run all the Parish activities.

Compiled by: Fr. Ayebare Archangel
Parish Priest
09/09/2022