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Museveni urges religious leaders to embrace PDM

PM Nabbanja launches the hospital. COURTESY PHOTO

Hoima, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | President Yoweri Museveni has tasked religious leaders to mobilise their parishioners to embrace the Parish Developmental Model (PDM) programme that is currently being rolled out in the country.

The call was part of his message during the groundbreaking ceremony and fundraising drive for the construction of St Mary’s Women and Children Specialized Hospital at Bujumbura Cathedral, the headquarters of the Hoima Catholic Diocese.

The proposed multi-billion St Mary’s Children and Women specialized hospital will be situated on Bujumbura hill in Hoima City West division, on a 7-acre piece of land belonging to the diocese. Upon completion, the facility will comprise of specialized pediatric, antenatal, gynecology, emergency, radiology, physiotherapy, and theatre wings. The facility will have a capacity of 272 beds.

Referring to the programme as a game-changer that will enable Ugandans to transform from subsistence to a money economy, Museveni said that religious leaders can play a pivotal role in sensitizing citizens to get out of poverty.

He added that the government considered the Parish Development Model initiative in order to create wealth and jobs through industrialization, services, Information and Communication Technology and modernization of Agriculture. His message was delivered by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja today.

Museveni applauded the Bishop of Hoima Catholic Diocese for the decision to establish a multi-billion health facility to boost effective health service delivery not only in Bunyoro but the entire country. He contributed 300 million Shillings towards the construction of the health facility.  The diocese is hunting for 40 billion Shillings for the construction of the hospital and of this,  at least 11 billion Shillings has been collected both in cash and pledges during today’s fundraising drive.

Rev. Father Dominic Ndugwa, the Chancellor of Hoima Catholic Diocese, says that they intend to collect the money from donations from friends of the diocese both within and abroad, Non-governmental organisations-NGOs operating in the region, various companies, business communities, Christians, and area leaders.

Vincent Kirabo, the Bishop of Hoima Catholic Diocese called on people from different parts of the country to generously contribute towards the construction of the health facility so that it is finished in the shortest time possible to offer a holistic health service delivery in the region.

He says that currently there are many people flocking to the region for jobs in the oil and gas sector, creating a need for more health facilities to supplement the already overwhelmed Hoima Regional Referral Hospital.

Rev. Father Devis Musiime, the coordinator of the project says the construction of the five-storied facility will be in phases lasting for a period of seven years.

The Diocese of Hoima, whose evangelization was spearheaded by the Missionaries of Africa, started on August 9, 1965. The Diocese covers Hoima, Masindi, Kibaale, Buliisa, Kiryandongo, Kagadi, Kakumiro and Kikuube districts.

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