The first anniversary of the death of Bishop Martin Charles Wamika also marked the unveiling and blessing of Uganda Martyrs Hospital, a modern healthcare facility initiated by the late bishop as part of his vision to improve access to medical services in Jinja and surrounding communities.
The hospital was officially opened and blessed by the Archbishop of Tororo Archdiocese and Apostolic Administrator of Jinja Diocese, the Most Rev. Dr Emmanuel Obbo.
The project was developed using part of the funds mobilised during the 2023 Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations, which were animated by Jinja Diocese at the Catholic Shrine in Namugongo.
The hospital stands as one of the late bishop’s lasting contributions to community development, extending his legacy beyond pastoral ministry into healthcare delivery.
Paul Baliraine, the Jinja City Education Officer and former chairperson of the Namugongo animation organising committee, said the idea of establishing the hospital was Wamika’s personal vision, born out of his recognition of gaps in the region’s healthcare infrastructure.
Baliraine explained that the organising committee had considered several projects to preserve the legacy of the 2023 celebrations, including commercial buildings and buses that could generate income for the diocese.
However, Wamika proposed establishing a hospital, a decision Baliraine said reflected the late bishop’s concern for the welfare of the community.
“In our central organising committee, we thought of several things we could do in memory of animating Uganda Martyrs Day 2023. I remember we thought of putting up a structure to house Centenary Bank and other businesses. One person suggested we buy buses so that they could make money for the diocese, but Bishop Wamika alone came up with the vision of starting Uganda Martyrs Hospital,” Baliraine said.
He said the project emerged from the late bishop’s determination to address healthcare challenges despite the financial demands associated with organising the national religious celebrations.
Shs3.4 billion mobilised for Namugongo celebrations
Baliraine revealed that the diocese initially faced uncertainty over how to raise the funds required to organise the 2023 Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations.
He said Wamika mobilised Christians across the diocese to contribute towards the event, with individual donations ranging from Shs1,000 to Shs10,000, alongside contributions from organisations and the government.
According to Baliraine, the fundraising drive generated approximately Shs1.4 billion, while the government contributed an additional Shs2 billion, bringing the total amount mobilised to about Shs3.4 billion.
He said some of the funds remained unspent after the celebrations and were subsequently channelled towards establishing the hospital.
“When we were told about the Namugongo animation, we did not know where to get the money. The late bishop mobilised us, and we went to the parishes, where each Christian contributed as little as Shs1,000, Shs5,000 or Shs10,000. From the people and other organisations, we raised Shs1.4 billion, and the government added Shs2 billion,” Baliraine said.
“We had Shs3.4 billion, but we did not utilise all of it for Namugongo. Some money remained, and the vision came. The bishop said we should begin the hospital. He always believed that where there is a will, there is a way,” he added.
Baliraine said Wamika also introduced initiatives to strengthen Christians’ spiritual lives and encourage greater participation in Church activities.
He recalled the late bishop’s slogan, “Awali okwikiriza wazira muzaano,” which translates to “Where there is faith, there is no joke.”
According to Baliraine, the slogan reflected Wamika’s emphasis on taking faith seriously and building stronger Christian communities.
He added that the bishop established councils and structures for different groups, including men, married couples, women and young people, to encourage greater involvement in the life of the Church.
Baliraine also recalled Wamika’s efforts to strengthen priestly formation through the establishment of St Gonzaga Minor Seminary in Iganga, which was intended to support the training of future clergy.
Dr Ronald Tamale, who represented the Executive Secretary of the Uganda Catholic Medical Bureau, Dr Sam Orachi, said Uganda Martyrs Hospital had become the 34th hospital under the bureau’s network.
He said the Catholic Church continued to play a significant role in Uganda’s healthcare system through hospitals, nursing schools and lower-level health facilities.
According to Tamale, the Uganda Catholic Medical Bureau oversees approximately 16 nursing schools and more than 360 lower-level health facilities, including Health Centre IIIs and IVs, across the country.
He said the network accounts for about 24 per cent of hospitals in Uganda, while Catholic health facilities collectively represent approximately 13 per cent of health units nationwide.
Tamale said Uganda Martyrs Hospital would operate on a sustainable model that balances affordability with the need to meet operational costs, including staff salaries, medicines and medical equipment.
“This is not a profit-making entity, and neither is it a loss-making facility. A health facility must be able to pay its staff as well as buy medicine and equipment, so we shall provide services at affordable rates,” he said.
However, he urged medical personnel to ensure that patients who cannot afford treatment are not turned away.
“I encourage the medics not to turn away those who do not have money,” Tamale added.
Jinja City Medical Officer Dr Frederick Isabirye welcomed the hospital, describing it as an important addition to healthcare services in the city and surrounding areas.
He paid tribute to Wamika for initiating the project, saying the facility would ensure that future generations benefited from the late bishop’s vision and commitment to serving humanity.
“First and foremost, we pay tribute to the late Bishop Wamika, the visionary behind this noble initiative. Although he is no longer with us, his vision lives on through this institution. His dream has become a reality, and generations to come will benefit from his foresight, courage and commitment to the service of humanity,” Isabirye said.
He expressed hope that the hospital would help improve the health and well-being of the population by expanding access to medical services.
The unveiling of the facility added a development dimension to the anniversary commemorations, highlighting Wamika’s efforts to address both the spiritual and social needs of the people he served.
During the event, Archbishop Obbo appointed interim board members and administrators to oversee the new facility.
The board will be chaired by the Chancellor of Jinja Diocese, Rev. Fr Gerald Muto, while the diocesan health coordinator, Mrs Dorcus Athieno Musubaho, will serve as the hospital administrator.
Bishop Wamika’s first death anniversary renewed attention to his contributions to the Catholic Church and the wider Jinja community.
The establishment of Uganda Martyrs Hospital further underscored his commitment to community development, with Church and city officials expressing confidence that the facility would continue serving residents long after his death.
Beyond commemorating his life, the hospital represents an enduring investment in healthcare and a lasting expression of the late bishop’s vision of faith translated into service to humanity.