UGANDA: Former National Director of Caritas Uganda Laid to Rest
Masereka Peter
The former National Director of Caritas Uganda Msgr. Francis Ndamira who was described as an example to many by treasuring his priesthood was laid to rest at Rushoroza Cathedral Cemetery in Kabale Diocese on 29th August 2023.
Msgr. Ndamira, 83, passed on at St Francis Nsambya Hospital on Sunday, August 27th, 2023 due to advanced cancer.
Msgr. Ndamira had just retired from office as the National Director of Caritas Uganda at the Uganda Catholic Secretariat where he had served for over 25 years.
Before his final send off, there was a funeral mass in which the Ordinary Bishop of Kabale diocese Rt. Rev. Callistus Rubaramira called on the congregation to pray for the soul of the late Msgr. Ndamira for God to welcome him in his Kingdom.
Bishop Rubaramira said the late has successfully fulfilled his priestly role and also encouraged many people especially the refugees that Caritas Uganda is dealing with by providing them hope and support.
The Archbishop of Mbarara Most Rev. Lambert Bainomugisha concelebrated the mass that had a number of priests and was attended by the many government dignitaries led by the Minister for ICT and National Guidance Dr. Chris Baryomunsi.
Shortly after the funeral mass in the Cathedral, the late Msgr. Ndamira was eulogized by a number of officials present among others Rev. Fr. Charles Lwanga from Kabale Diocese who cautioned priests against ignoring care for themselves as they take their pastoral role to save the souls.
The current National Director of Caritas Uganda Fr. Hillary Mugenzangago in his speech described the late Msgr. Ndamira as a priest and an officer who dedicated his life to promoting works of charity and also applied all his knowledge and skills in wishing better life to all people.
Bishop Callistus thanked God for the gift of Fr. Ndamira who had spent 53 years in priesthood after being the very first priest to be ordained by Bishop Barnabas Halem’Imana on April 12, 1970 at Makiro Parish, Adding saying that Fr. Ndamira loved his priesthood in putting the Gospel in practice as well as having great love and commitment to his priesthood.
Bishop said Fr. Ndamira has been an example to many by treasuring his priesthood and respect for his supervisors because he never left the parish for holidays and any other business minus reporting to the parish priest.
Fr. Ndamira who spent 29 years as a National Director of Caritas which formerly Social Services, the commission that has benefited Many Dioceses in Uganda and beyond through the committed services and hard works he connected Caritas Uganda to the CARITA International such as Norway, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, among many.
Bishop Callistus who is the chairman of the Finance commission of UEC said that Fr. Ndamira had passion for the poor and needy as part of his implementation of the love of God. Much relief was passing through caritas to benefit many dioceses and people of God including the refugees in West Nile.
Fr. Charles Lwanga chairman KADPA also described Fr. Ndamira as a priest of impeccable character, hard to replace. And the public have a lot to learn from him, urging priests to take health as paramount in going for regular medical check-ups.
Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, Minister for ICT and MP Kinkizi East, on representing the government who delivered condolences to Bishop Callis and Caritas fraternity said Ndamira was a strong pillar in national development. He was a champion in education and other social services aimed at developing the poor and underprivileged.
He added that president of Uganda had appointed Fr. Francis Ndamira on the committee of the prerogative of mercy based on health and humanitarian grounds that saw a pardoned 200 prisoners on 20/8/2023
Baryomunsi said the deceased worked hard to ensure that Uganda Catholic Television (UCTV) is operational and secure license. now currently hosted on Zuku channel 074. Unfortunately he has not lived to see the progress of UCTV which actually was broadcasting his burial Mass. As medical Dr. Baryomunsi appealed to people especially those who have reached 40 year to always have regular medical check-ups.
He was born on January 5, 1941 to Raphael Ntembaheiguru (RIP) and Oliver Kakushuro (RIP) in Rwesasi in Kaharo, Kabale district. In 1966, they migrated to Kijumi in Makiro, Kinkizi in the present day Kanungu District. He was the first born of 12children (5 girls and 7 boys) ordained on April 12, 1970 by Bishop Barnabas Halem’Imana at the age of 29. That year, 3 priests were ordained namely: Fr. John Baptist Ntahorutaba, Fr. John Bagamuhunda (RIP) and Fr. Francis Ndamira (RIP).
From April 1970 to January 1971, he was appointed to work as the Assistant Parish Priest of Makiro Parish with Verona Fathers (Comboni Fathers).
1971-1973: Acting Rector and Teacher at St. Paul’s Seminary Rushoroza. At that time, he was also appointed Priest in charge of Liturgical Renewal in the Kabale Diocese. He was a pioneer and original composer of Bakiga Church Music for Runyankore Rukiga Liturgy after the Vatican Council II had approved use of vernacular songs in liturgy instead of Latin.
1973-1982: He was sent to study Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Development in U.S.A at Villanova University. He did a Master’s Degree and PhD from New York University from 1973-1976 and was a part time Assistant Pastor of St. Ignatius Philadelphia, USA. From 1976 1978, Fr. Ndamira was an Assistant Pastor at Our Lady of Charity, New York, USA. And in 1977, he was a Chaplain for Youth during Summer Programs in Los Angeles USA. In 1978, he was a Chaplain for Scouts during summer in the Archdiocese of New York. Between 1978 and 1980, he was an Assistant Pastor at St. Aloysius, Harlem New York, USA and from 1980 to 1982, he was a Chaplain at Immaculate Heart Hospital, Bronx New York, USA.
From 1983 to 1985, Fr. Ndamira Francis was appointed by Bishop Barnabas as a Secretary to organize the First Diocesan Synod for Kabale Diocese.
Between 1985 and 1994, he was the Vicar General for Kabale Diocese but also serving as the Pastoral Coordinator and Vocations’ Director respectively. During the same period, he was appointed Founding Chairman of Advisory Committee for establishment in Kabale Diocese the first branch of Centenary Bank in Uganda.
In 1986, he was elected Chairman of Kabale Development Committee by the elite of Kigezi to promote tourism industry and to found Kigezi Bank of Commerce which later became National Bank of Commerce in 1988.
From 1995 – 2023, he was serving as the National Director for Caritas Uganda, at Catholic Secretariat Uganda Episcopal Conference
From2018 up to the time of his death, he was the Priest Caretaker of Kigezi Kampala Catholic Residents Association (KKRCA).
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