Buchicha Primary School in Uganda Receives Major Facilities Upgrade

Buchicha Parish of Busia District, Uganda is 196 kilometers (122 miles) by road, east of Kampala, Uganda near the Uganda/Kenya border.  The Buchicha Primary School, with over 2800 students, was in significant need of facilities upgrades. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Humanitarian Services met that need by providing 8 new classrooms, two 5-stall latrines, 2 wash stations and a kitchen.  The classrooms were equipped with 300 desks for students, 12 teacher desks and 12 chairs.  At a handover event at Buchicha Primary School, the community came together to celebrate the completion of construction and to express thanks to the benefactor. 

A significant crowd from the community gathered for the celebration.  Participating were students, community residents and leaders, and school personnel.  Among those joining the handover event were the school’s Head Teacher, teachers, Chair of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), and Chairperson of the School Management Committee.  Religious leaders including leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, government and civic leaders, and the project contractor also participated in the event.

Mugeni Martine, the school’s Head Teacher, thanked the contractor for doing the work with a high standard of professionalism.  He recognized the Church of Uganda Bukedi Diocese for providing the land for the project.  He commended The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for its overwhelming financial support.  The Municipal Education Officer, Mangeni Aggrey, promised to assign more teachers to the Buchicha Primary School because a significant increase in pupils would be drawn by the beautiful new facilities.

The PTA Chairman encouraged the parents to care for the facilities that had been donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Students were involved by entertaining the guests with music, dance, and drama.  Their songs expressed gratitude and praise for the school and for the Church.

The Archdeacon of the Church of Uganda, Bukedi Diocese expressed awe saying that he couldn’t believe such magnificent buildings were erected there.  When the school approached him and told him that another church was going to finance the multi-million shilling project he initially did not believe it.  He thanked school and government leaders for working together with Church Humanitarian Services to ensure a successful project.  He encouraged all present to create meaningful relationships with people of other faiths.

City Mayor Sadiq Amin thanked The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for its amazing work, and he encouraged it to collaborate in the future with the Church of Uganda for the betterment of the country.  Isabirye Mathias, the building general contractor thanked all the participating organizations for the necessary support to do the project.  He shared that the finished structures are very high quality.

In making remarks as one of the many grateful speakers, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Kibwika Michael, expressed amazement at the great construction work and at the significant donation freely given by The Church.  He encouraged parents to support their children and he asked spiritual leaders to be united so that their followers may also be one.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Busia District President Kazomwah Francis M’mbulika also spoke.  He briefly described the Church and invited any present who would like to learn more to contact the full time missionaries.  Missionaries of the Uganda Kampala Mission were at the handover event.  President M’mbulika also talked about other church programs that supported church members and non members such as BYU Pathway Worldwide, the Perpetual Education Fund, Benson Scholarships, and more.