News Release

Church Sponsors a Major Expansion of School for Ugandan Orphans 

Investing in the education of young children

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sponsored major improvements to the Grace Community School in the Masaka District in southwest Uganda that were completed in January 2023. These improvements included three new classroom blocks, one new office and teacher block, new toilet facilities, and a water capture system. This will benefit more than 200 orphans and other children from the local community. 

Construction work began in August 2022 and the project was valued at 520 million Uganda Shilling (about $142,000 USD). Church humanitarian missionaries managed the project.

Many government officials, school administrators, and Church leaders participated in the handover event on 14 January 2023. These included the Honorable John Paul Lukwago Mpalanyi, Member of Parliament for Kyotera, the Honorable Rose Nantongo, Member of Parliament for Kyotera, Mr. Yasin Kyebambe, local community leader, Mr. Bendicto Muwereza, local community leader, and Mr. Dauda Lukyamuzi, Inspector of Schools for the Kyotera District.

Philip Mathemera, President of the Uganda Kampala Mission, and Robert Ssekitto, President of the Masaka District, represented the Church. Project managers Elder and Sister Bird were also in attendance.

President Ssekito said at the handover event, “we visited this school five years ago, and the children were studying in substandard conditions with makeshift buildings made of wood with no furniture.” He added that the Church has a robust humanitarian aid program where money is directed to help needy communities, such as in this project.

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