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Uganda: Catholic Caravan 2026 brings healthcare to underserved communities
Medical personnel under the auspices of the Archdiocese of Mbarara Development Association (AMDA), an umbrella organisation uniting Catholics from the Archdiocese of Mbarara living in Kampala and surrounding areas, have again undertaken a successful outreach programme to rural and underserved western Ugandan parishes, delivering free medical care.
Sr. Stella Watsema OLGC – Kampala
The development association, AMDA, works closely with the Archdiocese of Mbarara to mobilise resources, fund local projects, and support infrastructure across the archdiocese’s districts.
Transforming society through interaction
The Medical Caravan Outreach is one of the association’s centrepiece projects, reaching out every year to rural and underserved areas of the Archdiocese of Mbarara and delivering free medical camps, dental care, and eye surgeries.
This year, the Caravan 2026 medical camp travelled from the capital Kampala to St. Claret Parish, Nyabwina, in Sheema District, with four buses, in addition to participants who travelled in their own vehicles.
St. Claret Parish hosted the Caravan 2026 Medical Camp, but the 3-day health outreach (4 – 6 September 2026) took place at St. John’s Secondary School, Nyabwina, in the neighbouring Sheema District.
The medical camp is not the sole purpose of the initiative. “People will be talking about the medical camp, but beyond the medical camp, there is so much interaction intended to transform society,” president of the Uganda National Council of Lay Apostolate, Gervase Ndyanabo, a former AMDA chair, told Vatican News.
Individual AMDA members, volunteers, and various partner organisations contribute funds, medicines, equipment, and other resources, and give generously of their time.
Uganda: Religious sisters in the medical profession participate in the Caravans (©AMDA)
Laity and religious medical personnel
The Caravan outreach consists of both lay people and religious sisters in the medical profession. The Government of Uganda, various partners, and some security agencies also support the association’s efforts by providing specialised medical teams to buttress Caravan outreach programme and services.
The medical services are open to everyone, regardless of faith or any other affiliation.
Caravan organisers were keen to emphasise that the medical camps do not seek to replace existing hospitals and health facilities. Instead, the Caravans extend healthcare services into communities, bringing medical attention closer to people who may otherwise struggle to access it. The medical teams refer serious cases to existing health institutions.
Journeys of generosity
Mbarara Archdiocese Archbishop Lambert Bainomugisha could not preside at the closing Mass of the medical camp. Bishop Callistus Rubaramira of neighbouring Kabale Diocese represented him. In his homily, Bishop Callistus Rubaramira described the AMDA Caravan as “a journey of generosity.”
For his part, Chis Gumisiriza, the current AMDA chair, spoke of a shared purpose between the Church and the laity.
“This year’s AMDA Caravan, the 12th in a row, was a strong demonstration of what can be achieved when the laity, the Church and partners work together with a shared purpose. The impressive participation, resource mobilisation and impact across health, education, livelihoods and other community initiatives showed that the Caravan has evolved into an important vehicle for service and development within the Archdiocese of Mbarara. We deeply appreciate the continued guidance and support of the Archbishop, clergy and the entire Archdiocese, and we look forward to strengthening this cooperation so that together we can reach more communities and create lasting impact,” he said.
Some members of AMDA (©AMDA)
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