Winchester Deanery Partnerships NewsletterOctober 2012

Focus on Muhabura

This edition of the newsletter focuses on the deanery’s partnership with the Diocese of Muhabura in Uganda. The diocese is situated in South West Uganda and borders on to Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is named after Mount Muhabura (‘the Guide’), one of the volcanoes that form the Rwanda border (left-most volcano in picture).The countryside is very beautiful and is on the tourist trail – the Impenetrable Forest is home to mountain gorillas.

Bishop Cranmer Mugisha and his wife Hope visited the deanery when attending Bishop Tim’s enthronement service. In June Rev Alan Gordon (our rural dean) visited the diocese with his wife Eleanor as part of his sabbatical. At the start of September two teachers from the deanery moved to Kisoro to teach in a primary and secondary school and be involved in youth and children’s work in the diocese. This two way traffic between the deanery and diocese is at the heart of our partnership.

Alan Gordon’s Visit

Alan preached at the Cathedral on the first Sunday and then at four confirmation services (all by translation) led by the Bishop. All the services were at least 300 – 400 strong, and overall more than 120 people confirmed – 57 people in one parish. Such is the growth that the Bishop plans to enlarge the current 800-seater Cathedral to accommodate all the worshippers at services, particularly those in the local language.

Alan notes that there were ‘one or two differences from confirmations in England’, not least the presence of a Boys Brigade Bugle and Drum Band complete with Ugandan flag, and a drum in the choir. The service was borne along on a wave of at times joyous, at other times moving, and at others exuberant singing.

Eleanor visited Potters Village (which cares for orphaned babies and has a link with St Cross); and the local government hospital in Kisoro where she was welcomed and shown around by the Medical Superintendent. Not unexpectedly it was busy with people waiting for a consultation or accompanying a family member who was waiting for a consultation; or in a ward – sometimes sharing a bed – and inevitably accompanied by family. The staff endeavours to meet the needs from very limited resources. Eleanor quickly found herself in the centre of the action in the maternity ward as she assisted a young mother giving birth – without the benefit of pain relief. Shortly after the young woman got up, gathered her baby and few belongings together and made to leave as the bed was needed for another birth.

Teaching in Kisoro

In September teachers Charlotte Pascall and Claire Lunn-Rockliffe moved to Kisoro to spend a year teaching – Charlotte in the Ssesame Primary School (alongside Mama Hope), and Claire in Ssesame Secondary School. They introduce themselves:

Charlotte: I moved to Winchester in 2007 to study at the university, fell in love with the city and stayed! Since moving to Winchester, I have been a part of Christ Church and have led on both the Pathfinders youth team, for 11-14 year olds, and the Download youth team for 14-18s – such a privilege. I have been to Africa twice before: to Kenya three years ago with the Church Mission Society, and to Uganda in February 2012 with a team from Christ Church. Having trained as a primary teacher, I have spent the last two years teaching at Otterbourne Primary School and I am excited to start the next teaching adventure in the primary school in Kisoro – a far cry from Winchester teaching, I’m sure!

Claire: I am a Winchester girl, born and bred and have been part of Christ Church since I was 14. I went to Brunel University in West London for 4 years to train to be a PE teacher. However I still stayed involved in youth work at Christ Church, helping with the Pathfinder age group for 11-14 year olds. I have been part of five mission teams sent out to Uganda by Christ Church in the last few years to Kisiizi, Kampala and to Kisoro. I have also spent time in Tanzania as part of my gap year, working in a craft workshop for deaf and disabled people. I am looking forward to learning the local language to add to my repertoire of East African languages!! I am not sure of any of the facilities, equipment, people or school I am heading to, and therefore looking forward to a new adventure in Uganda.

Alan and Eleanor visited the school where Charlotte will be teaching. It has a roll of 923 children. Resources are limited which means that class sizes can be in the region of 80-90! However, this is not untypical for Uganda. Moreover, not all the pupils are primary school age as adults are permitted to take advantage of the government’s programme of universal primary education if they have not already received it. The oldest pupil in school is about 30 years old! Notable in the primary school is the ratio of girls to boys – about 2:1 – but this is reversed in secondary school where boys are in the majority, particularly in the senior years. Girls face pressure to return home to help with domestic and other duties when they reach this age.

For Thanksgiving and Prayer:

  • Give thanks for the way the partnership is growing
  • For Charlotte and Claire as they settle in and get to understand the curricula they will be teaching, their role in church life in Kisoro and (especially) fluency in the local language
  • For Bishop Cranmer as he pastors a growing church, and the appointment of evangelists to work in the diocese
  • For exploration of potential links between the diocese and Winchester University
  • For preparations for a diocesan youth convention in January and possible Winchester involvement

Brian Wakelin, Deanery Partnership Coordinator

01962 857985