MMM in Uganda

Uganda
Land: Water:	197,100 sq km 43,938 sq km
Coastline:	0 km (landlocked)
Population:	32,369,558 (July 2009 estimate)
Age Structure:	0-14 years: 50% 15-64 years: 47.9% 65 years and over: 2.1%
Life Expectancy:	male: 51.66 years female: 53.81 years (2009 estimate)
Infant Mortality Rate: 64.82 deaths/1,000 live births
People living with HIV/AIDS: 940,000 (2007 estimate)
Literacy:	Total population: 66.8% male: 76.8% female: 57.7% (2002 census)
National Holiday: Independence Day, 9 October (1962)
From - World Factbook 2009

MMMs are well known in the town of Masaka, 80 kms south-west of Kampala. A major part of our work there is in the prevention of the spread of HIV and the care of persons with AIDS, along with orphan support and training of village health workers.

At Kitovu Hospital, 2 km away, MMM is still involved, even though the administration and staffing of the hospital is now under the management of a local diocesan Congregation of Sisters, the Daughters of Mary. Sister Maura Lynch, an MMM general surgeon, still works at Kitovu, where a new Unit provides advanced surgical techniques to repair the condition known as Vesico-Vaginal Fistula, which is suffered by many women following prolonged obstructed labor.

In the town of Masaka, a vibrant inter-cultural community of Sisters provides a range of services to disadvantaged people, including children orphaned by AIDS, people suffering from substance abuse, street children and prisoners.

At Makondo, 50 km west of Masaka, a community of four MMMs runs a Health Center and outreach care to surrounding villages. 

It is claimed that the first cases of what has come to be known as AIDS were identified near us in Uganda. Back in the early 1980s the people called it 'Slim', as they noticed people losing weight and falling very ill.

Our expertise in responding to the AIDS pandemic has been honed over the years.

Many specialists, journalists, and film crews have come to this part of Uganda to look at what we are doing. Care workers in the field of HIV have come from as far away as China to see how communities can be helped to respond to this pandemic.

Stories from MMM in Uganda

Christmas Play at St. Kizito's Nursery School
Uganda, December 2008:  Every year preparations for the Christmas Play at St. Kizito's Nursery School fill most of the month of December. Sister Celine Jones, who together with her wonderful team of teachers and staff says:   "It is amazing what an effect it has on the children to participate in the play. No matter what part they have, they take it all very seriously, and yet have great fun rehearsing, and of course getting dressed up for the part. Every year the story is the same, and the costumes are the same, but the children are different, and that is what is so special about it." >>> more.

Midwifery Insights into Life in Uganda by Kathleen Nallen
Uganda, 2008: Kathleen Nallen with a young client of the Malnutriton UnitLast summer as part of the SONAS programme at Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT), I had the privilege of accompanying 6 nursing and midwifery students on a two week trip to Uganda as guests of the Medical Missionaries of Mary (MMM's). We were also accompanied by Mark Cunningham, a Psychiatric Nursing lecturer who at this stage is a veteran of such trips. The students' diverse backgrounds made the dynamics all the more interesting as each had varied experiences to share and had different expectations of the trip. The group bonded almost instantly as it set out on a communal two week adventure. >>> more.

Five weeks in Makondo by Anna Camp
Uganda, 2008: Anna Camp working with DavidComing to volunteer in the area warmly referred to as ‘the bush’ of Makondo, Uganda was an impulse decision. It was one that I made when overcome with passion for promoting awareness, acceptance and advancement for all people with disabilities, a passion that I am often overcome by. What I expected to find was a third-world situation. Being a special education teacher in a government-funded public school in America, I knew there would be significant differences in the education system I was to find in Makondo.  >>> more.

Clean Water at last!  by Sister Celine Jones
Uganda, 2008:  A good supply of clean water was a long time dream of St. Agatha’s Primary School. This would save the children from trekking long distances to water sources – swamps and ponds that were totally unsuitable for human use.

The Lions Club of Portmarnock, Co. Dublin made this dream come true. Funds were received in 2007. We had many difficulties in finding a good water source nearby and finding a qualified well mechanic but our biggest enemy of recent times has been the weather!  >>> more.

Little Boy with a Precious Load  by Sister Josephine Keane
Uganda, 2007: The ambulance was just ready to pull away after our regular HIV/AIDS clinic in Naanya neighbourhood when an 11-year old boy named Joseph cycled up and parked his bicycle by the tree. His little brother, Matthew, not yet 2 years old, was in a cardboard box on the carrier. The poor little fellow was very ill, suffering from severe malnutrition. Our staff were tired from seeing over one hundred patients that morning and were already on board our ambulance and ready to get home for their break, but they quickly disembarked and brought the baby indoors.  >>> more.

Our financial needs for all this work are a continuing call for help.
Please partner us in this work if you can.

History of MMM in Uganda  |  More Stories from Annals of MMM in Uganda

Last modified: Friday, March 19th, 2010