HOIDERA is a religious grounded association borne of the need for people who come from Hoima catholic diocese resident in the diaspora particularly Kampala and it neighborhood to congregate.
The spirit of association of the people from Hoima diocese staying in the diaspora dates back in the early 1970s. The few of that time living and working in different parts of Uganda and outside formed a loose network to keep in contact. Those in Kampala, Jinja, and Entebbe formally came together in 1978 and since then the association has been registering various achievements.
In 2023 under the executive committee led by Eng. Moses Bigabwa various achievements were registered in the books of HOIDERA.
HOIDERA has different departments that were formed earlier and others which were formed in the year 2023 like HOIDERA Women council, HOIDERA men and HOIDERA marrieds, these achievements were recognized according to the departments of the family.
During the year, HOIDERA carried out a number of activities but of special mention is the mobilization of members in their Small Community Centers (SCC).
These are the Jinja road, Gayaza road, Hoima road, Entebbe road and City Center communities. Under the HOIDERA SCC it made it easy to mobilize the end of year gettogether and games competitions where Gayaza Road SCC manifested to be the winners.
Also had gatherings organized by the Hoidera Women and Men. And trusting that the years ahead will be ones of many victories not only for the church, but also for each and every HOIDERA member.
Over the year, HOIDERA carried out the following activities:
- Participated in the MEPA pilgrimage at Namugongo on the November 12th 2023.
- Conducted the marrieds retreat on the 7th November 2023.
- Operationalized the Bereavement fund (so far we have registered 100 members). We continue to invite more members to this cause.
- Carried out youth retreats and held the annual youth conference.
- Supported the ordination ceremony and attended the function in large numbers.
- Contracted architects to develop concepts for the eventual development of our land at Manyangwa
- Contributed to the construction of St. Mary’s Hospital, Hoima.
- Set up the website for HOIDERA (www.hoidera.org), social media handles like X and Face book in the names of HOIDERA. Login and check our information.
Women organised to celebrate Women’s Day together on 8/3/2023 at Mr.& Mrs. Garuhanga’s home, Bweyogerere. There we elected and formed HOIDERA Women Council leadership.
The Council had their inaugural meeting on 22nd April 2023, at Dr&Mrs Aloysius Byaruhanga’s home, Nsambya. At that meeting they planned for the 2023 activities that led to a Women spiritual pilgrimage to St Andrea Kaggwa, Munyonyo Basilica on 20th May 2023.
They also had a retreat on Financial Literacy and Home management values on 19th August 2023, at Mr&Mrs Kaijabwango (Rita Byabazaire) Kulambiro. All these events were preceded by Mass said by our dear Chaplain, Fr Aiden Kasuja.
HOIDERA Women acquired a beautiful royal blue and yellow uniform, courtesy of Mdm Jovita Mugabi and others. through the agreement with a few individuals on royal blue deriving it from Bunyoro Kingdom colour, then yellow from our Catholic faith.
Under the Women Council leadership women have actively participated and financially supported in HOIDERA monthly Masses and other events like ordination, weddings and funerals. A number of women have been mobilised to join HOIDERA.
Youths through the year engaged in a number of activities namely; The Bishop’s pastoral visit to Hoidera, Institutional masses, kubungirangana campaign, Outreach to kankobe Childrens Homes headed by our own Sr. Mildred, the annual youths conference, MEPA pilgrimage to Namugongo, Ordination, AMDA caravan.
Likewise the HOIDERA Marrieds also engaged in the number of activities through out the year namely; the HOIDERA Pioneer Retreat held at Namugongo, supporting marriage anniversaries and weddings of HOIDERA members, animating end of year HOIDERA Mass and forming a HOIDERA Marrieds platform.
According to the above achievements of the year, the association is planning among others to:
- Launch the much awaited SACCO for HOIDERA community (this is a development activity for which I call upon all members to participate).
- Embark on the construction of the community centre at Manyangwa, Gayaza
- Picking on the lessons from AMDA, carryout a caravan in one of the parishes in Hoima Diocese.
- HOIDERA Women Council is planning for a more vibrant 2024, with empowering activities that include but not limited to Social get together (Women’s day), Economic empowerment, Spiritual retreat (Kiwamirembe or other Marian pilgrimage) and a Charity outreach that can be all inclusive.
- Have the annual Bishop’s visit and the all activities that took place in 2023 to continue taking place during this year of 2024.
