Mayuge: The Canadian mission team’s visit to Mayuge district this June, 2025, has left an indelible mark on the lives of vulnerable families and communities. Initially, their mission was to support the treatment of a critically ill child, but sadly, their help arrived too late.
However, the team didn’t abandon the grieving family. Instead, they redirected their efforts to uplift and transform the lives of the surviving family members.
Rose Kwikiriza’s story is a testament to the human spirit’s capacity to persevere. After giving birth to triplets in 2013, she faced unimaginable challenges, including homelessness and despair.
But thanks to the intervention of this Canadian team led by Sandra Durdle, Kwikiriza’s life took a dramatic turn. The team provided her family with a motorcycle, household essentials, and even built a permanent house.
“I never imagined bringing life into the world wounded so much pain. After everything was done for me, my husband turned against me,” Kwikiriza states with agony.
When her husband turned violent and took control of the support items, the team didn’t give up. With the help of local authorities and community leaders, Kwikiriza was able to reclaim her home and start anew.
The Canadian team’s efforts extend beyond individual families. They’re working with Save the Young Mothers-Uganda to empower teenage mothers in Mayuge through vocational skills development programs.
“We believe that when you give a girl a skill, you give her a future,” says Daniel Saire, communication officer at Save the Young Mothers-Uganda.
The program offers free tailoring lessons to young mothers who have dropped out of school or faced early pregnancies.
For Pascal Baabula, a father who lost his son to cancer, the Canadian team’s support was a lifeline. They built a house for him and established a retail shop to sustain his family.
“I had no one else to turn to, but these people gave me back my life,” Baabula said.
The Canadian team has also made a significant impact on education in the region. At Nabeta Primary School, over 500 pupils received school uniforms and scholastic materials.
The team donated plastic shoes to all pupils and reusable sanitary pads to girls. For Peace Naguyo, a primary five pupil, receiving a school uniform was a dream come true.
“I had never had a school uniform because my guardians couldn’t afford one. This is the first time to have one, and I feel proud to wear the same uniform as my classmates,” she said.
