THE HISTORY OF THE GRAIL IN UGANDA (MARY GINDHART)
The Grail in Uganda started as a result of Lydwine’s initiative while on her Grail visit in Johannesburg South Africa, where she was able to write to the Archbishop of Lubaga Kampala, His Grace Louis Joseph Cabana, Apostolic Vicar of Uganda (A missionary of Africa) The letter was written on 15th May 1952. She started the journey with Margaret Van Gilse on 1st June 1952. They traveled by car through Southern and Northern Rhodesia now Zimbabwe, Tanganyika, and Kenya, it took them a month to get to Lubaga. From there, the communications between the Archbishop and the Grail were done by Margaret van Gilse. When they arrived in Lubaga Kampala, they met Archbishop Louis Joseph Cabana a Canadian Missionary of Africa who showed interest in having a lay movement and in turn invited the Grail to serve in his diocese which was Lubaga then. From the start, the main aim was to help African women to understand their role and take responsibility in developing their society. The Archbishop requested for a medical team to take over Lubaga Hospital from the white sisters (Missionaries of Africa) who wished to do evangelical work of teaching catechism. The contract between the Church and The Grail was signed on 19th July 1953 by Archbishop Louis Joseph Cabana and Margaret van Gilse. Lubaga Hospital The first two Grail members arrived in Uganda in 1953 at the beginning of July and the administration of Lubaga hospital was handed over to them there and then. The first Grail members were Marie Therese McDermit a senior surgical nurse and Lorraine Machan Nurse/Midwife who had worked in South Africa and Basutoland. The two were from the United States of America. (USA).
In September 1954, more medical people came to reinforce the medical staff and these were: Magdalene Oberhoffer who specialized in tropical medicine and hygiene was the first resident doctor, and Elisabeth Weigand a Laboratory and X-ray technician, who arrived from Germany. In the same year, Mary Mackery a nurse from the United States of America joined the team. In 1955 Hanna Arens from Germany and Ruth Chisholm from Canada, both nurses joined the Grail team at Lubaga. While Joan Dilworth from Scotland came to Uganda to begin social work programs with women. Developments at Lubaga Between 1953 and 1961 the following were built with the aid received from government grants and private donations. a. New Staff quarters b. An outpatients’ department 2 c. A ward d. A laundry place
In 1962 a new maternity ward was put up with the aid of a grant received from Misereor in Germany. In 1965 the main building project of the hospital which was financed by Misereor and the German government through “ Zentralstelle” was drawn up. It was divided into 4 building phases of which 3 were duly completed in October 1971. In the three phases, the following were constructed: a. A children’s ward of 50 beds b. The Nurses’ hostel part 1 c. Three Doctors’ flats d. A surgical ward of 30 beds with an Operation Theatre Department e. A Medical ward of 30 beds f. The Administration Department g. The new Outpatients’ Department with Laboratory and X-ray Departments. Establishment of Outposts in different parts of the country The activities of the Grail were not limited to Lubaga Hospital. From 1956 onward, members went out to establish outposts in several parts of the country. The following is a list of the outposts and the years in which they were operated by the Grail. These were all supervised by Lubaga Administration. Additionally Lubaga supervised a Dispensary in Kaliwa Tanganyika. Outpost Year of operation Nandere Dispensary 1956-1972 Bukalagi Health Centre 1957-1967 Bikira Dispensary/ Maternity 1957-1964 Bujumbura Dispensary/Maternity 1957-1965 Kakindu Dispensary/ Maternity 1959-1962 Mushanga Dispensary(Now Health Unit 3) 1958 to date Nyakibale Dispensary 1960-1961 Bujuni Dispensary 1960-1969 Rushoroza Dispensary 1962-1969 Kachumbala Dispensary 1960-1970
The above outposts were mainly dispensaries partly connected with maternities to give medical assistance and care to the people of the localities. In many of the outposts, there were also community activities with women’s groups conducted either by full-time social workers or by the nurses themselves who had contact with women as an important outreach and a channel to positive health education for the prevention of communicable diseases. The majority of these outposts are still operating under the authority of various dioceses where they were established. After the Africanisation of the staff and the reduction of Grail expatriates, the hospital was officially handed to the Bannabikira sisters to run the hospital.
The Grail run and oversaw the development of the hospital for 21 years that is from 1953 to 1974. During the years when the Grail was officially responsible for running Lubaga hospital, they recruited 105 expatriates to work in the hospital and outposts. As time went on Ugandan women increasingly took their place in the teams alongside the expatriates. However, even after the handover of the hospital, Grail members continued to serve in the hospital for example the late Dr. Moser Rita continued to work in the hospital as the Superintendent, whereas Elisabeth Weigand worked as an administrator until 2001 when they were called by the Lord.
EDUCATION
In 1954 Bishop Joseph Kiwanuka invited the Grail to start a Girl’s secondary school in Masaka Diocese. As a response, The Grail sent Frances Van Der Scott from the Netherlands to come and start the first Girls’ secondary school in that diocese with Nabakoza Elizabeth a young Ugandan teacher who later became a married Grail member. The school was started in a place known as Kasaabale and later transferred to Kalisizo in 1955. The first Girl’s secondary school in Masaka was then established as “Christ the King Kalisizo”. The first group had 28 girls including Elizabeth Namaganda who later joined the Grail. Josephine Drebek and Alice McCarthy came from the United States of America to take the responsibility of running the school from Frances Scott who returned to South Africa. The school grew into a fully-fledged senior secondary school with Dorothy Smith, Anne Hope, and Catherine Bagley serving successfully as headmistresses. In 1965, the school was handed over to the congregation of the Sacred Heart sisters and in the early 70s, it was handed over to the Bannabikira sisters who run it to date.
SOCIAL SERVICES
In 1955 Joan Dilworth arrived in Uganda to start social work activities in Lubaga diocese which is now Kampala Archdiocese and the nearby dioceses. Later other Grail women Hilde Derksen, Friedel Steven, Alice Dougan, Jessica Stuber, and 4 many volunteers came to support the social work activities that had grown. These formed teams in different parts of the country. They formed many women’s clubs and coordinated the work at the national level. Through their work, the team members brought the National Council of Catholic women into being a coordinating body for all Catholic women’s organizations in the country. This later gave birth to Uganda Catholic Women’s Guild. The activities gave birth to Uganda Catholic Social Training Centre which was formally established in 1969 as a National Training Institute by Uganda Episcopal Conference but was founded and run by the Grail Community. To date the Institute is a fully-fledged Tertiary institution of Higher Learning training students in many Certificate and Diploma courses including but not limited to:
The activities both in Lubaga hospital and Uganda Catholic Social Training Centre culminated in the construction of the Grail center Lubaga. The house was completed and officially opened on 15th August 1966. Today the center is the central seat of the Grail in Uganda.
RWENZORI VICARIATE (MBARARA DIOCESE).
The first invitation to the Grail was on 23rd August 1954 by The Most Reverend J. Lacoursiere DD to go and assist with a girl’s secondary school at Mushanga which was run by the Good Counsel Sisters and start a new girl’s secondary school in Kabale. However, it was not possible to send some Grail members due to a lack of qualified personnel. Another invitation was to assist in running the Hoima dispensary which was run by the Missionaries of Africa Sisters. It was under Rwenzori Vicariate (Mbarara Diocese) This was realized in 1957 and The agreement between the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese of Mbarara and The Grail was signed on 8th March 1957 by Rev. H. de Jordy, W.F. Vicar General of Mbarara Diocese, and Dr. Magdalene Oberhoffer.
In 1958, Bishop John Mary Ogez of Mbarara Diocese re-invited The Grail to work in the diocese. The Grail was asked to help first and foremost in the medical field to relieve the immense health problems by running a dispensary and in the social field to promote the advancement of women in the Mbarara Diocese. The dispensary was started in the same year and in 1959 Friedel Steven started Mushanga Social Centre the main activities were developing women’s clubs which later developed into Mbarara Diocesan Social Services and Development office. Since then, the Grail is in full charge of the Mushanga Social Centre. The center is owned by Mbarara Archdiocese but run by the Grail. The agreement between the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese of Mbarara was signed on 7th March 1959 by Bishop John Mary Ogez and Dr. Magdalene Oberhoffer for The Grail. The community work among rural women initiated by Friedal Steven was developed and carried on by Hilde Derksen, Anne Ottenscot, Mia Van Pol, and Mary Goretti Kebirungi now Mrs.. Mary Gorreti Busharizi. Their work not only comprised of field activities but also a simple residential center, set up in 1964 converted from school buildings where village leaders were trained. The Grail social teams were part of a larger network with other church-related personnel mainly missionary or local sisters. They coordinated the activities of women’s groups in various dioceses and parishes also at the national level. This network provided the necessary training in community development methods and practical skills for the village leaders. Indeed they conducted special courses for Ugandan sisters to enable them to take up work with women became an important part of the Grail’s work. The growth of the Grail Movement From the beginning, the Grail was concerned about passing on its vision to Uganda women.
In 1960 Mubende Grail center was opened with six students in the first year’s course including Imelda Gaurwa, who later set up the Kisekibaha Grail centre in her own country of Tanzania. Alice McCarthy, Jessica Stuber, Elizabeth Namaganda, Alice Dougan, An Bouwman were leaders in Mubende throughout the years. The training in Mubende continued until the end of 1969. It provided an all[1]around experience of Christian living and education in community leadership. During those days Mubende was the main centre for the Grail in Uganda. The Grail introduced Grail to young women through short lay apostolate leadership courses, held from 1957 onwards. This was done in many girls’ schools, teacher training colleges, and nurses’ training schools.
KITOVU GRAIL CENTRE
The Grail has a long history in the Masaka area right from the foundation of the school in Masaka in addition to being the birthplace of several Grail members. Kitovu is a formation center in addition to being a place for reflection and retreats. Activities at the center
MUSHANGA GRAIL
Centre Mushanga which is 34 kilometers from Mbarara was begun in 1958 as a medical and social outpost by Friedal Steven and Ans Van Haeren who was soon replaced by Angelina Weis. Mushanga saw a large number of volunteers in the course of its existence, especially in the health field. The tiny hut which served as the first dispensary has long disappeared but the work of serving sick people continues under the leadership of Polly Nyangoma a Grail member and other health personnel. In 1981 Frances Nassuuna a midwife and public health nurse initiated a Primary Health Care program. This program is aimed at the improvement of family, village health, and better use of local resources. She then had to educate local women to act as voluntary health agents in their villages. The team supervised the work of the agents, conducted house visits and classes for women’s groups, and ran regular clinics for mothers and young children. This program was later upgraded to Community Based Health Care Program. Community-Based Health Care Program (CBHC) started in 1984 until 1993. The program was mainly started: · To enhance the sustainability of existing programs through supervision, monitoring, and refresher courses.
MUSHANGA HEALTH UNIT
As already mentioned that among the outposts Mushanga was opened in 1958 and has a long history. The Grail teams have worked hard to offer health services from that year to date. There have been many valleys and hills but all of them have been overcome by the grace of God. In 1976, another room that was part of the old social center was added to the dispensary for the treatment of sick children, to help cope with the increasing number of patients. The room was also used as a delivery room. Since then, the dormitory of the social center was often used to admit patients who lived far away and who needed close observation. From 1978, the dispensary activities have been carried out by Ugandan Grail members helped by other personnel, and headed by Sr. Polly Nyangoma. Under her leadership, a nurses’ hostel was built in 1984 accommodating 10 nurses. This was a great relief to the availability of the nurses all the time. Currently, the dispensary was upgraded to the status of the Health Unit IV and offers the following services:
KISHABYA GRAIL CENTRE
In 1994 the Grail acquired 40 acres of land in Kishabya 22kms from Mushanga. In 1997 construction of a house started which was later completed in 1998. Demmy Kangye stayed there for several years with young women on formation. She also started many development programs including:
NAKIREBE GRAIL CENTRE
In 2009, Elizabeth Namaganda and Rose Nayiga adventurously found prime land in Nakirebe 22km from Kampala. This land was acquired for the Grail and from the bushy, thorny place it was then, it has since then been transformed into a Grail farm. The place is to be developed into a demonstration farm to help people in the neighborhood to learn organic farming as well as the schools around. Additionally, other activities are planned to be carried out alongside farming because they are many needs according to the needs assessment done. With help from Porticus, we have been able to construct a Grail home there to accommodate Grail members who are going to run and manage the programs there. A new team will soon take on the responsibilities at Nakirebe. The Grail in Uganda has various dreams for this Grail farm and home including but not limited to the following:
Fence the farm with demarcating poles plus planting fruit trees.
ELIZABETH GGULAMA VOCATIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOL
The school was started in 1988 to help young girls who had dropped out of school and orphans. The land on which the school was built was donated by the late Elizabeth Namaganda’s father. The school was a stitch in time because it has trained many students who can sustain themselves. However, over time the school has upgraded into a fully-fledged vocational secondary school hence it is ably providing vocational skills to students as well as secondary education.
NAKASOJJO HEALTH CENTRE
The health center was started in 1999 as a request from the local people who used to trek long distances to find health services in government and missionary hospitals that are many kilometers away. The Grail had acquired a piece of land in the area for the cultivation of foodstuffs. However, at the request of the people and with the help of Grail friends construction of the health centre was started. The local people were very much encouraged to contribute towards the construction of the health unit. The purpose of the health unit was to give integrated health services to the people of Ggulama parish following the government policy for health services at the lower level. The joint effort yielded and the health centre was completed. During the years of its existence, we have been assisted by the Diocese of Masaka in running the health center. Currently, the center offers the following services:
THE GRAIL IN UGANDA CURRENTLY
The decade of 1970s saw many drastic changes in the political, social, and economic situation of the country. The number of projects and volunteers coming 10 into the country had declined greatly. There were restrictions on activities with women carried out by non-government agencies. During these years the Ugandan Grail women took the lead. Previously the leadership was European, Magdalene Oberhoffer 1954-1961, Johnie Storimans 1961- 1968. A transition happened in the 1970s when a team structure of the Ugandan Grail members was created and continued. The leadership is composed of three people supported by regional council members. There are three main regions where the Grail operates that is: Kampala Archdiocese- Lubaga Masaka Diocese- Kitovu, Ggulama, Nakasojjo Mbarara Archdiocese- Mushanga, Kishabya