Gidudu said dioceses including Jinja, Soroti and Arua were no longer actively participating in UCWA programmes, and called for collective efforts to restore their activities.
The Uganda Catholic Women’s Apostolate (UCWA) has sworn in its newly elected national leadership with a call for the women to strengthen the apostolate at grassroots level while addressing poverty, domestic violence and other challenges facing families.
The swearing-in took place at Namugongo-Kyoto Retreat Centre in Kira Municipality during a three-day leadership and management retreat that ended on Saturday.
Fr. Benedict Mugerwa, the national youth chaplain, presided over the swearing-in ceremony on behalf of Fr. Fredrick Tusingire, the National Executive Secretary of the Lay Apostolate Department at the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC).
In his message, Fr. Mugerwa urged the new leaders to make economic empowerment one of their priorities, arguing that financially stable leaders would be better positioned to support women in their dioceses.
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He encouraged them to take advantage of government initiatives such as Emyooga, the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP) and the GROW project, alongside other opportunities offered by financial institutions.
He highlighted the CenteSupawoman GROW Loan offered by Centenary Bank, a business growth financing facility aimed at women entrepreneurs and women-owned enterprises. Loan amounts range from sh4 million to sh200m with flexible security requirements, low interest rates, grace periods, and a GROW bonus for well-managed repayments
“Leadership in the Church today is mainly challenged by poverty, not only among ordinary Christians but also some of our leaders. I therefore challenge you to fight that vice first as individuals,” he said.
Fr. Mugerwa also challenged the leaders to help revive UCWA structures in dioceses where activities have declined.
His remarks followed concerns raised by UCWA president Mary Asumpta Gidudu about the inactivity of the apostolate in some parts of the country.
Gidudu said dioceses including Jinja, Soroti and Arua were no longer actively participating in UCWA programmes, and called for collective efforts to restore their activities.
Focus on families
The new leadership was also tasked with tackling domestic violence and strengthening family support programmes.
Fr. Mugerwa said women leaders should work with other community leaders to identify and address domestic violence cases, noting that household economic development can be undermined by violence and conflict.
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He also cautioned the leaders against gossip and internal disagreements, urging them to channel disputes through the appropriate leadership structures.
“Always address challenges to the relevant responsible people rather than deciding to talk against each other,” he said.
Gidudu, who comes from Lugazi Diocese, has served as UCWA president since her first election in 2017 and was re-elected in February 2026.
She urged the new team to work collectively to extend UCWA programmes beyond diocesan headquarters to parishes, sub-parishes and Small Christian Communities.
The leadership team includes Sofie Mbonigaba of Kabale Diocese as vice president, Beatrice Atim Opio of Moroto Diocese as secretary general, Gorret Kugonza of Fort Portal Diocese as deputy secretary general, and Irene Labwoti of Gulu Diocese as treasurer.
The provincial representatives are Rachael Nandalenge for Tororo Archdiocese, Imelda Muwonge for Kampala Archdiocese, Anna Lumumba for Gulu Archdiocese and Evelyne Nzige for Mbarara Archdiocese.
Florence Kwesigabo, the UEC National Family Desk coordinator, encouraged the leaders to strengthen their engagement with women at parish, sub-parish and household levels.
Kwesigabo urged women to pursue income-generating activities such as vegetable growing, food production, livestock and poultry farming to improve household incomes and strengthen families.
The UCWA leadership is drawn from a council representing the country’s 19 dioceses, with two representatives from each diocese.
