KAMPALA, Uganda : The Anglican Relief and Development Fund (ARDF) has committed funding toward the construction of the Maama Margaret Kaziimba Hospital in Mukono Diocese, with the first facility expected to be commissioned later this year.
The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, The Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, revealed this upon returning to Uganda after official international engagements in Abuja, Nigeria, and Cairo, Egypt.
While in Abuja, Archbishop Kaziimba participated in the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) G26, leading a delegation of 52 representatives from the Church of Uganda. The delegation included 41 bishops, six clergy members, and five lay leaders.
The conference, held from March 3–6, 2026 and hosted by the Anglican Church of Nigeria, brought together 347 Anglican bishops and 121 lay and clerical leaders from 27 provinces across the global Anglican movement. Discussions at the gathering focused on strengthening orthodox Anglican identity and governance within the Communion.
During the meeting, GAFCON leaders also announced structural changes, replacing the GAFCON Primates Council with a newly established Global Anglican Council. The new council will comprise Primates, Advisors, and Guarantors as voting members and will oversee the recognition of provinces and dioceses participating in the emerging Global Anglican Communion.
Delegates welcomed the election of Archbishop Laurent Mbanda of Rwanda as Chair of the Global Anglican Council, Archbishop Miguel Uchôa of Brazil as Deputy Chair, and Bishop Paul Donison as General Secretary. The council will also guide the implementation of the Jerusalem Declaration and support the mission and faith of Global Anglicans.
While still in Abuja, Archbishop Kaziimba, together with Church of Uganda bishops and the leadership of Church Commissioners Holding Company Ltd, held a strategic meeting with Mr. John Kamya, Chairman of Hamilton Telecom, and Board Advisor Mr. Tshepo Kgadima. The meeting explored investment opportunities in the telecommunications sector and discussed strengthening the Church’s partnership with Hamilton Telecom, the parent company of PaxTel, which works with the Church of Uganda.
Following the conference in Nigeria, Archbishop Kaziimba travelled to Cairo to attend the Global Council meeting of the Anglican Relief and Development Fund (ARDF), where he serves as a trustee and member.
During the meeting, he commended ARDF for supporting communities in Uganda through humanitarian and development initiatives. He specifically praised the organization’s assistance in emergency relief efforts at Nakivale Refugee Settlement and support to Sebei Diocese following devastating flash floods last year that caused deaths and displacement.
He also acknowledged ARDF’s role in supporting the construction of a health facility in Sebei Diocese to help address the growing cases of female genital mutilation in the region.
Archbishop Kaziimba explained that the Maama Margaret Kaziimba Hospital project was inspired by a personal experience.
“We decided to build a hospital in memory of our first child who was a girl that lived for only about five minutes. When my wife Margaret was pregnant with our first child, she walked long miles to get maternity services, and by the time she reached the health facility, the baby was tired and died shortly after birth,” he said.
He noted that the hospital will help improve access to maternal and child health services and contribute to reducing maternal mortality in Uganda.
During the same ARDF Global Council meeting, Rt. Rev. Dr. Richard Condie, Bishop of Tasmania in Australia, was elected Chair of the Global Council.
Meanwhile, Archbishop Kaziimba is expected to travel to Rukungiri in North Kigezi Diocese on Friday for his farewell pastoral visit. During the visit, he will preside over celebrations marking three years of episcopal ministry of Bishop Onesimus Asiimwe on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at Emmanuel Cathedral Kinyasano.
