Gulu City, (UG):- In a colourful birthday celebration held on Tuesday, January 14th, in Gulu, friends and well-wishers of Gen. Caleb Akandunawo (Salim Saleh), the chief coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation, raised over UGX 1 billion to support the construction of a new residence for the Catholic nuns of Gulu Archdiocese.
Gen. Saleh marked his 65th birthday by dedicating the occasion to fundraising for the Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate of Gulu Archdiocese after reports revealed that the nuns had been living in substandard conditions for several years. The birthday was held at his residence in Bardge Te Dam, in Gulu City.
Sister Grace Angelina Aciro, the Superior Mother General, explained that the sisters had begun a construction project for their new home but had run out of funds. Faced with this challenge, they turned to Gen. Saleh for support.
“I fear begging, but for the sake of having decent accommodation, I said I must ask for help. Gen. Saleh, I want to thank you for dedicating your birthday to the Little Sisters of St. Mary Immaculate Gulu,” Sister Aciro expressed with deep gratitude. It was also reported that Gen. Saleh had previously donated UGX 162 million to the sisters.
Sister Aciro highlighted the significant contributions the Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate made during the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency by providing shelter to homeless civilians and night commuters who were victims of regional insecurity.
Despite the sisters’ humanitarian efforts during the conflict, their convent was severely damaged, and since the end of the war, neither the government nor other organizations have stepped in to renovate their homes. The number of sisters has continued to grow, further straining their living conditions.
Sister Aciro also praised the leadership of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), particularly President Yoweri Museveni and Gen. Saleh, for their dedication to restoring stability to northern Uganda.
In addition to the housing project, Sister Aciro mentioned the ongoing challenge of providing adequate food, particularly for the older nuns who require better nutrition. “We have three large farms, each over 150 acres, but we still rely on manual labor, and even with our efforts, we can only cultivate about five acres per year. This is not enough to sustain us,” she explained.
Thanks to a generous donation of a tractor and equipment from Kinyara Sugar Factory, the sisters hope their food production will improve. Additionally, President Museveni’s brother, Nzeire Sedrach Kaguta, donated 20 Friesian cows to the convent.
Beyond the financial contributions, many well-wishers donated building materials such as cement, paint, roofing materials, and even fully funded services to ensure the housing project’s success.
Gen. Saleh expressed his heartfelt thanks to former Attorney General William Byaruhanga and Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Nobert Mao, for organizing the event, which enabled him to show his compassion and support for the nuns. “I’m grateful to these two men, Mao and William, and their committees for organizing this birthday in honor of these sisters,” Gen. Saleh joyfully remarked.
In a video message shared online, former Inspector General of Police, Gen. Kale Kayihura, praised Gen. Saleh’s lifelong dedication to Uganda. “You remain a towering figure in Uganda’s history—humble, compassionate, and approachable. Your humanity has touched so many lives, including mine,” Gen. Kayihura said. “I am forever grateful to God for the opportunity to serve alongside you, and I thank you for never abandoning me, especially during difficult times. Congratulations on your birthday, comrade General. We have many reasons to celebrate you.”
The Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate Gulu, to whom the birthday celebration was dedicated, was founded in 1936 by Bishop Angelo Negri. According to Sister Aciro, the convent has since housed over 500 sisters.
Among the celebrants include Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, Inspector General of Police Abbas Byakagaba, Minister of State for Internal Affairs, Gen. David Muhoozi, Secretary General NRM Party, Richard Todwong, Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng among other top security officers, investors and members of Parliament.
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