Our motto Ili Wawe na Uzima (That they may have life) which animates all BUCADOS activities, is inspired by the words of Our Lord Jesus Christ:"I have come that they may have life" (John 10:10). We translate this mission of Jesus into the mission of the Church and indeed into the mission of every baptized person to participate in the work of salvation; to sacrifice and offer oneself for the lives of others. Life in its holistic sense here includes both the spiritual (eternal life) and the temporal well-being of a person (education, food, and shelter). Thus, educating a child or another person in need means providing them with a solid foundation for life.

Unfortunately, in most cases, orphans and children from needy families are deprived of this noble foundation because they have no one to provide for their education, which is becoming more expensive every day. Against this background and in the spirit of Jesus, who "had compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd" (Mt 9:36) and inspired by his teaching "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Mt 25:40), BUCADOS was established under the Catholic Diocese of Bukoba to give life to the orphans and needy children by supporting their education from elementary school to college and university levels.

Dear family of God,
The importance of education for one’s life and especially for the life of an orphan cannot be overestimated. St. Matthew tells us that “Jesus had compassion for them because they were tired and exhausted like sheep without a shepherd” (Mt.9:36). When orphans have no opportunity to study, they become scattered like sheep without a shepherd and end up on the streets, begging for food and shelter, engaging in crimes and becoming victims of drugs, sexual abuse and human trafficking. The Catholic Diocese of Bukoba has always been at the forefront of helping the poor, including orphans. We thank Fr. Achilles Kiwanuka Machumilane who initiated this idea of founding BUCADOS to support the education of orphans and needy children. This has always been my wish, because I was an orphan myself and know the plight of orphans. As a proverb says: “Do not give a man the fish, teach him to fish" , we hope that through BUCADOS orphans will be equipped with the skills they need to shape their own future and participate in the development of their society. To you and to all who will come to know BUCADOS through you, I invoke the Lord's rich blessings and invite you to join us by contributing what little you have to support the BUCADOS mission so that together we can participate in Jesus’ mission: “I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly” (Jn 10:10), and thus fulfill the mission Jesus gave us: “Let the children come to me” (Mt. 19:14). May God bless you!

Fr Achilles Kiwanuka Machumilane, the founder of BUCADOS, is a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Bukoba in Tanzania and was born and raised in Bukoba. At the age of 8, Fr Achilles and his four brothers and five sisters were orphaned after the death of their father, Mr. Dominic Rutakulemberwa. He left them in the care of their mother Bertha Banagwa, who was only a housewife without any economic income. The coming years were a hard struggle for Fr Achilles and the family to make ends meet. Below, Fr Achilles recounts his heartbreaking experience as an orphan, which was the reason for founding BUCADOS. Read More