The Archbishop of Kampala, Paul Ssemogerere, has implemented new procedures governing fundraising activities within the Archdiocese.
This directive, issued to individuals, parishes, institutions, societies, and associations, aims to prevent unauthorized fundraising and combat fraudulent solicitations in the name of the church.
In a letter dated March 13, Archbishop Ssemogerere outlined the negative impact of deceptive fundraising practices on the reputation of the Archdiocese. He emphasized the need to address these issues to safeguard the integrity of fundraising efforts and maintain trust with donors and agencies.
“Fraudsters make false claims requesting for funds from agencies in the name of Kampala archdiocese. That habit has caused our institution to lose its reputation and genuine project proposals to be rejected by donors,” the Archbishop’s letter reads in part.
Effectively, under the new arrangement, all requests for financial assistance must go through the Archdiocesan Project Office, where they will be registered and assigned a unique identifier. Additionally, all requests will be forwarded to the funders by staff within the project office using one of the two specified official email addresses.
“All requests for financial assistance must be sent to the funding agencies by only the staff of the project office using the official email put in place and through the post office as the project office staff will be instructed,” he added.
Ssemogerere emphasized that he will only endorse project proposals that adhere to the established measures implemented to combat fraud. Furthermore, he stated that all funding agencies will be notified of this new development to ensure the rejection of projects that do not comply with the established measures.
A source within the Archdiocese, who preferred anonymity, highlighted a longstanding issue where individuals, including priests, lay leaders, and heads of various associations and institutions, have been soliciting funds from both internal and external donors in the name of the Archdiocese. The source added that unfortunately, many of these funds have been diverted for personal gain.
“The move by the Archbishop will address this issue,” the source commented. “Numerous projects are falsely associated with the Archdiocese when they are intended for individual benefit. Some individuals even fail to execute the proposed projects and instead misuse the funds for personal gain.”
Our reporter has gathered information indicating that similar changes have been observed in various dioceses.
Particularly in the case of the Catholic Diocese of Masaka, which previously encountered similar challenges. Sources indicate that the diocese went as far as asserting ownership of several items, properties, and projects funded under their name.
The directive sets clear guidelines for anyone seeking to use the Archdiocese’s name in fundraising activities. It underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in all fundraising endeavors and warns against misrepresenting the church for personal gain.
