Bishop Hiiboro Commissions Construction of a Secondary School at Corpus Christi Gangura Parish

Gangura Payam, one of the regions under the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambia is considered as one of the remotest places in Western Equatoria where basic infrastructure such as schools and health facilities are yet to be established. The residents as such are often compelled to seek and access some of the essential services such as education and healthcare in Yambio town which is 32 kilometers away.

 As such during his last pastoral visit to the place where he managed to visit and interact with the Christians, listening to their pastoral as well as integral needs, Barani Eduardo Hiiboro, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio commissioned construction of a secondary school in the area under Corpus Christi Gangura Parish.

 Corpus Christi Gangura was made a Parish on September 14, 2018 by Bishop Hiiboro and is situated at about 32 kilometers away from Yambio town the Capital of Western Equatoria State and about 16 kilometers to the border with Democratic Republic of Congo.

 “Gangura for a long time has experienced a lot of conflicts and unrest. The first of which was after the conflicts in Norther Uganda when the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels who were fleeing from Ugandan government forces, settled in Gangura and used the place as a camp base. After the LRA rebels came the civil war in South Sudan and the rebels also established their camp in Gangura from where they continued to attack the government. Thirdly the South Sudan Government soldiers in their pursuit of the rebels came and completely destroyed the place by burning houses, destroying people's properties and harassing people. As a result Gangura is a place where residents have suffered a lot as more often than not, their lives and livelihood have been shuttered by the fighting forces,” Bishop Hiiboro explained.

 The aftermath of these conflicts have continued to stagnate the development in this space therefore the lack of infrastructural facilities such as schools and health centers.

 “Up until recently, children from Gangura who are interested in education have been going to Yambio and stay with either relatives or well-wishers or rent accommodations as they pursue their studies,” Bishop Hiiboro revealed adding that this has been a very hectic and burdensome affair which has discouraged the majority of young people as well as their parents in as far as advancing education is concerned.

 It is on this basis that the Bishop felt compelled to commission the construction of a secondary school, a project which he is hopeful will kick off next year in 2021 God willing.

 He therefore calls upon the people in the area, the Christian community as well as all the people living in and out of Gangura and the entire region of Western Equatoria to support this project in one way or the other so as to establish a quality learning center for the children in the area.

 “I pray that this project kicks off next year 2021, as we intend to begin with senior one and from there progress slowly by slowly. This is a project that will not only benefit the Catholic community but every single child living in Gangura who is interested in education. I therefore call upon everyone to be part of it.”

By Rurugene Team