Archdiocese of Mbarara Development AssociationNyabwina, in Sheema District, means “place of holes”: a parish tucked between deep hills, now home to the 12th AMDA Caravan.
The parish began in 1924 as a Hiika of Butare Parish and later became part of Mushanga Parish, with Catholics walking up to 25 km for the sacraments. In 1998 it was carved out of Mushanga as a parish. In 2005 it was handed to the Claretian Missionaries, becoming their first mission in the Archdiocese of Mbarara, and was named St. Claret after their founder, St. Anthony Mary Claret.
Nyabwina is 16 km from Kabwohe, 47 km from Mbarara and 300 km from Kampala, with around 10,000 Catholics. In 2012 the Sisters of St. Joseph of Tarbes opened a convent there, serving in health and education. The parish has produced five priests and has two secondary schools, including St. Thomas Secondary School. See the story of the Caravan.