Mufakose is one of the older urban parishes in Harare , founded in 1963. The first Parish Priest was Father Isidore Chikore who was also the first of two African Priests in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe).Mufakose is situated about 16km west of the CBD and is part of the North West City Deanery.
The Parish consists of Mufakose high density suburb , Old Marimba, New Marimba and two distant centres. The two centres are St Barnabas which encompasses Granary Housing Project and Ascension covering Ridal Ridge Housing Project.
Uganda Martys is served by three Diocesan priests and with the expansive parish are known to sometimes work under pressure.
Uganda Martyrs Parish is composed of Africans only,who come from all parts of Zimbabwe. The parish also has nationals of Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi.The main language used in the parish is Shona.Uganda Martyrs Parish has also had a strong Malawian Community since its beginning. It's members being Catholics from Malawi that had migrated to Rhodesia during the Federation of Northern and Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland. With Malawi being the Nyasaland component.
The Malawian Community were Catholics before migration and were used to worshipping in their mother languages.
To accommodate their needs mass was occasionally said in Nyanja.
The Community went as far as forming sections and a Burial Society. The sections were later disbanded by the Archdiocese to avoid bringing segregation in the Parish. However the Burial Society was maintained.
To date the Nyanja masses are not being celebrated but not from prohibition. Malawian songs, some currently being composed in Malawi have been adopted and sung by everyone during the Shona masses.
It is hoped the Malawian Community remains active in expressing the cultural diversity of the church.
Uganda Martyrs Parish once barren of priests has in its later life produced a string of priests
- Fr.O.Murape
- Fr.B.Manyenga
- Fr.F.Chipangura
- Fr.T.Nyambiti
- Fr.L.Mwanza
- Fr.J.Jagaja
- Fr.E.Chiyaka
- Fr.D.Dirwai
Fr.Fife
So far it has only two nuns Sr Maria Thelma and Sr Mandi.
At the seminary presently Uganda Martyrs Parish has 3 young men at various stages.
