Villa Maria Parish church: Perhaps the oldest standing church in Uganda, accomplished under the stewardship of Fr Henry Streicher (Stenseera, later Bishop), a French White Father missionary, in 1892. The hill leading up to the church is called Sikamidaali. The name is a story of the local labour that went into the construction of the church, which is about half a football pitch. Locals who would carry huge poles from down the forest to the church construction site would be gifted with church medallions (Emidaali). But some would abandon the heavy poles and walk away saying ‘sika midaali! (I won’t die for medallions). Looking at the poles covered in neatly tied reeds hanging above that held the original grass thatch (before it was replaced with iron sheets in the 1930s), you can only marvel at the labour, enthusiasm, and determination that went into the project. The walls of the historical church are about 2 feet wide. It is in here that the first two black African Catholic priests (from Masaka) and Bishop Streicher are buried. The village itself, now known as Viira, got its name from the mission name - Villa Maria (Mary’s House). Photos by @SpireJim today.