We aim to raise £14,000, which is half the expected cost of a life-saving kidney transplant operation in India for Joses, the son of our friend the Revd Sam Tindiwensi, of Ankole Diocese, Uganda

Through a fellowship link between Bristol Diocese and the Church of Uganda, and as representatives of the Kingswood & South Gloucestershire Deanery, we have since 1992 known and corresponded with a clergy couple in Ankole Diocese, the Revd Sam Tindiwensi, who teaches at Bishop Stuart University, Mbarara, and his wife the Revd Canon Generous, who is a secondary school teacher. Sam studied at Leeds University from 1996 to 1998 & Generous joined him in 1997. They both visited Bristol during that time, and are well remembered here.

Their oldest child, Joses, now aged 32, who is himself married with two children, has for almost 20 years suffered from diabetes and hypertension and has other ailments. He now has end stage kidney disease, and is receiving regular dialysis, but will need a kidney transplant if he is to survive.

The operation cannot be performed in Uganda, so patients are usually referred to India. Sam tells us that a potential donor has been identified and that the doctor attending Joses has said that if the necessary funds can be raised the operation can be done soon.

Sam has appealed for help, and has asked us to approach some people of good will who can help. The total cost is expected to be about £28,000, and we aim to raise half i.e. £14,000. To read a letter of support from Bishop Sheldon of Ankole Diocese in Uganda, please click here .

When he was here, Sam presented to one of our churches, who had supported his theological studies in Uganda in 1992, a hand-made plaque, inscribed "God will not forget what you did.  Sam”.

Let us respond by justifying his trust in our generosity.