The Ugandan North American Association has honored Father Dennis Dease, president of the University of St. Thomas, with its 2010 Recognition Award for “his many valuable contributions to the People of Uganda.”
UNAA, founded in 1988, is a Bloomington, Minn.-based community organization for Ugandans in North America. The association announced the award Sept. 5 at its annual convention in Washington, D.C.
UNAA called Dease “the driving force behind the creation of the Hope Medical Clinic initiative in Uganda, which has the goal of opening 400 medical clinics across the country.” He serves on Hope Medical Clinics’ board of directors. Nurse practitioners run the clinics, and two already are open in the Kampala suburbs of Ndejje and Kasubi. Two others are under construction.
The association also cited Dease’s fundraising efforts for St. Henry’s College in Kitovu and for St. Mary’s Cathedral, the Catholic cathedral in Kampala. He also has provided scholarship assistance to more than 30 St. Thomas students from Uganda.