Why does the Archdiocese of Kampala stand out among other archdioceses?
In Uganda, the Roman Catholic Church is divided into four Ecclesiastical Provinces, each of which is made up of archdioceses.
With only one day till Paul Ssemogerere is installed as Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese, we examine the importance of the city’s archdiocese in Uganda’s Catholic church and why it stands out among the rest.
In Uganda, the Roman Catholic Church is divided into four Ecclesiastical Provinces, each of which is made up of archdioceses.
Kampala Archdiocese, Gulu Ecclesiastical Province (Gulu Archdiocese and two dioceses of Mbarara and Tororo), and Gulu Ecclesiastical Province (Gulu Archdiocese and two dioceses of Mbarara and Tororo) are among them.
The Archdiocese of Kampala was established in 1966 when a segment of the dioceses of Kampala and Rubaga came together to form the Archdiocese of Kampala.
The diocese covers the majority of Central Uganda.
The archdiocese of Kampala was founded in 1966, and the first Archbishop was Emmanuel Cardinal K. Nsubuga, who served from 1966 until 1990. In 1991, he passed away.
Cardinal Nsubuga was followed by Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala, who served as the Archbishop of Kampala for 16 years, from 1990 to 2006.
Rt Rev. Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, the first bishop of the diocese of Kasana – Luwero from 2006 to 2021, replaced Cardinal Wamala. Last year, Dr. Lwanga died unexpectedly.
Following his death, Pope Francis designated Rev. Paul Ssemogerere as the apostolic administrator for the archdiocese of Kampala on Thursday April 8th 2021, and on December 9th 2021, he was named the new Archbishop of Kampala.
Kampala archdiocese is notable, according to Catholic Church scholar Rev. Fr. PaulinoTwesigye Mondo, because of Kampala’s historical role as a destination for missionaries Simeon Lourdel, also known as Mapeera, and his brother Delmas Amans (Amansi).
“At 1879, two people brought the Catholic faith to Uganda, and they landed in Kigungu near Entebbe, which is inside the Archdiocese of Kampala, giving Kampala historical significance,” said Rev. Fr. Paulino Mondo.
The two missionaries were invited by the kabaka of Buganda, who was staying in Kampala, which is not only the catholic church’s capital but also Uganda’s capital, according to Rev. Mondo.
Kampala, he claimed, is special because of its intimate ties to the Buganda kingdom.
“Kampala takes precedence. Because it was established earlier than other archdioceses, no one can be senior to the senior. Uganda has only one seat, which is held by Emeritus Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala in Lubaga, Kampala,” Mondo explained.
All roads will lead to this Archdiocese on January 25 to witness the installation of its new Archbishop, Paul Ssemogerere.
