Key among the celebrants at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe included the Nnabagereka of Buganda, Sylvia Nagginda, the Speaker of the Buganda Lukiiko, Patrick Luwagga Mugumbule and Rubaga Division Mayor, Joyce Nabbosa Ssebuggwawo.
The leaders including the Church of Uganda –COU Archbishop Dr. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga and the Bishop of Namirembe Diocese Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira and others observed the Good Friday ritual at St. Paul’s Cathedral Namirembe.
Finally, the D-day was here and the sixteen were ordained at a function held at St. John’s seminary kiburara, Kisinga Sub-county. It was led by Rt. Rev. Francis Aquirinus Kibira the Bishop of Kasese Catholic Diocese.
Hundreds of Christians poured into Churches across the country to participate in prayers under strict observance of the socially-distance to avoid the spread of COVID-19. At different prayer places, clerics focused their sermons on the 2021 general election and the COVID-19 pandemic.
His Eminence the Mufti of Uganda Sheikh Shaban Ramathan Mubaje rallied mourners to emulate Dr. Balonde's unique character of tolerance and peaceful resolution of differences.
Bishop Baluku replaced Bishop Jackson Nzerebende Thembo, who voluntarily retired last year, after serving for 17 years. Nzerebende had replaced the Bishop Emeritus Zebedee Kahangwa Masereka who led the diocese from inception on August 24, 1984.
The event was also graced by the Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi and the Speaker of parliament, Rebecca Kadaga. The two national leaders promised to lobby government support for the facelift of Bishop Hannington site into a religious tourism centre.
The scientific function held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Nyamitanga was attended by a handful of Christians as the Church continues to observe guidelines to control the spread of Coronavirus Disease.
At the Anglican Shrine, the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda the Most Rev. Dr Stephen Kazimba Mugalu was the day's main celebrant, assisted by the Bishop of Namirembe Diocese Rt. Rev. Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira. The Archbishop of Kampala Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga led the Mass at the Catholic Shrine.
The Bishop of Kasese Diocese, Francis Kibira rallied believers across the country to support the project generously, saying they need Shillings 4 billion to complete the construction works.
The museum, which is found in Cardinal Wamala’s ancestral home in Kamaggwa village in Kyotera district, will act as a reference center for his contribution to both the Catholic Church and country at large.
Rt. Rev. Dr. Stephen Kazimba Mugalu assumed the leadership of Church of the Uganda (CoU) on March 1, 2020. He was enthroned as the 9th Archbishop of Church of the Uganda (CoU) at a colorful ceremony held at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe.
The handover followed a thanksgiving Service at St. Paul’s Cathedral Namirembe for Rt. Rev. Dr. Steven Kazimba who was elected as the 9th Archbishop of the Church of Uganda. The Thanksgiving Service in which the Bishop of Namirembe Diocese delivered a sermon was preceded by a welcome march of the Archbishop elect from Nankulabye junction along Balintuma road to the Namirembe Hill, the provincial seat of the CoU.
The pilgrims began their journey on January 29th visiting, Namirembe, the former archbishop’s palace, Kampala Serena hotel, the former Nile Manson and Nakasero, the former headquarter of the then state research bureau were Luwum was killed.
Legendary tales has it that Ssezibwa was born of a woman called Nakangu Tebatesa, wife of Nsubuga Ssebwato. The mythical around the place is that Nakangu gave birth to two twine rivers of which the older one (Wasswa) was named Ssezibwa and the young one (Kato) named River Mubeya in Nyenga.
Tibewalirwa is one of the 45 Catholic and Anglican martyrs who were killed on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga of Buganda between 1885 and 1887 for refusing to denounce their faith.
The Most Rev. His Grace Stanley Ntagali, the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda led his last New Year Day as Archbishop service at Saint Paul's Cathedral Namirembe, where he preached against commercialization of politics.
