Retirement starts from the Mind – Ntagali
The outgoing Archbishop of the Church of Uganda and Bishop of the Diocese of Kampala, The Most Rev Stanley Ntagali has said that he is well prepared to retire from daily office work.
“Retirement is healthy. It starts from the mind and as for me, I am well prepared to go home and stop being a visitor in my own family. My wife, Maama Beatrice Ntagali is the happiest person for my retirement because she knows I will have enough time for her and the entire family,” he said.
Archbishop Ntagali said this on Sunday 23rd February 2020 while finishing his farewell journey to the whole Province of Uganda which he has ended at his Cathedral- All Saints’ Cathedral, Kampala.
“It is better to retire when you’re still strong and energetic, that’s when you can become relevant for your family. For over forty years I have been moving all over the world on evangelical mission and I have given very little time to my family and relatives whom I must compensate,” he said.
Preaching on the topic, God’s grace has led us this far, Archbishop Ntagali said that he has gone through many challenges but God has been faithful.
“Challenges of today are testimonies of tomorrow” he added.
In his sermon, he implored Christians not to hold onto anger by forgiving those that have wronged them.
“When you know your enemy; those who wish you bad or persecute you, don’t revenge. God says vengeance is mine. Pray from them, smile at them and wish them well” Archbishop Ntagali said.
He encouraged Christians to trust in God because he is able to remove all obstacles and hindrances from their lives.
He further cautioned people of God to be wise and desist from selfishness which bleeds greed resulting into corruption.
“Corruption has eaten our beautiful nation, youth are being trafficked, there are no jobs and liberalism is on increase- now homosexuals are bribing people to be accepted. We shall continue to confirm the only biblical marriage of man and woman until the end”
As we near 2021 the year of elections, Archbishop Ntagali advised politicians not to borrow money from banks and money lenders just because of politics.
“Remain focused on God, leadership comes from God not from bribing people to vote for you. And to you electorates, use your constitutional rights to choose the people of your choice”
Next Sunday March 1, 2020, having attained the retirement age of 65 years, he will hand over the Province to the Archbishop-Elect Samuel Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, who was elected on 28 August 2019, as the 9th Archbishop of Uganda at St. Paul Cathedral Namirembe by the House of Bishops and on 8th March, will then relinquishing the Episcopal and Ecclesiastical authority of the Diocese of Kampala to his successor at All Saints’ Cathedral, Kampala.
In his eight year tenure as Archbishop, he has worked on completion of Church house, building a 5000 Cathedral-seater at Nakasero, enthroning of 23 Bishops, starting a medical school-UCU School of Medicine at Mengo hospital in Uganda among other things.
Ntagali was consecrated Bishop on December 19, 2004. He served as Bishop of Masindi- Kitara Diocese for eight years before being elected the 8th Archbishop of the Church of Uganda on Friday June 22, 2012 and later installed on December 16, 2012.
Born in Ndorwa County, Kabale District in 1955, Ntagali migrated with his family to Wambabya parish, Kiziranfumbi sub-county in Hoima District when he was aged 16. On the Christmas Eve of 1974, he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Saviour.
Ntagali began working as a teacher in Wambabya Primary School in Hoima, and later spent two years as a missionary in Karamoja Diocese. He did his theological training at Bishop Tucker Theological College, St. Paul’s Theological College Limuru, Kenya, and the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies in the UK.