Diocese of Kampala enthrones Bishop Kaziimba
Christians from all walks of life thronged All Saints’ Cathedral Kampala to witness the enthronement of the 8th bishop of the diocese of Kampala, The Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu who is also the 9t h Archbishop of the Church of Uganda.
In his message to all Ugandans Dr. Kaziimba promised to extend his evangelical mission to the less fortunate and forgotten people like street children and prostitutes. He also rallied people to embrace love, unity and forgiveness.
In his Charge, Archbishop Kaziimba noted that there is need to equip both the Clergy and the Saints to see that Ministry must be on going not only at Church but in the places where people live and work with the view of work as worship.
Archbishop Kaziimba pointed out Key areas of focus during his tenure; Completion of All Saints’ Cathedral, Construction of the Bukoto Flats, Establishment of a Radio Station, Pastoral Care and Discipleship through small groups, Market Place evangelism, Ministry in slum areas, Ministry to the Street Children, Ministry to the prostitutes, The Prayer aspect of Ministry, Children and Youth Ministry, Mentorship of the Clergy and Lay Christian leaders and Income generating projects
While giving his remarks to a full parked church, his predecessor Bishop Stanley Ntagali thanked people of God for loving him and his family and also asked them to welcome and love the new bishop.
“You have loved us since 2012, you have been so good to us. Please welcome and love my successor and my brother His grace Kaziimba.” He said.
Bishop Ntagali also thanked people for contributing generously to the hospital bills of Assistant bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Hannington Mutebi.
The Rt. Rev. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu was elected the 9th Archbishop of the Church of Uganda during a meeting of the House of Bishops on 28th August. Bishop Kaziimba was consecrated Bishop on 26th October 2008 and served as the Bishop of Mityana Diocese for over eleven years.
The Diocese of Kampala was originally part of Namirembe Diocese under Bishop Lesile Brown as both, the Archbishop of Province as well as the Bishop of Namirembe Diocese. He presided over both, the Province and the Diocese smoothly because the two were together. However, after the enthronement of the Rwenzori bishop Eric Sabiiti as the first African Archbishop- making Rwenzori Diocese the home Diocese of the Archbishop and The Right Rev. Dunstan Nsubuga as Bishop of Namirembe Diocese, then that seamless leadership of the Province and the Diocese ceased to be.
It became practically difficult for the Archbishop to preside over the Provincial Office in Kampala from Fort-Portal. Attempts were made to deal with this challenge and three proposals were mooted.
- That the Archbishop of the Church of the Province of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Boga-Zaire shall also be the Bishop of Namirembe Diocese.
2. There shall be a Diocese of
Kampala which shall be the Diocese of the Archbishop.
3. That
the archbishop shall be an executive office.
Proposal 2 won the day but it further required institutionalizing it which called for: (a) the creation of “Kampala Diocese” and (b) the formulation of a “new Constitution” to replace that of 1961. Hence the curving out of the Diocese of Kampala from Namirembe Diocese in 1972 to serve as the home Diocese of the Archbishop of the Province of the Church of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Boga-Zaire.
In 1970, the Provincial Assembly discussed the Bikangaga Report” and the new constitution. This new constitution was intended to address the relationship between the Archbishop and Namirembe Cathedral. The question raised was – “Would Namirembe Cathedral be a cathedral for the rest of the Province or was it to remain a Cathedral for Namirembe Diocese only”?
Finally, after protracted debate, consultations, meetings and much prayer it was resolved that: All Saints Parish in Kampala be elevated to become a Cathedral of the new Diocese, the Diocese of Kampala would become the home Diocese to the Archbishop and Namirembe Cathedral would retain a dual role of being Diocesan Cathedral and Provincial Cathedral.
The demarcation of the new Diocese was left to the discretion of Namirembe Diocese which decided to bring together Nakasero, Mulago, Bukoto, Kamwokya, Ntinda, Kyambogo, Naguru, Kisugu, Bugolobi, Nsambya, Kiwuliriza, Luzira, Makerere and Wandegeya city suburbs to become the Diocese of Kampala.
The Bishops of the Diocese of Kampala in their succession are as follows:
- The most Rev Eric Sabitti (1972-1974)
- Most Rev Janan Luwum (1974-1977)
- Most Rev Silvanus Wani (1977-1984)
- Most Rev Yona Okoth (1984-1998). He served with Rt. Rev Gonahasa (1983-1998) as Assistant Bishop.
- Most Rev Mpalanyi Nkoyoyo (1995-2003) who served with Rt. Rev Eliphaz Maari as Assistant Bishop.
- Most Rev Herny Luke Orombi (2003-2012) who served with Rt. Rev Dr. Zac Niringiye (2005-2012) as Assistant Bishop.
- The most Rev. Stanley Ntagali (2012- 202, serving with Rt. Rev Dr. Hanington Mutebi (2014- to date) as Assistant Bishop.