UGANDA: Former Chairman of AMECEA Celebrates Silver Jubilee
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| Most Rev. Paul Bakyenga during the celebrations to mark his Silver Jubilee of Episcopate |
Former Chairman
of AMECEA and Archbishop of Mbarara, Most Rev. Paul K. Bakyenga, on 20th
June celebrated his Silver Jubilee of Episcopate in a colorful celebration that
was attended by among other dignitaries, the Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda H.E.
Archbishop Michael A. Blume, His Eminence Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala and
President of Uganda His Excellence Yoweri Museveni.
of AMECEA and Archbishop of Mbarara, Most Rev. Paul K. Bakyenga, on 20th
June celebrated his Silver Jubilee of Episcopate in a colorful celebration that
was attended by among other dignitaries, the Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda H.E.
Archbishop Michael A. Blume, His Eminence Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala and
President of Uganda His Excellence Yoweri Museveni.
Archbishop
Bakyenga, who was Chairman of AMECEA from 2002 to 2008, was appointed
Co-adjutor Bishop of Mbarara on 6th March 1989 and later became the
Ordinary of the same Diocese on 23rd November 1991 when his
predecessor Bishop J. B. Kakubi retired. On 2nd January 1999, His
Holiness Pope John Paul II appointed him Archbishop of Mbarara with the
suffragan Dioceses of Kabale, Kasese, Fort Portal and Hoima.
Bakyenga, who was Chairman of AMECEA from 2002 to 2008, was appointed
Co-adjutor Bishop of Mbarara on 6th March 1989 and later became the
Ordinary of the same Diocese on 23rd November 1991 when his
predecessor Bishop J. B. Kakubi retired. On 2nd January 1999, His
Holiness Pope John Paul II appointed him Archbishop of Mbarara with the
suffragan Dioceses of Kabale, Kasese, Fort Portal and Hoima.
While
serving as Chairman of AMECEA, he was also Chairman of Uganda Episcopal
Conference, a position he held from 2002 to 2008. By becoming a Chairman of
AMECEA and UEC ipso facto became the Chancellor
of Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) and the Uganda Martyrs
University Nkozi respectively.
serving as Chairman of AMECEA, he was also Chairman of Uganda Episcopal
Conference, a position he held from 2002 to 2008. By becoming a Chairman of
AMECEA and UEC ipso facto became the Chancellor
of Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) and the Uganda Martyrs
University Nkozi respectively.
The colorful
thanksgiving Eucharistic Celebrations was led by Archbishop Bakyenga himself and
concelebrated by H.E. Cardinal Wamala, the Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda H.E.
Michael A. Blume, Archbishop John Baptist Odama of Gulu and Chairman of Uganda
Bishops’ Conference as well as Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga of Kampala. In
addition, Ten Bishops and more than 200 priests graced the occasion.
thanksgiving Eucharistic Celebrations was led by Archbishop Bakyenga himself and
concelebrated by H.E. Cardinal Wamala, the Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda H.E.
Michael A. Blume, Archbishop John Baptist Odama of Gulu and Chairman of Uganda
Bishops’ Conference as well as Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga of Kampala. In
addition, Ten Bishops and more than 200 priests graced the occasion.
Archbishop
Bakyenga thanked God for the gift of life and grace that has enabled him to
render services to God’s people. He said that he was specifically grateful to
the Creator for allowing him to serve the Church in the area where he was born
and the people he knew well which enabled him to serve them better and
communicate to them easily.
Bakyenga thanked God for the gift of life and grace that has enabled him to
render services to God’s people. He said that he was specifically grateful to
the Creator for allowing him to serve the Church in the area where he was born
and the people he knew well which enabled him to serve them better and
communicate to them easily.
He thanked
all people who contributed in cash and kind for the success of his Silver
Jubilee celebrations and appealed to them to continue praying for him and the
Church as he continue to respond to God’s call with commitment in the years to
come.
all people who contributed in cash and kind for the success of his Silver
Jubilee celebrations and appealed to them to continue praying for him and the
Church as he continue to respond to God’s call with commitment in the years to
come.
The Apostolic
Nuncio, HE Archbishop Blume urged the faithful of Mbarara to reward Archbishop
Bakyenga’s service by pledging a renewed and deeper love for the Holy
Scriptures; while on behalf of Uganda Episcopal Conference, the chairman, Archbishop
Odama, commended Archbishop Bakyenga for his achievements as a prelate of
Mbarara and as regional and international leader in the Catholic Church. He
praised him for representing them well and living an exemplary life as well as
being a role model to many and appealed to the upcoming leaders to borrow a
leaf from him.
Nuncio, HE Archbishop Blume urged the faithful of Mbarara to reward Archbishop
Bakyenga’s service by pledging a renewed and deeper love for the Holy
Scriptures; while on behalf of Uganda Episcopal Conference, the chairman, Archbishop
Odama, commended Archbishop Bakyenga for his achievements as a prelate of
Mbarara and as regional and international leader in the Catholic Church. He
praised him for representing them well and living an exemplary life as well as
being a role model to many and appealed to the upcoming leaders to borrow a
leaf from him.
His
predecessor, Bishop Emeritus, John Baptist Kakubi described him as “A man who
doesn’t rush into problems. He takes his time. I noticed this when I would go
to consult him on some Diocesan difficulties when he was in Ggaba as a Rector,”
Bishop Kakubi said adding that at first glance, Bakyenga looks a very serious
man, but this first glance can be deceitful.
predecessor, Bishop Emeritus, John Baptist Kakubi described him as “A man who
doesn’t rush into problems. He takes his time. I noticed this when I would go
to consult him on some Diocesan difficulties when he was in Ggaba as a Rector,”
Bishop Kakubi said adding that at first glance, Bakyenga looks a very serious
man, but this first glance can be deceitful.
“On the
contrary, Archbishop Bakyenga is a man full of humour and an entertainer. He
will joke over an issue that some of us might tremble over. He is a man of
humour, shown sometimes through jokes and purring in his conversation,” he said
adding that Archbishop Bakyenga is a talented preacher. His sermons, with an
African touch of proverbs, make his listeners want to hear more but very often
he says, “Even the one who cultivates on a nice soft ground must stop and go
home, ” said Bishop Kakubi.
contrary, Archbishop Bakyenga is a man full of humour and an entertainer. He
will joke over an issue that some of us might tremble over. He is a man of
humour, shown sometimes through jokes and purring in his conversation,” he said
adding that Archbishop Bakyenga is a talented preacher. His sermons, with an
African touch of proverbs, make his listeners want to hear more but very often
he says, “Even the one who cultivates on a nice soft ground must stop and go
home, ” said Bishop Kakubi.
By Sr. Mary Germina Keneema;
Diocesan Executive Secretary for Social Communication Archdiocese of Mbarara
Diocesan Executive Secretary for Social Communication Archdiocese of Mbarara
