UGANDA: UEC appoints new Executive Secretary of the Lay Apostolate department and National Youth Chaplain
Rev. Fr. Fredrick Tusingire, UEC Executive Secretary of Lay Apostolate Department
By Jacinta W. Odongo, Media Officer, Uganda Episcopal Conference
Lay Apostolate Department
The Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC) has appointed Fr. Fredrick Tusingire as the new Executive Secretary of the Lay Apostolate department and Fr. Benedict Mugerwa as the new National Youth Chaplain.
The two new appointments were announced Monday August 22, 2016 during the weekly Mass at the Uganda Catholic Secretariat by the UEC Financial Administrator, Fr. Eustachius Wemalika on behalf of the UEC Secretary General, Msgr. John Baptist Kauta, who was in Zambia for the regular meeting of the Secretaries General from Association of Member Episcopal Conference Eastern Africa (AMECEA) countries.
The UEC Financial Administrator said, “I would like to congratulate Fr. Fredrick and Fr. Benedict on their appointments. We welcome them to the Uganda Catholic Secretariat and we wish them all the best in their new roles.”
He further said the new appointees have several mandates in their offices, among which is to work with the laity and the youth.
Both Fr. Fredrick and Fr. Benedict took up their new roles on August 15. Fr. Fredrick replaces Fr. Stephen Candia, who is now a full-time lecturer at Ggaba Major Seminary in Kampala while Fr. Benedict takes over from Fr. Jude Kanyike, who is currently in Rome for his further studies since last year.
Fredrick, who this month (August 15) coincidentally the same day he took over his new role, celebrated 27 years of priesthood. Before his new appointment as the UEC Executive Secretary of the Lay Apostolate department, he served as the Parish priest of Virika Cathedral in the Diocese of Fort Portal and worked in various other places in the same diocese. With 11 years as the parish priest of Virika Cathedral parish, he is said to be the African priest who has served longest in that capacity.
He was born on June 24, 1961 same day as St. John the Baptist. Fr. Fredrick holds diplomas from Katigondo national major seminary, Ggaba national major seminary and Makerere University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in theology, Masters and Phd degrees in Missiology, all from the Pontifical Urban University, Rome.
He said he is excited about his new job and is anxious to see everything that is involved.
“I am happy to be given this opportunity to serve our national Church in this capacity of the Executive Secretary. I have several expectations for myself and this office but one of them is to have a positive contribution to the Secretariat and the Catholic Church in Uganda,” he said.
Meanwhile, Fr. Benedict, who hails from the Diocese of Lugazi, was ordained a priest on July 28, 2012. His first appointment was in Kiyindi Parish in Lugazi where he served as a curate in charge of schools and youth from 2012-2013. He also taught at St. Joseph’s Nyenga Seminary from 2013-2016 before his new appointed at the Secretariat.
The 33-year-old priest said he feels privileged to be chosen as the National Youth Chaplain and he will do his best to execute his duties.
“First of all I will put God in everything I do because I know without Him I can’t do anything. I only pledge that I do my best to the best of my ability. I know there could be challenges but I believe with prayers nothing is impossible I should be able to do my best for the youth,” he stated.
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