UGANDA: Archdiocese of Kampala set to celebrate Golden Jubilee
Archdiocese of Kampala
The Catholic Archdiocese of Kampala is set to celebrate its Golden Jubilee on Sunday, October 29 in a grand Eucharistic Celebrations to be presided over by the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of the Peoples at the Vatican, H.E. Ferdinando Cardinal Filoni. The celebrations are scheduled to take place at Uganda Martyrs’ Shrine – Namugongo.
Cardinal Filoni who arrived in Uganda on Thursday, October 26 was received by, among others His Excellency Most Rev. Michael August Blume, Papal Nuncio to Uganda, Most Rev. Charles Kizito Lwanga, the Archbishop of Kampala and other Archdiocesan officials.
As part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations, Cardinal Filoni was scheduled to meet with the Youth at YES Centre in Nsambya on Friday, October 27 as well as paying a courtesy call on HE Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala before proceeding to St. Mbaaga Major Seminary Ggaba to meet the Religious, priests, deacons, and seminarians.
In the afternoon of the same day he was scheduled to meet with the President of the Rep. Of Uganda and later on with the married couples at Lubaga Cathedral, and thereafter, bless the Pope Francis Memorial Museum at Lubaga.
On Saturday, October 28, Cardinal Filoni is scheduled to visit Munyonyo Martyrs’ Shrine, where he will meet with the Catechists and Teachers, and officially consecrate the magnificent Martyrs Shrine in a Eucharistic Celebrations to be conducted at 10.00 am East Africa Time.
In the afternoon, the Vatican Official will pay a courtesy call on His majesty the Kabaka of Buganda and thereafter visit the poor and the needy.
The Cardinal will therefore conclude his visit to the Land of Uganda Martyrs on Sunday, October 29 by celebrating Holy Mass at Uganda Martyrs’ Shrine, Namugongo from 10.00 am.
Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda, His Emminence
Fernando Cardinal Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation
for the Evangelisation of the Peoples at the Vatican and
Most Rev. Charles Kizito Lwanga, Archbishop of Kampala
The Archdiocese of Kampala covers an area of 3644. 75 Square Kilometres and is the seat of the Capital City of Uganda. It has a total Population of approximately 4,195, 968 out of which 1,721, 039 are Catholic. The Diocese has a total of 63 parishes, 443 outstations and a total number of 408 Priests both Religious and Diocesan.
History of the Archdiocese
The present Archdiocese of Kampala, which was created in 1966 is a result of territorial changes:
Victoria Nyanza Vicariate (1883): The Vicariate Apostolic Victoria Nyanza was established by the Holy See in 1883 and was entrusted to the Missionaries of Africa commonly known as the White Fathers. Rubaga became the seat of the Bishop.
Upper Nile Vicariate (1894): On July 13, 1894, the Holy See erected the Upper Nile Vicariate dividing it from Victoria Nyanza Vicariate and entrusted it to the Mill Hill Missionaries. Nsambya became the seat of the Bishop of that Vicariate. The name of Victoria Nyanza Vicariate was also changed to Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Victoria Nyanza.
Vicariate Apostolic of Uganda (1915): After the erection of Vicariates in territories beyond the Nile on the southern side, the name of Northern Victoria Nyanza Vicariate was changed to the Vicariate of Uganda on Janaury 15, 1915.
Vicariate of Kampala: On June 10, 1948, the name of Upper Nile Vicariate was also changed to the Vicariate of Kampala which later became the Diocese of Kampala in 1953.
Archdiocese of Rubaga (1953-1966): The Catholic Hierarchy in Uganda was established on March 25, 1953 and the Vicariates of Uganda became the dioceses of Uganda. Rubaga became an Archdiocese with 5 suffragan dioceses namely; Gulu, Masaka, Kampala, Mbarara and Tororo. The first Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Rubaga was Archbishop Louis Joseph Cabana WF (1947-1960) who died in retirement in 1981. He was succeeded by Archbishop Dr. Joseph Kiwanuka(1960-1965)
Archdiocese of Kampala (1966-): On August 5, 1966, the Holy See joined together a section of the Diocese of Kampala and the Archdiocese of Rubaga to create the Archdiocese of Kampala. It was covering most parts of Central Uganda. His Grace Emmanuel K. Nsubuga (later Cardinal) was consecrated on 30th October 1966 to become the first Ordinary of the newly created Archdiocese of Kampala. He was elevated to the rank of Cardinal on 24 May 1976. He retired on 8 Feb 1990 and died on 20 April 1991. He was succeeded by His Eminence Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala (1990-2006). Since then, three other new dioceses have been created namely: Kiyinda-Mityana (August 21, 1981), Kasana-Luweero (December 16, 1996) and Lugazi (December 16, 1996).
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