UGANDA: Archbishop Lwanga Laid to Rest Inside Lubaga Cathedral

By Jjunju Francis and Fr. Philip Odii

The late Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese, Most Rev. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga was on Thursday, April 8, 2021 laid to rest inside Lubaga Cathedral at a spot between the graves of Archbishop Joseph Nakabaale Kiwanuka of Rubaga and Bishop Joseph Georges Edouard Michaud, who was Vicar Apostolic of Uganda.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, attendance at the funeral Mass was restricted to about 500 people including the clergy, Religious and dignitaries. The rest of the people followed the ceremony using the various media platforms which provided live broadcasts as assistant priests in all the parishes of Kampala Archdiocese celebrated Masses at the same time of the funeral so that the people who could not make it to the Cathedral would have an opportunity to pray for the repose of the soul of the deceased Prelate.

The funeral Mass and burial were presided over by Rt. Rev. Joseph Antony Zziwa, the Chairman of Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC) and Bishop of Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese, concelebrated by the Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda His Excellency the Most Rev. Luigi Bianco, the Apostolic Nuncio to Belgium and Luxemburg His Excellency the Most Rev. Augustine Kasujja, 15 bishops and several priests.

At the beginning of the Mass, the Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda read messages of condolence from His Holiness Pope Francis and from the Prefect for the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

The Holy Father in his message signed by the Vatican Secretary of State, Pietro Cardinal Parolin expressed his sadness upon the sudden death of Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga and extended condolences to the clergy, Religious and the lay faithful of the Archdiocese of Kampala.

Pope Francis commended the late Archbishop Lwanga for faithfully fulfilling his priestly and Episcopal ministry and imparted his apostolic blessing.

In his homily, Rt. Rev. Joseph Antony Zziwa condoled with Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala the Emeritus Archbishop of Kampala, priests, Religious, laity of Kampala Archdiocese and the entire Catholic Church in Uganda upon the demise of Archbishop Lwanga. He noted that the continent of Africa was also mourning the death of Cardinal Christian Tumi Archbishop-emeritus of Douala in Cameroon, Archbishop Emeritus Paulino Lukudu of Juba in South Sudan and Bishop Alfred Maluma of Jombe in Tanzania – all of whom who passed on between April 2 and April 5 2021.

Bishop Zziwa acknowledged that the sudden death of Archbishop Lwanga was very shocking, hard to believe, and had caused a lot of grief among those who knew him. He called on the mourners not to be afraid but rather find consolation in the Word of God.

He pointed out that Archbishop Lwanga always preached peace and unity. “Let us be people who are united, peaceful and united”, he stated, noting that Jesus in John 17:21 prays for the unity of his disciples.

He further commended Most Rev. Lwanga for being faithful to his motto, “Ora et Labora ut habeant vitam” (Pray and work so that they may have life). This, he said, the Archbishop fulfilled by initiating various projects to serve the poor and help them have life to the fullest.

In his message of condolence on behalf of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, Bishop Zziwa highlighted the great contribution of His Grace Lwanga to the Church and country.

“Archbishop Lwanga has left a mark on the Catholic Church in Uganda, and the social and political life of our country. He used his energy to exercise his ministry as a priest and Bishop”, he said adding, “As the first Bishop of Kasana-Luweero Diocese and later Archbishop of Kampala, Most Rev. Lwanga always committed himself to promote the Catholic Church’s mission of integral human development”.

Meanwhile, the President of the Republic of Uganda, His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, in his condolence message read by the Vice President Hon. Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi commended Archbishop Lwanga for the various projects he established to eradicate poverty and described him as a humble and faithful servant of God who worked for both the spiritual and physical needs of the people.

On Tuesday, April 6, 2021 before his burial, the late Archbishop was granted a state send off with a 17-gun salute at Kololo Airstrip in Kampala where President Yoweri Museveni was the chief mourner. On the same day, the body of the late Archbishop was airlifted to his home parish of Kyabakadde in Mukono District, Lugazi Diocese where the local Ordinary Rt. Rev. Bishop Christopher Kakooza led the Mass and the locals paid their last respects.

On Wednesday, April 7, 2021 the body of His Grace Lwanga was taken to Uganda Martyrs Namugongo Shrine, a place whose refurbishment he spearheaded in preparation for the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Uganda in 2015. The public had a chance to pay their last respects and participate in a requiem Mass led by Bishop Serverus Jjumba of Masaka Diocese.

Archbishop Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga was born on January 19, 1953 at Kyabakadde, Naggalama Parish, in the present Lugazi Diocese, Central Uganda. He was ordained a deacon in 1977 and a priest on April 9, 1978; he was appointed founder Bishop of Kasana-Luweero Diocese on November 30, 1996 and ordained a Bishop on March 1, 1997. Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Archbishop of Kampala on August 19, 2006 and was installed on September 30, 2006.

Dr. Lwanga aged 68, died of heart attack on Saturday April 3, 2021 at his residence in Lubaga, Kampala. The previous day, he had participated in the Good Friday Ecumenical Way of the Cross organized by the Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC), which he co-chaired.