UGANDA: Be friends of Jesus Christ and live by example, Bishop Kibira told Clerics
Bishop Kibira with Fr. Augustine carrying the Pope's Blessing
By Masereka Peter
Rev. Fr. Augustine Sunday Masereka, the General Manager of Uganda Catholic Television, a media house under the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC), on Saturday, 26th July 2025, celebrated his Priestly Silver jubilee with a call on Christians to come close to Christ, who calls them friends but not servants.
The Bishop Diocese of Kasese Rt. Rev. Francis Aquirinus Kibira Kambale, who co-celebrated during Mass celebrated at Ndongo Playground, described the priesthood of Fr. Augustine as a symbolic calling from God asking him to desist from all that is not friendly to Jesus, who called him and continue making Christ his close friend.
Bishop Kibira said celebrating a Priestly Silver Jubilee is a great gift from God which every priest should not take for granted, adding that being born from strong rooted Christian family with a father as one of the first catechists in the Diocese he asked Fr. Augustine to continue with what he started as young boy of breaking down whatever is evil and responding to Lord’s calling so that by the end of life the whole world that he has lived in will be a friend of Jesus and inherit eternity.
In his homily during Mass presided over by Jubilant, Rev. Fr. Peter Basaliza Mubunga, the Diocesan Peace and Justice coordinator, described his closest friend, Fr. Augustine, as a hardworking priest and parent committed to the church and obedient to his superiors.
Rev. Fr. Peter Basaliza Mubunga has called for loyalty and obedience among Priests. He asked to promote unity, peace, and overall development in the diocese.
Rev. Fr. Basaliza asked his fellow priests to withstand trials and temptations, and encouraged priests to have small chapels in their houses, as well as supporting one another in spiritual and physical developments.
The National Communication Secretary at the Uganda Catholic Secretariat, Rev. Fr. Phillip Oddi, commended the Bishop for gifting them with Fr. Augustine, who has not only brought faith to the secretariat but also good management skills.
Ms. Marylyn Kabugho Kighotha, who congratulated Fr. Augustine on his silver jubilee, used the same platform to ask his supporters to stay calm and start mobilizing for votes ahead of the 2026 general election, with the hope of a positive response from the NRM secretariat after petitioning the NRM secretariat over election irregularities.
Rev. Fr. Sunday Augustine Masereka hailed the almighty who has enabled him in his vocation, the Bishop for his support, and Christians for their dedicated prayers during his Priesthood.
Kasese Guide Radio managing director, Sr. Sarah Muhindo, and Mr. Kisolhu Augustine, the District chairperson of Omusondolya Listeners groups, like others, hailed God for the gift of Fr. Augustine.
Earlier, Mr. Christopher Bwambale Kagiri, the chairperson local council one for Nyakiyumbu one village, asked the Bishop to consider elevating Ndongo Catholic church to a parish status, it being one of the oldest churches that have nurtured priests, the religious, and other related Church servants.
Rev. Fr. Augustine served as a curate at Kasanga Parish, head of the Diocesan Social Communication, Vocations Director, Diocesan Treasurer, and a founding director of Kasese Guide Radio, where he worked for over fifteen years.
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