OUR STORY
History of Kampala Archdiocese
Our Heritage
The Roman Catholic Church in Uganda is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome.
OUR STORY
History of Kampala Archdiocese
Our Heritage
The Roman Catholic Church in Uganda is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome.
THE EVOLUTION KAMPALA ARCHDIOCESE
The Roman Catholic Church in Uganda is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome.
There are an estimated 13,406,764 million Catholics – about 39.3% of the total population of Uganda. The Roman Catholic Church in Uganda is comprised of four Ecclesiastical Provinces:
- Kampala Ecclesiastical Province comprised of Kampala Archdiocese and the Dioceses of Kasana-Luweero, Kiyinda-Mityana, Lugazi and Masaka.
- Gulu Ecclesiastical Province comprised of Gulu Archdiocese and the Dioceses of Arua, Lira and Nebbi.
- Mbarara Ecclesiastical Province comprised of Mbarara Archdiocese and the Dioceses of Fort-Portal, Hoima, Kabale, Kasese.
- Tororo Ecclesiastical Province comprised of Tororo Archdiocese and the Dioceses of Jinja, Kotido, Moroto and Soroti.
THE EVOLUTION
KAMPALA ARCHDIOCESE
The Roman Catholic Church in Uganda is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome.
There are an estimated 13,406,764 million Catholics – about 39.3% of the total population of Uganda. The Roman Catholic Church in Uganda is comprised of four Ecclesiastical Provinces:
- Kampala Ecclesiastical Province comprised of Kampala Archdiocese and the Dioceses of Kasana-Luweero, Kiyinda-Mityana, Lugazi and Masaka.
- Gulu Ecclesiastical Province comprised of Gulu Archdiocese and the Dioceses of Arua, Lira and Nebbi.
- Mbarara Ecclesiastical Province comprised of Mbarara Archdiocese and the Dioceses of Fort-Portal, Hoima, Kabale, Kasese.
- Tororo Ecclesiastical Province comprised of Tororo Archdiocese and the Dioceses of Jinja, Kotido, Moroto and Soroti.
EARLY YEARS⸻
The White Fathers
The present Archdiocese of Kampala is the result of territorial changes. In 1883, the Vicariate Apostolic of Victorian Nyanza was established by the Holy See and was entrusted to the Missionaries of Africa, commonly known as the White Fathers.
The White Fathers were founded by Cardinal Charles Martial Allemande Lavigerie (1825-1892) who was Archbishop of Algiers and Carthage, and Primate of Africa. When the Catholic White Fathers came to Uganda in 1879, they were allocated land near Lubaga Hill. In 1889, the reigning monarch, Mwanga II of Buganda, donated them land on Lubaga Hill itself where they built Saint Mary’s Cathedral, Lubaga beginning in 1914 until 1925, with the assistance of monetary contributions from Roman Catholic congregations abroad. The early missionaries had problems pronouncing the word Lubaga. They instead pronounced it with an ‘r’ as in ‘Rubaga’. Rubaga then became the seat of the Bishop.
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. 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 January 15, 1915. 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.
EARLY YEARS⸻
The White Fathers
The present Archdiocese of Kampala is the result of territorial changes. In 1883, the Vicariate Apostolic of Victorian Nyanza was established by the Holy See and was entrusted to the Missionaries of Africa, commonly known as the White Fathers.
The White Fathers were founded by Cardinal Charles Martial Allemande Lavigerie (1825-1892) who was Archbishop of Algiers and Carthage, and Primate of Africa. When the Catholic White Fathers came to Uganda in 1879, they were allocated land near Lubaga Hill. In 1889, the reigning monarch, Mwanga II of Buganda, donated them land on Lubaga Hill itself where they built Saint Mary’s Cathedral, Lubaga beginning in 1914 until 1925, with the assistance of monetary contributions from Roman Catholic congregations abroad. The early missionaries had problems pronouncing the word Lubaga. They instead pronounced it with an ‘r’ as in ‘Rubaga’. Rubaga then became the seat of the Bishop.
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. 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 January 15, 1915. 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.
The Line of Succession to the See of the Archdiocese Of Kampala
Most Rev. Paul Ssemogerere
2021 To Date
Appointed the fourth Archbishop of Kampala on 9th Dec 2021 by Pope Francis after the untimely death of Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga.
For his Motto, the Archbishop uses the phrase, ‘CRESCAMUS IN VITAM CHRISTI’ which means that, ‘Let’s grow into the life of Christ. the Archbishop based this motto ‘ on Paul’s first letter to the Ephesians 4:15 “Instead speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ”.
His Eminence Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala.
1990-2006
Emmanuel Wamala (born 15 December 1926) was archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kampala. He was created a Cardinal –Priest of S. Ugo in 1994. He served as Archbishop of Kampala until he retired on19th August 2006.
Emeritus
Most Rev Cyprian K. Lwanga
2006-2021
Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala
1990-2006
Emmanuel Cardinal Nsubuga
1966-1990
The Line of Succession to the See of the Archdiocese Of Kampala
Kampala Archdiocese
Most Rev. Paul Ssemogerere
2021 To Date
Appointed the fourth Archbishop of Kampala on 9th Dec 2021 by Pope Francis after the untimely death of Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga.
For his Motto, the Archbishop uses the phrase, ‘CRESCAMUS IN VITAM CHRISTI’ which means that, ‘Let’s grow into the life of Christ. the Archbishop based this motto ‘ on Paul’s first letter to the Ephesians 4:15 “Instead speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ”.
His Eminence Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala.
1990-2006
Emmanuel Wamala (born 15 December 1926) was archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kampala. He was created a Cardinal –Priest of S. Ugo in 1994. He served as Archbishop of Kampala until he retired on19th August 2006.
Read the inspiring journey of Archbishop Augustine Kasujja. From a village boy to the first black African Papal Nuncio. A story of faith, perseverance, and service. READ MORE
Emeritus
Most Rev Cyprian K. Lwanga
2006-2021
Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala
1990-2006
Emmanuel Cardinal Nsubuga
1966-1990
Bishop-Leon-Livinhac
1883-1890
Bishop Jean Hirth
1890-1894
Bishop-Antonin-Guillermain-
1895-1897
Bishop Henry Streicher
1897-1933
Bishop Edward Michael Michaud
1933-1945
Archbishop Joseph Louis Cabana
1947-1960
Archbishop Dr. Joseph Kiwanuka
1962-1966
Line of Succession to the Former See of Kampala Diocese (Cathedral At Nsambya)
From Archdiocese of Lubaga to Kampala Archdiocese
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).
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. Since then, three other new dioceses have been created from Kampala, namely: Kiyinda-Mityana (August 21, 1981), Kasana-Luweero (December 16, 1996) and Lugazi (December 16, 1996). Kampala Archdiocese is seated at a size of 3,644.75 square Km with a total population of about 3, 592,053 people. It consists of 77 parishes.
The Line of Succession to the Former See of Lubaga Archdiocese (Cathedral At Lubaga)
Line of Succession to the Former See of Kampala Diocese (Cathedral At Nsambya)
From Archdiocese of Lubaga to Kampala Archdiocese
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).
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. Since then, three other new dioceses have been created from Kampala, namely: Kiyinda-Mityana (August 21, 1981), Kasana-Luweero (December 16, 1996) and Lugazi (December 16, 1996). Kampala Archdiocese is seated at a size of 3,644.75 square Km with a total population of about 3, 592,053 people. It consists of 77 parishes.
The Line of Succession to the Former See of Lubaga Archdiocese (Cathedral At Lubaga)
Bishop-Leon-Livinhac
1883-1890
Bishop Jean Hirth
1890-1894
Bishop-Antonin-Guillermain-
1895-1897
Bishop Henry Streicher
1897-1933
Bishop Edward Michael Michaud
1933-1945
Archbishop Joseph Louis Cabana
1947-1960
Archbishop Dr. Joseph Kiwanuka
1962-1966