Having served as the Bishop of Kasana Luwero for the last thirteen years, the now Kampala Archdiocese custodian the most Reverend Bishop Paul Semogerere was on Tuesday installed to govern over four other dioceses under Kampala Archdiocese in a colorful ceremony.
The event happened almost a year since the sudden demise of the former Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga in April 2021. The head of the of the Catholic Faith Pope Francis tentatively through his Papal Nuncio to Uganda Luigi Bianco then appointed Bishop Paul Semogerere as the apostolic Administrator of Kampala Archdiocese to which he was successfully on 9th December appointed the Bishop of Kampala Archdiocese. Dr Semogerere will now oversee in addition to Kampala other four dioceses including Kasana-Luwero, Lugazi, Masaka & Kiyinda-Miytana.
The event started with an early-bird goodbye prayer in Luwero before procession to Lumasi river that separates the two dioceses of Luwero & Kampala where the significant handover was done with chancellor of Kasana Luwero, and his Christians officially handed over their son of the soil to Kampala chancellor before the great procession to Rubaga cathedral began.
Bishop Semogerere was stylishly driven by Papal Knights under the leadership of Emmanuel Katongole who later gifted the new archbishop cash of over 100 million shillings. Along the road to Kampala there was total excitement as different congregations waited to have a glimpse of the bride Archbishop Paul Semogerere at different stopovers. Hundreds of Christians were seen excitedly waving palm branches as a sign of the great triumphant entry comparable to that as Jesus entered Jerusalem.
On reaching Rubaga Cathedral, Bishops of other 3 Ecclesiastical Provinces of Gulu, Tororo & Mbarara welcomed him unto his new residence before taking him through series of traditional events such as putting his first step at the cathedral entrance just like any of his other predecessors, receiving the Miter which is a that tall headdress worn by Bishops as symbol of office, received the bishop’s ring before being sat on the Cathedra- a bishop’s chair that never leaves the cathedral as a symbol of of his throne, Crosier( pastoral staff) commonly known as bishop’s stick that signifies the power of governance, pontifical vestments amongst others in a ceremony mastered by Archbishops Luigi Bianco & his colleague Agustine Kasujja.
On his inaugural mass the archbishop sent sincere condolence to the government of Uganda following the death of the Governor Bank of Uganda Emmanuel Mutebile, appreciated the cleargy for their endless support in ensuring the success of the event and assured them to work together, the media for broadcasting the ceremony & appreciated the people of Kampala for the warm welcome. Prince David Wasajja delivered Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II’s congratulatory message whereas Deputy Speaker of Parliament Hon. Anite Among politics to be put aside and the church be built together.
Among the 2.000 invited guests from all religious, political, economic & social devides were representatives from Buganda Kingdom Charles Peter Mayiga, politicians included the current & former H.E the Vice Presidents Jessca Alupo & Edward K. Sekandi respectively, National Unity Platform Executives Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine, Menard Segona etc. President Museveni through his vice president later gifted the new Bishop with a brand -new Land Cruiser Toyota Prado.
