Moments after his installation as the fourth Archbishop of Kampala, all priests pledged their obedience and allegiance to the new Archbishop as they promised while being ordained “I will serve you (the then ordinary) and those who will come after you.”
His Grace Dr. Paul Ssemogerere, the newly installed
Kampala Archbishop has maintained the leadership structure and personnel left by his predecessor
the late Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga with promises of steering
the Archdiocese to greater heights.
When Lwanga died living Kampala Archbishop vacant, all priests right from the Episcopal Vicars to leaders of different
directorates and departments lost their authority, which they drew from the fallen ordinary.
The then Episcopal Vicar Msrg. Kasibante working together with the
Archdiocesan Chancellor led the diocese for three days following Lwanga’s
demise. The Vicar relinquished office when then Bishop of Kasana-Luweero, Paul Ssemogerere took over as the Apostolic administrator.
The Apostolic Administrator led the Archdiocese with the help of delegates to different Vicariates, parishes, directorates, and
departments, given the fact that the administrator has only vicarious powers.
Moments after his installation
as the fourth Archbishop of
Kampala, all priests pledged their obedience
and allegiance to the new Archbishop as they promised while being ordained “I will serve you (the then ordinary) and those
who will come after you.”
At the
end of the eucharist mass, Archbishop Ssemogerere reappointed all the priests to their previous offices and roles with immediate
effect.
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The announcement means that Msgr Charles Kasibante
Kalumba is now the Vicar-General - the principal deputy of the Archbishop, Msrg Gerald Kalumba is the second
Vicar General and parish priest at Christ the King,
Kampala. Rev Fr. Dr. Puis Male remains the Archdiocesan Chancellor and Rev. Fr Dr. Joseph Sserugga as the pastoral coordinator among others.
The new Archbishop has the powers to appoint those
he thinks can help him execute his duties with ease and in many cases, some
chose to make changes and transfer priests as they declare the new dawn. Some
of the priests who asked to remain anonymous to freely comment on Ssemogerere's move say the Archbishop wants to give everyone a chance to
show their potential given the fact that
most of the priests had just assumed power in 2020 following changes
that were introduced by the former Archbishop.
"He wants to take time studying the situation before he
makes his appointments and this might take time. That's what I think but there
might be another reason behind the move as avoiding conflicts that could
develop with instant transfer of priests," the source said.
However, another priest thought that during the period he
has been the archdiocesan administrator, he might have found out that the leadership
structure left by Archbishop Lwanga is good. "He has been here for a year.
And there were no big changes. He was working with the same team as many were
maintained as delegates," he said.
Ssemogerere is no stranger to Kampala having
served in many capacities in the Archdiocese from 1983 until 2008 when he was
elected Bishop of Kasana-Luwero. In simple terms, one would say that he knows
the Archdiocese
in and out having seen it develop from its first Archbishop elected in 1966 to
the most recent one.
Meanwhile, in his first Eucharist Celebration Ssemogerere, said the conversion of St. Paul, who is his patron saint, gives him
guidance courage, and support to take on the role, which he says is full of challenge but with
God’s grace, allegiance to the Holy See with help of the clergy, religious and
the lay apostolic.
Recalling the donation of Land, which hosts the seat of Lubaga Cathedral by Kabaka Muteesa I, the Archbishop
implored the faithful to always value land and jealously protect it. Many people including fellow bishops, clergy and
religious, leaders of the lay apostolic, delegates from central government, and
Buganda kingdom congratulated the new Archbishop and promised to work closely
with him.
Every speaker was showing confidence that the late Lwanga's successor
will fulfill his pastoral duties. In his message delivered by Vice president Jessica
Alupo, President Yoweri Museveni who noted Archbishop Ssemogerere is the
new campus for the society courted him to implore the faithful to improve their
livelihoods as they seek the Kingdom of God.
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President Museveni also donated a brand-new car to
the archbishop promising corporation between the state and the church.