📷 Archbishop Ssemogerere proclaims Lubaga Cathedral centennial celebrations
“This year, we celebrate the centenary anniversary of the consecration of Lubaga Cathedral. It was consecrated on October 31, 1925," said Ssemogerere.
L-R: Engineer Pius Mugalaasi, Hon Fred Kiyimba Freeman and Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere during the launching of the centennial celebrations of Lubaga Cathedral on Thursday, June 19, 2025. (Photos by Mathias Mazinga)
By Mathias Mazinga
Journalists @New Vision
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The Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese, the Most Rev Paul Ssemogerere, has declared October 26, 2025, as the day for the grand celebration of the 100th anniversary of Lubaga Cathedral.
A spectacle of Rubaga Cathedral that is going to be renovated ahead of its centenary on October 26, 2025.
He made the proclamation during the opening of the celebrations. The function took place at Lubaga Cathedral (in Rubaga Division) on Thursday, June 19, 2025.
Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere (wearing a cassock) with Engineer Pius Mugalaasi (third-right) and other members of the organising committee of Lubaga Cathedral centenary. Thisw as during the launching of the celebrations at the cathedral on Thursday, June 19, 2025.
“This year, we celebrate the centenary anniversary of the consecration of Lubaga Cathedral. It was consecrated on October 31, 1925. But, this was not the first Cathedral church building in Uganda. The first church was built in Nalukolongo in 1885 and that is where 13 of the Catholic Martyrs were baptised. The second Cathedral church was the one built at Nabunnya in 1890. The first Cathedral Church here at Lubaga top hill was built in 1891. Between 1892 and 1925, six other cathedral churches were built on this hill. The last one, which was built in 1901, was used for 24 years, that is, from 1901 to 1925. The construction works of this present Cathedral Church was started in 1914 and completed in 1925,” Ssemogerere explained.
Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere (wearing a skull-cap), Msgr Rogers Kabuye (second-left) and Engineer Pius Mugalaasi (second-right) cutting a tape to commission the renovation of Lubaga Cathedral. This was during the launching of the cathedral's centennial celebration on Thursday, June 19, 2025. Right is the curate, Fr John Mary Walugembe. 
He also talked about earlier renovations made on the cathedral.
“Major renovation works were made on this Cathedral, especially when we were going to celebrate the centenary of the arrival of the pioneer missionaries in 1879. It was the late Emmanuel Cardinal Nsubuga who initiated those works in 1976. Some of the renovations included putting in the stained-glass windows with the Ugandan Martyrs; these were done by Bro. Joseph of the Mill Hill Missionaries. Then the frescoes made by Bro. Fanti of the Comboni Missionaries. In the same spirit, we are going to have some renovations to mark this centenary celebration,” he said.
The Chairman of the organising committee of the centenary of Lubaga Cathedral, Engineer Pius Mugalaasi delivers his speech during the launching of the celebrations at the cathedral on Thursday, June 19, 2025. L-R: Fr Ambrose Bwangatto, Fr John Mary Walugembe, Msgr Rogers Kabuye, Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere, Engineer Pius Mgalaasi and Hon Fred Kiyimba Freeman during the launching of the centennial celebrations of Lubaga Cathedral on Thursday, June 19, 2025. 
He added: “This Cathedral is a continuous reminder to all of us of the message of this theme; and its beauty reminds us of the strong faith and love of God of those men and women who contributed to its construction. In the spirit of this theme, we remember with gratitude all the bishops and archbishops, priests, religious, catechists and other pastoral agents who have served in this cathedral for the last 100 years, for the glory of God and the sanctification of his people. Among these, we mention the three Popes who have been in this Cathedral: Pope Paul VI (1969), Pope John Paul II (1993) and Pope Francis (2015).
During the same function, Ssemogerere also launched a mega campaign to raise about sh2.293b, which is required to organise the celebration.
According to the Chairman of the organising committee, Engineer Pius Mugalaasi, the greater part of the money (about sh1.485b) will be used to renovate, beautify and modify the cathedral and its surroundings.
The deputy head of the laity of Lubaga Cathedra parish, Andrew Kijooma (left) explains the renovations that are going to be done on the cathedral ahead its centenary.
He gave assurance that Christians and other people of goodwill would donate the required money, and the work will be accomplished in the next three months.
The function was graced by several members of the organizing committee, including the Chairman of the fundraising sub-committee Hon Fred Kiyimba Freeman, Chevalier Joseph Yiga, Hon Eugenia Nassolo Ssemuwemba, Sr Betty Namaalwa and the Vicar General, Msgr. Rogers Kabuye.
Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere (front row, wearing a white cassock and a skull-cap), Engineer Pius Mugalaasi (on the Archbishop's immediate left), Hon Fred Kiyimba Freeman (on Mugalaasi's immediate left) and other members of the organising committee of Lubaga Cathedral Centenary sharing a photo moment during the launching of the celebrations at the Cathedral on Thursday, June 19, 2025.
The Chancellor, Fr Dr Pius Male, Fr Richard Nnyombi (White Father), the head of the laity of Kampala archdiocese Emily Kitto Mwaka, the head of the laity of Lubaga Cathedral parish Stephen Nawuba and his deputy, Andrew Kijooma, and Centenary Bank’s Beatrice Lugalambi also attended. The cathedral administrator, Fr Achilles Mayanja was represented by his curate. Fr John Mary Walugembe.
The theme of the celebration is: “The Temple of God is Sacred. You are that Temple” (1 Corinthians 3: 16-17).
How to donate
Those who want to donate have been advised to deposit the money in Centenary Bank, Account number: 3100117179 (Lubaga Cathedral@ 100 years).