Catholic Church commemorates 147 years of advent of missionaries

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On Tuesday, February 17, hundreds of Christian pilgrims gathered at Mapeera Memorial Church, Kigungu landing site, in Entebbe Municipality, Wakiso district, to commemorate 147 years since the arrival of the pioneer Catholic missionaries.

The two French confreres, Fr Simeon Lourdel Mapeera and Bro Delmas Amans of the Catholic missionary Society of the White Fathers, also known as the Missionaries of Africa, arrived by boat at Kigungu Landing Site on February 17, 1879 and subsequently began their missionary work.

Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere delivers his homily during the Pontifical mass of the commemoration of the 147 th anniversary of the advent of the pioneer missionaries in Uganda at Mapeera Memorial church, Kigungu Landing Site, in Entebbe Municipality on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.

A spectacle of the consecrated religious men and wpmen during the Pontifical mass of the commemoration of the 147 th anniversary of the advent of the pioneer missionaries in Uganda at Mapeera Memorial church, Kigungu Landing Site, in Entebbe Municipality on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.

The celebrations began with a thanksgiving Mass presided over by the Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese, Paul Ssemogerere. In his homily, he praised the pioneer missionaries for their deep faith and commitment to God and urged the faithful to emulate them.

He expressed even greater admiration for their immense contribution to the country’s socio-economic transformation through their deliberate and dynamic involvement in education, health care and agriculture.

Ssemogerere expressed concern over the decline in religious conviction among many Christians, which he linked to some of the country’s challenges, including the growing culture of “might is right”.

He said this had led to the oppression, domination and deprivation of poor and vulnerable people by those in positions of power.

“Today, we see many unpleasant things. There is tension between the leaders and the led. People don’t see each other as brothers and sisters. Let us embrace dialogue. Let’s remember that whatever we do, or whatever decision we take, impacts our people and the country, negatively or positively. We should know that Uganda is not ending with us. Let us also know that all of us Ugandans have a stake in our country," he said.

Christians praying at the spot at Kigungu Landing Site where the pioneer missionaries, Fr. Lourdel Mapeera (White Father) and Bro. Delmas Amans (White Father) first set foot upon their arrival in Uganda on February 17, 1879.

Teenage liturgical dancers in action during the Pontifical mass of the commemoration of the 147 th anniversary of the advent of the pioneer missionaries in Uganda at Mapeera Memorial church, Kigungu Landing Site, in Entebbe Municipality on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.

"We desire to leave for our children and grandchildren a peaceful and stable country in which they will live joyfully and see each other as brethren. If we go back to our Christian values, all these problems shall go away,” Ssemogerere added.

Rev. Fr Richard Nnyombi, a missionary of Africa, encouraged Christians to pray for the beatification and canonisation of the pioneer missionaries, Fr Simeon Lourdel Mapeera and Bro Delmas Amans.

He said Rome was still awaiting a proven miracle before concluding the duo’s cause.

He urged the faithful to report to the ecclesial authorities any miracle received through the intercession of the two missionaries.