Catholic Church commemorates 147 years of Uganda’s Marian Consecration
On Thursday, July 2, 2026, Catholics made a pilgrimage of faith to St. John the Baptist Catholic parish church, Mapeera-Nabulagala (in Rubaga Division) to commemorate this historic religious event of the consecration/dedication of Uganda to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Rev. Fr. Richard Nnyombi prays a blessing during the Eucharistic celebration for the commemoration of the 147th anniversary of the dedication of Uganda to Mary by the pioneer Catholic missionaries of the Society of the White Fathers (Missionaries of Africa). The function took place at St. John the Baptist Mapeera-Nabulagala Catholic parish church on Thursday, July 2, 2026. (Photo by Mathias Mazinga)
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When the pioneer Catholic missionaries of the Society of the White Fathers arrived in Uganda in 1879, they did some significant things as they began their evangelistic mission.
The clerics of French descent, namely Msgr. Leon Livinhac (the leader of the group), Fr. Simeon Lourdel Mapeera, Bro. Delmas Amans, Fr. Ludovic Girault and Fr Leon Barbot, after getting permission from King Muteesa I of Buganda to preach the Gospel in the kingdom, put up their first mission station at Nabulagala-Lubya (currently in Rubaga Division), where the king had given them land.
One of their most significant/historic religious activities was the first ever Catholic mass in Uganda, which they celebrated at Mapeera-Nabulagala on June 25, 1879.
The Catholic faithful share a photo moment with the clerics after the Eucharistic celebration for the commemoration of the 147th anniversary of the dedication of Uganda to the Blessed Virgin Mary, by the White Fathers (Missionaries of Africa). The function took place at St. John the Baprist Mapeera-Nabulagala Catholic parish church, in Rubaga Division on Thursday, July 2, 2026. (Photo by Mathias Mazinga)
The White Fathers not only said prayers of dedication but also wrote a document.
“Today we consecrate to Mary Immaculate the Mission of Lake Nyanza. We give her and consecrate all our bodies and souls, our works, our entire life, our death and our life to come.”
On Thursday, July 2, 2026, Catholics made a pilgrimage of faith to St. John the Baptist Catholic parish church, Mapeera-Nabulagala (in Rubaga Division) to commemorate this historic religious event of the consecration/dedication of Uganda to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Delivering his homily during Mass, Fr. Nnyombi encouraged the Catholic faithful to dedicate their life and the country to God as the pioneer missionaries did.
“It is Mary, the Mother of Jesus, who enabled our grandfathers in the faith to carry out their mission. They trusted in her, and certainly, she helped them to overcome the challenges they encountered, and the mission was successful. Let us have the same trust in Mother Mary. Let us be firm in our faith. Mary, who helped the missionaries, will also help us to overcome the challenges we are having in our country today. We need to retain our faith and confidence as we go through our difficult situation,” Nnyombi said.
Nnyombi later put it to the Catholic faithful, in particular the devotees of Mary, to help other members of the faith to experience Mary and her attributes.
The Mass was also concelebrated by Fr. Emmanuel Ddamba, a curate at Mapeera-Nabulagala Catholic parish church.