Catholic Church in Uganda gets 42 new priests, 32 deacons

The transition from a transitional deacon to a priest is the culmination of years of spiritual, academic, and pastoral formation. This sacred journey shifts a man from a minister of service into the ministerial priesthood, granting him the lifelong authority to consecrate the Eucharist.

The day of ordination is a profoundly moving experience. For most Catholic ordinands, the rite unfolds through several deeply symbolic steps.

An ordained priest is a religious leader who has received sacred authority through a formal rite called Holy Orders. They act as ministers of holy sacraments, teachers of faith, and spiritual leaders for their local church.

On Saturday (August 1), four Catholic Dioceses ordained 42 deacons to the priesthood and 32 seminarians to the diaconate.

The bishops ordained the priests and deacons in procedures, including making promises of obedience to their bishops and their successors, along with a commitment to celibacy and the lifelong prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours.

Deacon Richard Ayikobua From Adumi Parish

Those ordained included two Brothers of Bannakalooli congregation in Kiteredde in Kyotera District, under Masaka Diocese.

The four Catholic Dioceses received 42 new priests: Kiyinda-Mityana (7), Arua (9), Masaka (20) and Fort-Portal (6). The annual ordination Mass drew supporters from across the dioceses to celebrate vocations and pray for the new priests as they begin their ministry.

Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese

According to the Chancellor of Kiyinda-Mityana, Fr Emmanuel Tamale, Seven Deacons ordained as priests by the Diocesan Bishop, Dr Joseph Anthony Zziwa, at St Noa Kiyinda-Mityana Cathedral. 

Deacon Godfrey Kikonyogo (kiboga Parish)

Deacons ordained to priesthood in Kiyinda-Mityana

Dn. Patrick Kateregga (Fr) from Kiyinda-Mityana Cathedral Parish

Dn.  Godfrey Ssebikyu (Fr) from Kiyinda-Mityana Cathedral Parish

Dn. John Paul Yawe (Fr) from Kiyinda-Mityana Cathedral Parish

Dn. John Bosco Luswata (Fr) from Kibalinga Parish

Dn. Deogratius Atuhaire (Fr) from Mubende Parish

Dn.  Lawrence Ssebuliba (Fr) from Bukalangi Parish

Dn. Godfrey Kikonyogo  (Fr) of the Camillian congregation from Kiboga Parish.

Deacon Tom Tumwebaze

Seminarians to be ordained as Deacons

Sem. Everest Bugonzi (Dn)

Sem.  John Bosco Muliika (Dn)

Sem. Florent Niyorurema (Dn)

Sem. Papa Moise (Dn) of Camillian from Congo

Sem.  Samuel Ssebbaale (Dn)

Sem. John Vianey Ssebutemba (Dn)

Dn. Isaac Musoke (fr) From Lukaya Parish

Arua Diocese

The Diocesan Chancellor, Fr Joel Anguyo, said that nine (9) deacons are to be ordained as priests and seven (7) Seminarians to be ordained Deacons by the Diocesan Bishop Sabino Ocan Odoki at Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral.

Deacons to be ordained as priests in Arua

Deacon Aido Tabutre  (Fr) from Micu Parish

Deacon Johnson Mutu (Fr) from Otumbari Parish

Deacon Richard Ayikobua (Fr) from Adumi Parish

Deacon Moses Yuma (Fr) from Ocodri Parish

Deacon Michael Aledra (Fr) (MIDM) from Simbili

Deacon Innocent Anywar (Fr) (MIDM) from St Leo, the Great Catholic Parish, Boroboro, Lira Diocese

Deacon Derrick Kundu (Fr) (MIDM)

Deacon Godwin Byensi  (Fr) (MIDM) from St John Baptist Buliisa Parish in Hoima Diocese

Deacon Robert Bwambale (Fr) (MIDM) from St Matia Mulumba Ibanda Parish in Kasese Diocese

Dn. Innocent Mpiima Kitovu

Seminarians to be ordained deacons in Arua

Sem. Hillary Etumide (Dn) from Ombaci Parish

Sem.  Robert Ajiga (Dn) from Mingoro Parish

Sem. Brian Edgar Omwango (Dn) (MIDM) from Cajetan Sirimba Parish (Bugonma Diocese in Kinya),

Sem. Emmanuel Alobo (Dn) (MIDM) from St Joseph Agweng Parish in Lira Diocese

Sem. Nicholas Atukunde (Dn) (MIDM) from Kashekuri Parish in Mbarara Archdiocese

Sem.  Emmanuel Lagu (Dn) (MIDM) from Pakele Parish

Sem.  Morris Paul Ocen (Dn) (MCCJ) from Ngetta Parish in Lira Diocese.

Masaka Diocese

Meanwhile, in Masaka Diocese, according to the Chancellor, Fr Dr Jude Jjuuko, twenty (20) deacons were ordained priests, including two Catholic Brothers, and fifteen (15) ordained Deacons at Our Lady of Sorrows Cathedral Kitovu by the Diocesan Bishop, Serverus Jjumba

Fr Jjuuko said that two Catholic Brothers of Bannakalooli in Kiteredde will be ordained priests. “A unique year in our diocese: two of the 20 deacons who were ordained, including Brothers, who will be called “Brother-Fathers.”

Fr Jjuuko revealed that today the total of Diocesan Priests in Masaka is 288; after the Bishop ordains 17 Diocesan Priests, the total number of Diocesan Priests will be 305.

Dn. Michael Ssettuba from Kaliiro Parish

Deacons become priests in Masaka Diocese

Dn. Raymond Batte (Fr) from Kitovu Cathedral Parish

Dn.  Matthias Kakeeto (Fr) from Bukoto Parish

Dn. Jude Katongole (Fr) from Busheka Centre

Dn.  Bernard Kato Kayiwa (Fr) from Kkindu Parish

Dn. Anthony Kibirige (Fr) from Kkindu Parish

Dn.  Gerald Kimuli (Fr) from Ssembabule Parish

Dn.  Tonny Kiyaga (Fr) from Narozari Parish

Dn. Anatoli Kiriggwajjo Bangi (Fr) from Kijjukizo Parish

Dn. Gyaviira Matovu (Fr) from Bbuuliro Centre

Dn. Ronald Matovu Mulindwa (Fr) from Nkoni Parish

Dn. Alexander Muzingu from Narozari Parish.

Dn.  Isaac Musoke (Fr) from Lukaya Parish

Dn.  Innocent Mpiima Kitovu (Fr) from Kitovu Parish

Dn.  Kizito Nyanja (Fr) from Lwaggulwe Parish

Dn.  Nicholas Nyalwal Ochieng (Brother-Father) from Bannakalooli Brothers Kiteredde

Dn. Sipiliano Turyahebwa (Brother-Father) from (Bannakalooli Brothers Kiteredde)

Dn. Aiden Tonny Ssekwe (Fr) from Ssaza Parish

Dn.  Michael Ssettuba (Fr) from Kaliiro Parish

Dn. Tonny Walusasa (Fr) from Nkoni Parish

Dn. James Kasule (Fr) of Apostles of Jesus from Matale Parish.

Deacon Johnpaul Yawe (Mityana Cathedral Parish)

Seminarians ordained Deacons in Masaka

Sem.  Joseph Birimuye (Dn) from Kijjukizo Parish

Sem.  Deogratias Kabanda (Dn) from Kalungu Parish

Sem. Benedicto Kagimu (Dn) from Buyamba Parish

Sem.  Henry Kalanzi (Dn) from Kyamaganda Parish

Sem. Martin Kasule (Dn) from Kyamuliibwa

Sem. Brian Lubega (Dn) from Nkoni Parish

Sem. Gyaviira Lubega (Dn) from Kinoni Parish

Sem. Mike Male (Dn) from Sserinnya Centre

Sem. Dominic Mukasa (Dn) from Kyamuliibwa Parish

Sem.  Charles Mukasa Mukalazi (Dn) from Butende Parish

Sem.  Expedito Musoke (Dn) from Namabaale Parish

Sem. Emmanuel Muwonge (Dn) from Mbiriizi Parish

Sem.  Alex Ssekabira (Dn) from Kabuwoko Parish

Sem.  David Edgar Ssendagire (Dn) from Kinooni Parish

Sem.  Andrew Sseruwo (Dn) from Butende Parish.

Fort-Portal Diocese ordain 6 priests and 4 Deacons

The diocese of Fort-Portal is set to ordain six deacons to the priesthood and four seminarians to the diaconate, at Our Lady of the Snows, Virika Cathedral, by Diocesan Bishop Robert K. Muhiirwa Akiiki, according to Diocesan Vocation Director, Fr Richard Bomera.

However, the chancellor, Fr John Tumuhairwe, revealed that the total number of Diocesan Priests of Fort-Portal is 159, including two (2) Bishops, the Diocesan Bishop Muhiirwa, and former Auxiliary bishop Joseph Mugenyi Sabiiti.

Deacon Derrick Tushabe

Six Deacons ordained Priests in Fort-Portal

Dn. Onesmus Ajuna from Kanyamukale Parish

Dn. Alexandria Binta Mzee from Yerya Parish

Dn.  Wilfred Mugisa from Wekomiire Parish

Dn.  Ronald Tukahiirwa from Kitagwenda Parish

Dn. Tom Tumwebaze from Butunduuzi Parish

Dn. Derrick Tushabe from Kahunge Parish.

Four Seminarians ordained Deacons in Fort-Portal

Sem. Vincent Musiime

Sem. Simon Peter Kaijuka

Sem.  Henry Kayonga

Sem. Robert Kato