Catholic laity asked to be more active in Church
Delivering his homily, Archbishop Ssemogerere encouraged the Catholic faithful to work together to enhance the Church’s mission of evangelisation and social development.
Participants sharing a photo moment with Archbishop Augustine Kasujja (wearing a mitre) after the closing ceremony. (Photos by Mathias Mazinga)
________________
During the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), the Catholic Church developed and approved a document that affirms the Christian vocation and participatory role of the laity in the Church’s mission of spreading the Gospel.
The decree Apostolicam Actuostatem (Latin for Apostolate of the Laity) was promulgated by Pope Paul VI on November 18, 1965, Pope Paul VI.
Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere (wearing a mitre) shares a photo moment with the participants after the Eucharistic celebration for the official opening of the study workshop for the diamond jubilee of the Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity at Ulrika Guest House, Kisubi, in Wakiso district on Tuesday, November 18 2025. 
The document faults the erroneous thinking of Catholic sacerdotal superiority as it emphasises the collaborative, complementary and supportive relationship that must exist between the clergy and lay members of the Church, who also share in the priesthood of Jesus by virtue of their baptism.
This year, the Catholic Church commemorates 60 years of the promulgation of the Lay Apostolate Decree. As one of the activities of the celebration, the Catholic Bishops of Uganda, through their department of Lay Apostolate, organised a study workshop for the Church’s pastoral leaders, to help them understand and reflect more deeply on the message of the document, in regard to the role and shared responsibility of the priests, religious and laity in the Church.
The study conference took place at Ulrika Guest House, Kisubi (on Entebbe Road), in Wakiso district on November 17- 20 (2025).
It was officially opened by the Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese, the Most Rev. Paul Ssemogerere, who also doubles as the Chairman of the Lay Apostolate Commission of the Uganda Episcopal Conference.
Delivering his homily, Archbishop Ssemogerere encouraged the Catholic faithful to work together to enhance the Church’s mission of evangelisation and social development.
He spoke highly of the decree, which he said promotes the values of synodality and co-responsibility, which must be practised by the members of the Church.
A spectacle of participants during the progression of the study workshop for the diamond jubilee of the Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity at Ulrika Guest House, Kisubi, Wakiso district. 
“Through Apostolicam Actuostatem, the laity are invited to give credible witness to Christ in all circumstances; on the streets, in workplaces and in society. They are to renew the church and society through their exemplary conduct and pious life. The decree encourages Christian formation. It is a call to action, a genuine conversion and a mission rooted in Christ. The Church needs Christian witnesses who put their heart, talent, leadership and fidelity to the mission of God,” Ssemogerere said.
Archbishop Dr Augustine Kasujja, Apostolic Nuncio, also put emphasis on the undisputable role of the laity in evangelisation as highlighted in the decree.
“Without the engagement of the laity, the Church advances abnormally, like a kangaroo. The people of God, I mean the clergy, the religious and the laity, must work in communion to overcome the challenges of evangelisation in the modern world.”
“The Uganda Martyrs are a perfect example of effective participation of the laity. When the pioneer missionaries fled to Tanzania due to persecution in 1882, Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe and Andrew Kaggwa remained in charge of the Church. When the missionaries returned, after three years, the number of Catechumens had grown tremendously. Even in Madagascar, where I once worked as Nuncio, one lady and a religious brother once took charge of the Church. The beatified martyrs Daudi Okello and Jildo Irwa also ably maintained the presence of the Church in Northern Uganda.”
During the progression of the workshop, various presenters and discussants advocated the participatory role of the laity in the Church with even greater conviction. Those who gave interesting insights and testimonies include the Secretary General of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, Msgr. John Baptist Kauta, the Director of the Lay Apostolate Commission at Uganda Catholic Secretariat, Fr. Fredrick Tusingire, and the President of Uganda National Catholic Council of Lay Apostolate (UNCCLA), Gervase Ndyanabo.
Other discussants
The Pastoral Coordinator of Kampala archdiocese, Fr. Dr Ambrose Bwangatto, gave very interesting information as he discussed the historical context and theological road to the decree.
The Head of the Laity in Uganda, Gervase Ndyanabo (fourth-left) shares a photo moment with some youthful participants after the study workshop.
Fr. James Ssendege (from Masaka Diocese) gave deeper justification for lay participation.
“Our foundation of the Church in Uganda is laity-based. The Uganda Martyrs were lay people. Most of the Church land, especially in Masaka diocese, was also donated by lay people. So, the laity are certainly wanted and needed.”
The Rev. Sr. Mary Justine Naluggya emphasised the need for Christians to listen to one another.
“If we are not in communion, participation will not be there. So, we should nurture a culture of listening and working together. The laity should no longer see themselves as mere spectators but active participants in the Church,” she said.
The national youth leader, Prossy Namata, requested for the involvement of young people in the Church’s planning processes.
Veteran politician and Head of the Laity of Lira Diocese, Hon. Jovino Akaki, asked the Catholic faithful to interest themselves in politics.
“We must embrace and provide political leadership. Catholics are still shy about politics yet it is in politics that policies are brewed. Politics means power. It is in parliament that appointments are negotiated. We need to go out and talk to our people to get involved.”
The National Coordinator of catechists at the Uganda Catholic Secretariat Nsambya, Matia Mulumba Ssemakula, called for greater recognition and appreciation of catechists and the catechetical ministry.
Others who made presentations include the Head of the Laity of Kampala Archdiocese, Emily Kitto Mwaka, the President of Radio Maria Uganda, Anthony Mateega, Fr. Agaptus Hector Businge, Hilda Najjuma, Prof. Achileo Kaaya, Zacharia Isabirye, Fr. Joseph Ogwal, Odo Tumukwasibwe, and Ann Lumumba Odongo.
The workshop ran under the theme: Pilgrims of Hope: Reflecting on the Past, Journeying Together into the Future.
Archbishop Augustine Kasujja (centre) hands over a certificate of attendance to Rev. Sr. Mary Justine Naluggya (right) as Fr Fred Tusingire (left) looks on.