Central Busoga Diocese gets first woman dean

BUSOGA - The Very Rev.Can. Robinah Bamuleseeyo has been installed as the first dean of All Saints Cathedral in Iganga, the headquarters of Central Busoga Diocese.

Bamuleseeyo’s appointment and installation make her the fourth female clergy to serve in the position of dean in the Province of the Church of Uganda, which comprises 39 dioceses.

Speaking to New Vision Online on February 4, 2026, at All Saints Cathedral offices in Iganga, Bamuleseeyo expressed gratitude for the milestone she has reached, attributing it to determination, patience and faithfulness.

“Like any other profession, there have been challenges along the way, but because of my faithfulness and trust in God, He has brought me to this point. I also thank my mentors such as Bishop Patrick Wakula, Mama Florence Wakula and fellow clergy for always standing with me,” she said.

Bamuleseeyo was inaugurated at the diocesan headquarters in Iganga district on January 25, 2026, during a colourful ceremony presided over by Busoga diocesan Bishop Patrick Wakula, assisted by the diocesan secretary the Rev. Can. Patrick Kemba, archdeacons and other clergy.

Central Busoga diocese was carved from the greater Busoga diocese on November 13, 2016, and it is the 36th diocese in the Church of Uganda Province.

The other female deans are All Saints Cathedral Nakasero provost the Very Rev. Can. Dr. Rebecca Nyegenye, Masindi Kitara diocese's the Very Rev. Can. Lydia Kwesiga and the Very Rev. Can. Dr. Joy Mukisa Isabirye of Christ’s Cathedral, Bugembe in Busoga diocese.

According to the Canons of the Church of Uganda Province, the dean is the second person in the hierarchy of the cathedral after the Bishop, and whenever the bishop vacates the deanery for either pastoral or other business, he or she takes over administratively and is answerable on cathedral matters.

During the installation ceremony, Nyegenye, who was the preacher of the day, appealed to the clergy to always preach the Gospel of Salvation to acquire more disciples of Jesus Christ, other than followers.  

Who is Bamuleseeyo?

Bamuleseeyo was born in a Family of nine on October 2, 1972, to the late Eruthan Kimumwe Zirabamuzaale and Gertrude Joyce Kasana Lukeeta of Namumyumya village, Namalemba sub-county in present-day Bugweri district.

She was baptised on December 17, 1972 at St Andrews Church and confirmed in the Christian faith by Busoga Diocese's first bishop Cyprian Bamwoze, on October 14, 1984, in the same Church.

Bamuleseeyo sat for her Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) at Namumyumya Primary School. She studied her O’level between 1985 and 1988 before joining Bishop Hannington College in Iganga district for a lay readers course.

Between 1992 and 1994, she went to Uganda Martyrs Seminary Namugongo for a Theological and Ministry Formation course, leading to ordination as a deacon.

Trying moment 

Bamuleseeyo is a tested woman of God. After completing her studies, she was enrolled and ready to be ordained as a deacon in the Church of Uganda, but to her surprise, Bishop Cyprian Bamwoze, rejected her, saying that at 23 years, she was still too young.

“It was a painful experience because during this period of studies and preparations for ordination, my mother fell sick and I could not even break off to go and nurse her, and she eventually died on March 1, 1995, in my absence,” she said.

She remembers that on pass-out day in June 1995, she watched as her colleagues were ordained, but she did not lose focus and months later that very year, she too was ordained.

“Six months later, through the efforts of the Rev. Can. Bagenda Kalimungabo, Bishop Bamwoze was convinced, and in December the same year, I was ordained as the first woman deacon in Busoga diocese,” she said.

Bamuleseeyo is grateful to the Archdeacon Rev. Can John Bagenda Kalimungabo of Bugiri Archdeaconry, Dean Emeritus Christ’s Cathedral Bugembe Can. Daniel Kizza, former diocesan secretary - Busoga Diocese Can. Kaluya, Can. Patrick Mutalwa and the late Rev. Can. Paul Kitakule, who was the archdeacon of Namutumba.

“These clergy helped me a lot, by counselling me, and I was slowly rejuvenated in Jesus Christ,” she said.