Final touches at Rubaga Cathedral ahead of centenary as faithful give generously

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The grand celebration of the centenary of Rubaga Cathedral is fast approaching and will take place at the cathedral in Rubaga Division on Sunday, October 26.

Meanwhile, the organising committee for the centennial celebration has continued to receive cash donations from Christians and other people of goodwill.

Contractors repainting the interior of Lubaga Cathedral on Wednesday, October 21, 2025. (Photo by Mathias Mazinga)

The latest donors’ gathering took place at the cathedral square on October 21, 2025, and mainly comprised spouses wedded by Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere, together with their friends.

The donor-pilgrims, mainly from Matugga, were led by Godfrey Kiwalabye. The particular donors included John Fisher Musisi (sh1m), Sam Ddamulira Mugagga (sh2m), Evans Ssennabulya (sh1m), Kenneth Ssentongo (sh1m), Kakembo Mukisa (sh1.5m), Mary Leticia Kyeswa (sh0.5m), Nsereko Ssebuliba (sh1m), Annet and Godfrey Kiwalabye (sh1m), Dr Nkata (sh0.5m), and Caesar Lukwago (sh0.5m).

Other donors included Hajj Moses Ssempagama (sh1m), Sheenan Standard PS (sh1m), and Fr Emmanuel Kimbowa Junior, who delivered sh500,000 donated by students of Our Lady Queen of Africa Rubaga Girls SS.

Additional cash donations came from Delcom Construction (sh3m), Stanbic Bank (sh5m), Uganda National Bureau of Standards (sh5m), and staff of the Bank of Uganda (sh10m). Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere also made a personal donation of sh500,000.

The money was received with gratitude by the chairman of the organising committee, Eng. Pius Mugalaasi and his deputy, Michael Ssebbowa Mukasa.

More donations were received on Wednesday (October 22). During the morning donors’ conference, the chancellor of Kampala Archdiocese, Fr Dr Pius Male Ssentumbwe, received a delegation of branch managers from Centenary Bank, who contributed sh6m. Male also received other individual pilgrims who donated a total of sh1m.

A spectacle of the building hosting Ssekabaka Muteesa I Memorial Museum that has also been renovated. (Photo by Mathias Mazinga)

The grand celebration will take place at the Cathedral on Sunday, starting at 9:00 am.

Ongoing works

Preparations at the cathedral are in high gear, with visible activity throughout the premises. The walls of the cathedral have been cleaned, and the interior has been beautified with fresh paint. Workers can be seen putting the final touches on the building to make it look even more magnificent.

Workmen are also beautifying the cathedral square, the priests’ cemetery, and the museum building.

Engineers are moving up and down, supervising and completing work on the two proposed centennial monuments, the two-level car park and the presbytery. Members of the cathedral’s joint choral group, the Sacred Heart Choir, are holding their final rehearsals, while visitors tour the cathedral and its redeveloped facilities.

The programme

In a related development, the authorities at Rubaga Cathedral have released the programme for the long-awaited centennial celebration on Sunday (October 26).

Rev. Fr. Richard Nnyombi of the Missionary Society of the White Fathers (right) taking pilgrims through a tour of the newly-renovated cathedral after the donors' conference on Wednesday, October 21. (Photo by Mathias Mazinga)

According to the cathedral administrator, the Very Rev. Fr Achilles Mayanja, activities will begin with the blessing and commissioning of the centennial monuments, the newly constructed two-level 100-car park and the presbytery.

The Pontifical Mass at the cathedral, presided over by Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere, will follow at 10:00 am.

At the conclusion of Mass, around 1:00 pm, Christians and guests will proceed to the cathedral’s sports ground, where lunch and cabaret entertainment will be provided.