Christians in the Orthodox diocese of Jinja and Eastern Uganda are in a jubilant mood as they await the official inauguration and enthronement of their pioneer Bishop. 

His Grace Silvestros Kisitu, 40, will be enthroned at the Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Resurrection in Jinja on Sunday (February 27, 2022).

Bishop Silvestros Kisitu during a recent Orthodox mass. Photo by Mathias Mazinga

The ceremony at 9:00am will be presided over by the Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of Kampala and Western Uganda, His Eminence Archbishop Jeronymos Muzeeyi.

Kisitu was elected as the pioneer Bishop of Jinja by the Holy Synod of Alexandria and All Africa, which convened in Alexandria, Egypt, in early January.

Bishop Silvestros Kisitu (wearing a black cassock) interacting with Orthodox Christians during a recent Church function.

Prior to his election, he served as the Bishop of the Orthodox diocese of Gulu.

Bishop Kisitu is positive about his new responsibility.

“I will do everything within my means to bring the people of God closer to Him. I will work with the religious leaders of other faiths, the government and all people of good will to improve the living conditions of the people in my diocese,” Kisitu said.

Bishop Silvestros Kisitu (left) with Metropolitan Jeronymos Muzeeyi who will preside over his installation ceremony.

Hararambus Waiswa, an Orthodox Christian, expressed happiness at the election/enthronement of Kisitu.

“Jinja has always had a very vibrant Orthodox community. Now that we have a Bishop in our midst, Orthodoxy in Jinja and Eastern Uganda is going to grow to even greater heights,” said Waiswa.

A Brief on Kisitu

Bishop Silvetros Kisitu (40) was born on September 20, 1982 to Makarios Ssennoga and Nikoleta Nalwadda (both staunch Orthodox Christians). He is the second in the line of five children.

Brought up in the fear of God, Kisitu had the desire to serve the lord from childhood and he was instructed in the faith and inspired by the late Metropolitan Theodoros Nankyama (former Orthodox Archbishop of Kampala and All Uganda). 

Kisitu attained Elementary level of Education at Our Father Nursery School Namungoona, Kasubi Church of Uganda Primary School, Mengo Senior School and Chwa II Memorial College, Namungoona (in Lubaga Division), between 1987 and 2002.

In 2003, he studied Principles of Journalism at UMCAT School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

In 2004, with the blessing of then Metropolitan Jonah Lwanga, he left for studies in Greece, where after learning Greek, he joined the University of Athens and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology (2009).

In 2010-2012, he did a Master’s Programme in Pastoral Theology at the University of Athens (in Greece).

In 2013, he joined the Holy Monastery of Theotokos Skiadeni in Rhodes Island (in Greece) and he was tonsured as a monk in the same year (on August 11, 2013).

Kisitu’s priestly ministry

Kisitu was ordained to the Diaconate on September 8, in 2013, by Metropolitan Kyrillos of Rhodes. He was subsequently ordained a priest (September 8, 2014).

In 2015 he was elevated to the level of Archimandrite of the Alexandrian See by Patriarch Theodoros II. He then served in Alexandria up to 2018. While there, he served as a priest of the Patriarchal Monastery of St. Saava. 

He also served in the Church of the Unmercenary Saints John and Kyrros in Abukir. He further served as Archivist in charge of the Registry in Alexandria.

On November 26, 2018, during the Holy Synod and by proposal of the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, Theodore II, Kisitu was chosen as the first Bishop of the Holy Diocese of Gulu and Eastern Uganda. 

He was consecrated on December 16 (2018) at St. Savaa Patriarchal Monastery. He has served in this diocese for 3 years.

Missions and achievements

Coming in at a time of economic difficulty and amidst the Covid-19 challenges, Bishop Kisitu contributed towards the development of the Church in different ways.

He commissioned the construction of six Churches in his diocese (Gulu and Eastern Uganda).

He built the diocesan offices, bought more land for Church missions in different places, advocated for the establishment of health facilities, facilitated the drilling of water sources (bore holes) in different villages to help people access clean water.

He initiated charitable activities in different areas, rendering help to the needy as an expression of the love of Christ.

He has always been advocating and working towards the Development of the Uganda Orthodox Church. He has always advocated the creation of new Dioceses, which he sees as one of the ways to ease the administration of the Church and quicken progress in the spread of the Gospel and the Orthodox faith.

The creation of the Holy Diocese of Jinja is attributed to Kisitu, who conceived and proposed the idea to the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria. (He proposed that the diocese of Gulu and Eastern Uganda was so vast and needed to be split). He then presented Jinja as the suitable centre for the Orthodox Church in Eastern Uganda.

As an expression of great hope in that desire, he requested Patriarch Theodore to bless the foundation stone of a diocese house in Jinja. Efforts continued and finally, the prayer was answered. 

On January 12, 2022, he was elected as the first Bishop of the new diocese of Jinja and Eastern Uganda, which interestingly, he advocated and helped to create.

Kisitu speaks fluent English, Greek and Luganda. He also understands Lusoga and Acholi.