Kisubi Seminary’s 75 years of clerical-inclined education

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On Saturday, June 27 (2026), all roads will lead to Kisubi Minor Seminary on Entebbe Road, Wakiso district, for the grand celebration of the seminary’s 75th anniversary.

Distinguished by its imposing main-building on a forest-surrounded rocky ground in the vicinity of Lake Victoria, Kisubi Seminary was established in 1951 by Archbishop Joseph Louis Cabana of the missionary society of the White Fathers (also called Missionaries of Africa), who was then the prelate of Lubaga archdiocese.

Fr Ricardo Cays (Rector, 1950 -1951)

Fr Francis Ssengendo, the current rector of Kisubi Minor Seminary

Rev. Fr. Francis Ssengendo is the seminary’s reigning rector.

“Every bishop has the responsibility of forming priests to work with in his diocese. Archbishop Joseph Louis Cabana had that in mind, the reason why he started this beautiful seminary as a nursery bed. Interestingly, the seminary, which currently offers full secondary education, originally started at Lubaga, before relocating to Mubende and finally, here at Kisubi, its current location. The beginning was humble and somehow challenging. There were a lot of sacrifices made. Archbishop Cabana had deep focus, determination, resilience and unwavering faith. He entrusted his confrere, Fr. L. Moreau, with the responsibility of overseeing the construction project. The late Chevalier Joseph Mpinga was the architect and builder. The pioneer group of seminarians comprised John Chrysostom Sserwadda, Joseph Emmanuel Musoke, Aloysius Ngobya, Emmanuel Kiregeya, John Chrysostom Ssekamwa, and Francis Xavier Mugambe, the first clerical alumnus ordained in Switzerland on June 5, 1964 and later became rector of the seminary,” Sengendo explained.

Ssengendo said the 75-year journey of Kisubi Seminary has been laden with remarkable milestones that have literally overshadowed the challenges.

ArchbishopJoseph Louis Cabana (WF), the founder of Kisubi Minor Seminary

Chevalier Joseph Mpinga - made the archtectural designs of Kisubi Seminary's imposing main building.

“Normally, our people see the success of a seminary in terms of the number of priests it has produced. But we should remember that not all the seminarians make it to the priesthood. Actually, on average, only 10% of those who join become priests. The majority go out and do other things either on advice, or personal discernment. So, as we give thanks to God for the hundreds of our clerical alumni, five of which were elevated to the episcopate, we also celebrate our many former old boys who banked on the knowledge, skills and moral values they received here and became very useful people in the country and the world,” Ssengendo said.

Ssengendo mentioned the state minister for Higher Education, Dr John Chrysostom Muyingo, as one of the lay-alumni of Kisubi Seminary who have been successful in their professions/trades and also immensely impacted the country and humanity. Others include celebrated local musician and lawyer Sylver Kyagulanyi, Prof. Justinian Tamusuza (a music guru based at Makerere University), Engineer Charles Nserikomawa, Charles Muganwa Ssemakula (legal guru) and the Lord Mayor of Kampala Engineer Ronald Balimwezo, just to name a few.

Fr Pio Kitanywa, Rector, 1974 - 1981

Fr Emmanuel Kimbowa, Rector, 2015 - 2018

-The Rt. Rev. Dr Matthias Ssekamaanya (bishop emeritus of Lugazi),

-The Rt. Rev. Dr. John Baptist Kaggwa (RIP, former Bishop of Masaka Diocese)

-The Rt. Rev. Lawrence Mukasa (Bishop of Kasana-Luweero)

Kisubi’s Successive Rectors

-The Very Rev. Fr. Ricardo Cays (White Father) – 1950 -1951

- The Very Rev Fr Andrew Page (White Father) - 1952-1953

- The Very Rev. Fr. Oscar Braun (White Father) - 1954 -1960

His Excellency Archbishop Dr. Augustine Kasujja - Kisubi Minor Seminarry alumnus

Bishop Joseph Antony Zziwa - Kisubi Minor Seminary alumnus

Fr Andrew Page, Rector, 1952 -1953

Fr Oscar Braun, Rector, 1954 -1960

Fr Francis Xavier Mugambe, Rector, 1981 -1988

Msgr. Charles Kasibante, Rector, 1989 -2002