LUWERO

Over 300,000 Catholics in Kasana-Luwero diocese are gearing up for a sh1.2b ceremony at which their third bishop will be installed.

Mgr. Lawrence Mukasa Lutwama will on Saturday be consecrated and installed as the third Bishop for Kasana Luwero diocese.

On April 29 this year, Pope Francis named mgr. Lutwama as the new Kasana Luwero bishop.

Lutwama, who has hitherto been the Vicar General of Kiyinda Mityana diocese, is to fill a pastoral leadership vacuum, which has existed in the diocese since early last year.

This is after Lutwama’s predecessor, Bishop Paul Semwogerere was appointed Archbishop of Kampala archdiocese on January 25, last year.

The overall chairperson of the organising committee for the ceremony, Fr. Joseph Kakooza, said on Friday that a total of 15,000 guests are expected at the grandiose ceremony, which will take place at the Kasana Luwero cathedral.

Kakooza said the preparations for the ceremony are being undertaken by 10 sub-committees, which have been created for the purpose. He, however, said only sh600m out of the budgeted sh1b had so far been realised by last week.

Kakooza called on the Christians, well-wishers and friends to raise the remaining sh400m.

The chairperson of the protocol sub-committee, Fr. Lawrence Kimbowa, said Mgr Mukasa will be ushered into the diocese by a delegation of Christians, who will receivehim at Lumansi on the Kampala-Luwero highway.

He will then travel in a procession up to Luwero where he will be ushered into the Kasana-Luwero cathedral and subsequently into his official residence where he will change into his ceremonial vestments before proceeding to the venue.

The chairperson of the catering sub-committee, Joseph Lwevuze, said they have organised 32 serving tables to avoid stampedes during lunch.

Lwevuze said food has been pooled by the Christians in the diocese, well-wishers and friends.

Kasana-Luweero diocese is one of the 19 Catholic dioceses in Uganda established in 1996.

Pope John Paul II announced the creation of Kasana-Luwero diocese on November 30, 1996 and on March 1, 1997, His Eminence Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala, who by then was the Archbishop of Kampala, officially inaugurated it.

Cardinal Wamala ordained the late Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, who by then was a Monsignor, as the first Bishop of this Diocese, where he served until 2006 before he was appointed Archbishop of Kampala.

In 2008, the diocese got the second Bishop Msgr. Paul Ssemogerere, who served until January last year, replacing the late Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga who died in April 2021.