Rubaga Cathedral fundraising dinner raises over 390m
Ssemogerere donated shillings 50 million towards the cathedral centennial celebration preparation. He said he had deducted the money from the personal money that President Museveni had donated to him.
The Chairman of the fundraising committee of Lubaga Cathedral Centenary Celebrations, Hon Fred Kiyimba Freeman delivers his remarks during the fundraising dinner at Pope Paul Memorial Hotel, Kampala on Thursday, July 10, 2025. (Credit: Mathias Mazinga)
By Mathias Mazinga
Journalists @New Vision
KAMPALA - The organisers of Rubaga Cathedral's centennial celebration are in an upbeat mood after pulling off an impressive fundraising dinner. The late July 10, 2025, evening function was at Pope Paul Memorial Hotel, Rubaga, Kampala.
According to the fundraising committee chairperson, the dinner yielded shillings 395 million in cash and pledges.
The major donors included
- Chevalier Joseph Yiga and his wife Dame Regius Yiga: Shilling 40 million
- Centenary Bank: Shillings 50 million
- Centenary Bank managing director family: Shillings five million
- Businessman Godfrey Kirumira: Shillings 10 million
- Businessman Hamis Kiggundu: Shillings 10 million
- Lawrence Muwonge: Shillings 10 million
- Eugenia Nassolo: Shillings 10 million
- Fr Achilles Mayanja family: Shillings 10 million
- Stanbic Bank: Shillings five million
- St Peter’s SS Nsambya: Shillings five million
- Trinity College Nabbingo: Shillings five million
- Nsambya Glass Works: Shillings 10 million
- St Michael Lubaga Hospital Training Schools: Shillings five million
- Our Lady Queen of Africa Rubaga Girls’ SS: Shillings five million
Msgr Rogers Kabuye (left), Archbishop Paul Ssemogerre (second-left), Fr Riichard Nnyombi (wearing a white cassock) and other guests during the fundraising dinner at Pope Paul Memorial Hotel, Kampala on Thursday, July 10, 2025. (Credit: Mathias Mazinga)
The proceeds from the dinner impressed Kampala Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere, who commended the Christians and all Ugandans of goodwill for their generosity and commitment.
Ssemogerere donated shillings 50 million towards the cathedral centennial celebration preparation. He said he had deducted the money from the personal money that President Museveni had donated to him.
The Chairman of the organising committee (also the head of the construction committee), Eng. Pius Mugalaasi assured the donors and all Christians that the proposed renovations on Rubaga Cathedral and its surroundings will be completed ahead of the cathedral’s centenary celebration, which will take place on October 26 this year.
Nsibirwa lauds warm relations
Delivering his remarks during the function, Buganda Kingdom second deputy Katikkiro and finance minister Robert Wagwa Nsibirwa paid tribute to the Catholic Church for maintaining cordial relations with the kingdom. He said the good working relationship between Buganda and the Church started in 1875 when Ssekabaka Muteesa 1 invited the Christian missionaries to the kingdom.
The relationship was maintained and strengthened even more when Ssekabaka Muteesa II successfully negotiated the return of the body of Mother Mary Kevin Kearney (the foundress of the Little Sisters of St Francis) from Ireland for re-burial in Uganda.
Nsibirwa donated shillings five million. Buganda parliament speaker Patrick Luwaga Mugumbule and Mathias Katamba also donated shillings two million and four million, respectively.