Prof Maviiri celebrates 40 years in Catholic priesthood

The Catholic Church has paid tribute to Fr. Prof. John Chrysostom Maviiri, the former Vice-Chancellor of Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi (UMU), who last week celebrated 40 years in the Catholic priesthood. 

Maviiri’s warm tributes were delivered during his 40th priestly anniversary thanksgiving mass at St. Charles Lwanga Catholic Church, Mbikko, in Buikwe district.

Among the prominent people that spoke well of Maviiri is the newly appointed Archbishop-designate of Kampala Archdiocese, the Most Rev. Paul Ssemogerere, who described him as an effective minister of the Church, accomplished academician and passionate champion of social development.

“Our brother Maviiri is a man of deep faith. He is a brave fighter, a promoter of peace. His mere presence brings peace, joy and love. He is passionate about ecumenism. He is also deeply committed to children. Through his friends in Germany, he has paid school fees for hundreds of needy young people in Mbikko. He is a man of deep faith, the reason why he has prevailed over many challenges. When he was still a youthful priest, he got a motorbike accident and broke his legs, but he never got discouraged. He prayed and got healed,” said archbishop Ssemogerere.

The reigning Bishop of Lugazi diocese, the Rt. Rev. Christopher Kakooza also spoke highly of Maviiri’s admirable devotion and loyalty to the Catholic Church.

Fr. Maviiri 40th priestly anniversary celebration was highly colorful, very befitting of a cleric of flowery sacerdotal qualities, who has also made an immense contribution to the development of the country, Africa and the world through academia.

The function started with a thanksgiving mass, which was highly beautified by spectacles of Christian Africanization. 

Members of the Butiko (mushroom) clan of the Baganda, (to which Maviiri belongs), danced the Amaggunju (the loyal dance of the Baganda), as the liturgical procession progressed to the altar. 

Another marvel of the function was the dramatized presentation of the book of the gospels. Two little children (a boy and a girl) were carried shoulder high in a canoe-like container. 

The girl held/exposed the book of the Gospels, which she later handed over to the deacon on duty. The boy held a lowing pole, which he kept playing with, in imitation of a fisherman controlling a moving canoe. 

The dramatized presentation of the book of the gospels was an imitation of the advent of the pioneer missionaries of the society of White Fathers (Fr. Lourdel Mapeera and Bro. Delmas Amans), who arrived in Uganda by boat, on February 17, 1879.

Maviiri’s function was highly dignified by the presence of 3 Prelates of the Roman Catholic Church: Bishop Christopher Kakooza of Lugazi diocese, Bishop Emeritus Mathias Ssekamaanya (Lugazi diocese) and the Kampala archdiocese archbishop-designate, Paul Ssemogerere (the homilist).

The presence of dozens of Catholic priests, religious men and women, cultural leaders from the Butiko clan (including Omutaka Matia Kawere and Omutaka James Musiitwa Kajugujwe) and, a strong delegation from Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi, led by the university’s new Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Patrick Kyamanywa, also demonstrated Maviiri’s enormous ecclesial, academic and socio-cultural influence.

Maviiri’s Gratitude

In his thanksgiving speech, Maviiri paid gratitude to his parents, who he said, gave him a strong religious foundation. 

He also thanked his family members for supporting him along his priestly journey and service. 

He also thanked his contemporaries (the old boys), including Mr. Christian Sinnabulya, who he said, have kept their love, support and goodwill for him.

Fact file

The Rev Prof John Chrysostom Maviiri was born on December 17, 1955. 

He is a son to Anna Maria Nannozi and Ssalongo Joseph Muwaga, who lived in Nyenga, Buikwe district. 

He attended King’s College PS Mbikko, St Peter’s PS Lubanyi and Nile SS Jinja.

He did his priestly formation at St Joseph’s Minor Seminary Nyenga, Alokulum National Major Seminary (Philosophy, 1975-78) and St Mary’s National Major Seminary Ggaba (Theology, 1979-81). 

He was ordained a priest (by the late Emmanuel Cardinal Nsubuga) at Lubaga Cathedral in 1981.

He was subsequently appointed to Nswanjere Preparatory Seminary (1981-83). 

He did a Masters Programme and later, a PHD in Theology at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome (1983-87). 

Upon his return (1989), he was appointed Rector of St Mbaaga’s Major Seminary Ggaba. 

He was later appointed parish-priest of Nakulabye Catholic parish (1991-95).

In 1995, he was appointed to the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), in Nairobi, as a lecturer of Theology. 

In 2002, the Catholic Bishops of Eastern, Central Africa and Madagascar appointed him as the Vice-Chancellor of CUEA. 

He reigned until 2011. After his Sabbatical leave in Israel and Italy, the Bishop Emeritus of Lugazi, Mathias Ssekamaanya appointed him to St Paul’s Catholic Church, Mukono (curate, 2012-2014). 

In 2015, he became the Vice-Chancellor of Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi.