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KAMPALA - Former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi together with his friends and family have contributed over shillings 330 million towards the completion of All Saints Cathedral in Nakasero.

Presiding over Amama and Jacqueline Mbabazi’s 50th wedding anniversary last weekend, Archbishop Dr Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, called upon guests to contribute towards the completion of the cathedral in remembrance of the Mbabazi’s anniversary.

“This is a special service, it is the first golden jubilee we are having in the new Cathedral, you cannot just come and go like that let us finish the door and windows. The door costs shillings 53 million and all the windows shillings 240 million,” Dr Kaziimba said.

During the fundraising moment, the deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayembwa, responded to the call by contributing sh53m for the entrance door, Amos Nzeyi pledged to finish the Alter and Caesar Augustine Mulenga, the Vietnamese Honorary Consul to Uganda, pledged sh250million for all the windows.

In his speech, Mbabazi promised the Archbishop that at an appropriate time, he would get more friends and they come to deliver more donations.

Mbabazi’s friends joined him at the Cathedral to deliver their pledges and among the people who contributed money in cash included Caesar Mulenga, who contributed sh250 million to buy all the church windows, Bamwine Quillino, honorary consul of Swaziland in Uganda contributed sh10 million, former Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda gave sh2 million and Steven Bamwanga sh5 million.

Delivering a bundle of crisp dollar notes, which were well-arranged into the hands of the assistant Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Kampala, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Hannington Mutebi who was all smiles, Mulenga said that he is contributing to God’s work because all the money he has belongs to God.

Delivering a bundle of crisp dollar notes, which were well-arranged into the hands of the assistant Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Kampala, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Hannington Mutebi who was all smiles, Mulenga said that he is contributing to God’s work because all the money he has belongs to God. (All Photos by Moses Nsubuga)

“I want to congratulate our elders like Ndugu Amama and Rugunda for showing us the right direction; it is by attending his 50th wedding anniversary that I learnt of this construction work. Whatever we own in this world, it is from God and he can take it at any time, so it is important that when there is an opportunity to contribute to building his Kingdom, we involve ourselves,” Mulenga said.

Speaking at the function, Bamwine Quillino, honorary consul of Swaziland in Uganda, said that it was his first time to come to All Saints if it was not for his friend Mulenga who invited him, he would not have known that there was God’s pending construction work.

“The bible says seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness and he will add all other things to you. I am happy to come here for this cause. The holy spirit has guided me to contribute sh10million but going forward I am going to tell my other friends to come and contribute to Building God’s house,” Bamwine said.

In his speech, Mbabazi thanked all his friends who responded to the Archbishop's call for their generosity.

“Mulenga has contributed half a billion; I had never held that money till today. Mulenga has taken me to another level. If we have 10 Mulengas this Cathedral will be done. When he pledged during my anniversary I did not know that he was going to pay it today, today he has removed every doubt I had in my head,” Mbabazi said.

Construction work

In its over 100 years of establishment, the cathedral has grown to over 6,000 worshippers, with diverse backgrounds.

The present sanctuary, which has over the years, been expanded three times, is currently packed to the brim. Other worshippers fill the three expansive tents set up in the compound.

Plans for the current expansion commenced in 2004, and the project has been under the stewardship of four archbishops: Nkoyoyo, Orombi, Ntagali, and now Kaziimba.

The extent of the construction includes walling and two galleries in structured reinforced concrete frame, roofing, windows, and doors, a 12-floor bell and prayer tower, five chapels, and five vestries.

The new sanctuary will have capacity to seat at least 4,000 people.

It will have 150 parking spaces, in addition to offices, and other public facilities.
The new complex immersion baptistery and an elevated altar will seat 100 ministers and other 70 persons.

Ground floor

This level will have the main altar with the seat of the Bishop, canon seats, choir gallery, clergy seating, the pulpit, and the lectern. Behind the altar, there will be an alternate vestry also leading to a sacristy (a room for keeping vestments and other church valuables) and a changing room.

There will be a congregational seating of 2500 people, two chapels, ushers, the clergy vestry, and a crèche (where mothers and other baby minders will be able to discharge their responsibilities without feeling that they are disrupting the ongoing service). 

It will be glass-paneled with sound-proof properties and fitted with speakers such that those in creche will not miss out on the proceedings.