Today (Thursday, February 17), the Catholic Church commemorates 143 years of the advent of the pioneer Catholic missionaries, the Rev. Fr. Simeon Lourdel Mapeera and Bro. Delmas Amans of the Catholic missionary society of the White Fathers (also called Missionaries of Africa). 

The two missionaries of French descent arrived (by boat) at Kigungu Landing Site, in Entebbe Municipality on February 17, 1879. 

They then proceeded to Lubaga, to seek the permission of the Kabaka of Buganda, Muteesa I, to preach the Catholic faith in his kingdom. 

The advent of Fr. Mapeera and Bro. Amans also marked the inception of Roman Catholicism in Uganda.

Today as Catholics mark 143 years of the establishment of the Church in Uganda, they also remember with great admiration the highly successful missionary activity of the White Fathers, who introduced the faith.

Memorable Achievements of the White Fathers

The most remarkable achievement of the White Fathers is the dynamic presence of the Roman Catholic Church. Prior to their coming, the people of Uganda did not know anything about Jesus Christ. They worshipped pagan gods. 

Their level of civilization was also not adequate. Their living conditions were poor. They were generally illiterate.

The White Fathers changed Ugandans and Uganda. They preached a dynamic gospel, which addressed the spiritual, moral, intellectual and social aspects of their converts. 

They were mindful of the connection between the spiritual and material aspects of the people they were evangelizing. So, further to preaching the Gospel, they also pioneered modern education and health service provision. 

The first-ever modern primary/secondary school in Uganda, that is, Holy Family Minor Seminary Bukalasa (in Kalungu district), was established by the White Fathers, on June 9, 1893. The school is now 129 years old. 

The White Fathers also started the first-ever university in Uganda, the Grand National Major Seminary of Katigondo (also in Kalungu district), on March 7, 1911.

Records from the archives of the White Fathers also indicate that popular health facilities like Lubaga Hospital, popular schools like St, Mary’s College Kisubi (SMACK) were also started by the White Fathers. 

The White Fathers also introduced the first-ever printing press in Uganda. They also introduced classical music and brass music. Right from their establishment, the White Fathers’ seminaries of Bukalasa and Katigondo have always been acknowledged as the most reputable centres of classical/brass music.

But of course, the glory belongs to God. The White Fathers would not be able to accomplish their mission in Uganda without the blessing of God as Fr. Katto Otto (a confrere of the White Fathers) acknowledges.

“We Ugandans should consider ourselves lucky. The time during which the White Fathers came to Uganda is the same time during which they went to Mali, in West Africa. However, the Catholic Church in Mali is not flourishing. But here in Uganda, the faith sunk so deeply in the hearts of the people that we were even able to get the 22 Uganda martyrs! It is also Uganda that produced the first-ever native African clerics, Fr. Bazilio Lumu and Msgr. Victoro Womeraka Mukasa (ordained on June 29, 1913). Uganda also produced the first black African Bishop South of the Sahara, the Most Rev. Archbishop Dr. Joseph Nakabaale Kiwanuka (ordained in 1939),” said Katto.

The Very Rev Fr, Rudi Lehnertz, another confrere of the White Fathers also rhymed with Katto.

“Our founder Cardinal Charles Lavigerie tried to recall to Algiers the pioneer missionaries he had sent to inland Africa when he learnt that many of them had been killed by the hostile tribes. But by the time his message reached, Fr. Mapeera and Bro. Amans had already crossed over into the East African territory and they could not retreat. So, it is by the Grace of God that we got the faith,” Rudi said.

The White Fathers are fully aware of the miraculous success of their evangelistic mission in Uganda. 

This explains why they chose Uganda as the venue for the grand celebration of the 150th anniversary of their congregation, which took place at Uganda Martyrs Catholic Shrine, Namugongo on December 8, 2019.

Prior to the celebration, the White Fathers and the White Sisters (from all over the world) made a ‘great trek,’ following in the footsteps of their pioneer confreres. 

They visited Kigungu Landing Site, in Entebbe (where the pioneer missionaries first set foot upon arrival), Kisubi Hospital (which the White Sisters built), Kitebi-Bunnamwaya (where the pioneer missionaries were accommodated by a Muslim Chief), Lubaga Cathedral (where they were hosted by Kabaka Muteesa I), Villa-Maria Proto-Cathedral, Kalungu district (where the first native Ugandan priests were ordained), Bwanda Convent, Kalungu district (started by Archbishop Henry Streicher, a White Father), Bukalasa Minor Seminary and Katigondo Grand National Major Seminary (both started by the White Fathers). 

They also visited Kisubi Hospital, Kisubi parish and Uganda Martyrs Shrine Munyonyo.

About 30 years ago, the White Fathers and the White Sisters started accepting Africans into their ranks. Today the congregation has a good number of youthful African clerics/nuns.