The Roman Catholic Diocese of Masaka will this Sunday (November 21) mark 68 years of its elevation. Celebrations will take place at Kitovu Cathedral.

The thanksgiving mass will be presided over by the reigning ordinary of the diocese, the Rt. Rev. Bishop Severus Jjumba, starting at 10:00am.

Prominence of Masaka diocese

Masaka diocese is probably the most astonishing of all the Catholic dioceses of Uganda. It oozes those authentic traditions of the White Fathers (also called Missionaries of Africa), the pioneers of Catholic evangelism in Uganda. It is considered as the strong base on which the success of Catholic Evangelism in Uganda was based.

Villa-Maria Proto Cathedral, where the first native Ugandan priests (Msgr. Victoro Womeraka Mukasa) and Fr. Bazilio Lumu) were ordained in 1913

Marvels of Masaka Diocese

One of the greatest marvels of Masaka diocese (which also give it prominence) is the Grand National Major Seminary of Katigondo (located in Kalungu district), which was established by the White Fathers in 1911.

Further to training hundreds of priests and Bishops, Katigondo also looms high historically as the first educational institution of its level (university level) in Africa South of the Sahara.  

Equally marvelous is Bukalasa Minor Seminary (located at the opposite side of Katigondo), which is the first school to offer formal primary and secondary education in Uganda and Africa. The White Fathers founded it on June 9, 1893. The two seminaries are also the undisputed pioneer centers of classical music in Uganda. The two institutions still rule the waves of classical music in East Africa.

Other Wonders

Masaka diocese is the diocese of the first Black African Bishop South of the Sahara. The Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Nakabaale Kiwanuka (White Father) was appointed Bishop in 1939. As a Bishop, Kiwanuka performed so well that Masaka, which was an Apostolic Vicariate at the time his appointment, was promoted as a diocese. Masaka diocese thus keeps the Cathedral and Cathedra of the first ever Black African Bishop.

Archbishop Dr. Joseph Nakabaale Kiwanuka, the pioneer Bishop of Masaka

Masaka also produced the first-ever native Ugandan priests, the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Victoro Womeraka Mukasa and Fr. Bazilio Lumu, who were ordained by Bishop Henry Streicher (White Father) at the Proto-Cathedral of Villa-Maria (presently in Kalungu district) on June 29, 1913. The two venerable clerics were buried in Villa-Maria Proto-Cathedral.

Fr Bazilio Lumu, one of the first native Ugandan priests ordained in 1913

The place in Villa-Maria Proto-Cathedral where the first native Ugandan priests, Msgr Victoro Womeraka Mukasa and Fr. Bazilio Lumu were buried

Masaka diocese also takes custody of the Convent of the first congregation of native Catholic religious women, the Bannabiikira Sisters (Congregation of the Daughters of Mary and Joseph). The congregation’s headquarters are at Bwanda, in Kalungu district.

It is also in Masaka that the first congregation of Catholic religious Brothers, the Bannakarooli Brothers (Brothers of St. Charles Lwanga, based at Kiteredde in Rakai District), was founded. The two religious institutes were founded by Archbishop Henrique Streicher (White Fathers) in 1910 and 1927, respectively.

The above mentioned are some of the wonders of Masaka diocese, which also give it amazing uniqueness.

Bishop John Baptist Kaggwa (RIP), the third Bishop of Masaka diocese

Bishop Adrian Kivumbi Ddungu, the second Bishop of Masaka Diocese