Masindi-Kitara looks to Ntagali for spiritual guidance
Dec 26, 2004
A new diocese of Masindi-Kitara was recently inaugurated. <br>Hundreds of Christians and non-Christians from Uganda and abroad thronged St. Matthew Cathedral in Masindi district to witness the event.
By William Rwebembera
A new diocese of Masindi-Kitara was recently inaugurated.
Hundreds of Christians and non-Christians from Uganda and abroad thronged St. Matthew Cathedral in Masindi district to witness the event.
To many, it was not the building that they turned up to see. It was the consecration of their first bishop, the Rt. Rev. Stanley Ntagali.
“God is great! I never believed that it would come to pass. Today, it is done. We have been preparing for this function for over five years and have encountered a lot of internal resistance,†Sam Byakagaba of Kijweka, Karujubu sub-county, says.
The House of Bishops of the Church of Uganda meeting in Mukono on August 18, elected Ntagali as the first bishop of Masindi-Kitara Diocese.
“Never did I expect it. I was surprised and thought my colleagues were just making fun of me. Later on, it was confirmed and I thank God for choosing me to serve Him,†a delighted Ntagali says.
His journey to serve the Lord started in 1972 when he became a youth leader in Wambabya Church Parish in Bunyoro-Kitara Diocese (from where Masindi-Kitara has been curved out).
“I formed a choir, which became famous in the diocese. From that time, I developed a personal relationship with the bishop, Yustus Ruhindi, who was inspired by my performance. Up to today, I refer to Ruhindi as my mentor,†he recalls.
However, Ntagali says he would not have become a bishop hadn’t it been for his mother’s guidance.
“She implored me to do church service. When I refused, she challenged me and said I was heading for hell. But it was because of God’s might,†Ntagali says.
In 1976, his service to God had gained momentum. Ten days after the murder of Archbishop Janani Luwum by Idi Amin in February 1977, he was called upon to go to Karamoja as a missionary. By then, most Christians had given up on God’s work for fear of being killed.
Karamoja was considered a missionary diocese because it did not have enough church workers. Every diocese in the Church of Uganda was requested to send missionaries to the region.
“I was received by the Rt. Rev. Brian Herd, the bishop of Karamoja, who was later deported by Amin, a week after my arrival. I developed much fear, but prayed to the Lord, who took me there, for protection. Indeed He heard my prayers,†he says.
Ntagali, who says he has lived a happy life, encountered his most challenging experience, while he was still in Karazmoja. He says he was born in Kabale district, the coolest in the country and then sent to Karamoja, Uganda’s hottest part. The kind of living among the Karimojong, also threatened Ntagali.
“There were guns every where.
They were shooting and killing each other. I remember one time, a pregnant woman was shot dead in a hut by cattle rustlers, in my presence. As a preacher of peace and love, I fell helpless and took to my heels to flee the marauding Karimojongs,†he reminisces.
Ntagali praises God that although he experienced the most alarming situation in his life, the happiest moments were celebrated in the same region.
“I married Beatrice (whom he does not call by her sur name, apart from Beatrice Ntagali) in 1978.We had our honeymoon in Moroto,†he recalls.
Ntagali was born on March 1, 1955 in Kabale district. At the age of 16, he migrated with his parents and settled in Wambabya, Kiziranfumbi sub-county in Hoima district.
Ntagali and Beatrice have five children; four boys and a girl.
He is among the lucky few, who hold degrees without going through secondary education. He completed his Primary seven at Kitooma Primary School at the time when his parents were migrating to Bunyoro.
The new settlers, who lived a peasantry life, did not have enough money to send their first born to Duhaga, the only Anglican secondary school nearby. It was an impoverished family forced out of Kabale for lack of financial power to compete for land.
Determined to have a bright future, Ntagali kept himself informed through borrowing library books and doing private studies. He later became a licensed teacher in Wambabya School. It was from there that he was picked on to serve the Karimojong.
In 1979, he enrolled for a certificate in theology at the Bishop Tucker Theological College (now Uganda Christian University) Mukono and was ordained a deacon in 1981 at St Phillips Cathedral in Moroto. He was later ordained priest in 1982 at St Peter’s Cathedral, Hoima.
The 49-year-old Ntagali graduated with a bachelors degree in divinity from St. Paul’s United Theological College in Limuru, Kenya, 1993. Today, he holds a Masters degree in Theology and Development from the Oxford Centre for Missions in the United Kingdom.
Ntagali has been enthroned at a time when the church is facing a number of challenges. It is being criticised over homosexuality and divisions. Church of Uganda was sued by some followers, who claimed that Ntagali was unconstitutionally elected and had abused office during his time as provincial secretary of the Church of Uganda, the office he held for two years to the time of his election.
“Nothing has changed. The church has conflicts because it is made up of human beings, who are bound to sin. Even in the Old Testament, homosexuals are talked about. Jesus himself was taken to court. Who are we not to be taken there?†he asks.
“My only challenge,†he continues, “is to teach and preach love, peace, unity and reconciliation, so that people can learn to respect one another and live in harmony as children of God.â€
All the 25 parishes in the diocese are looking up to Ntagali for spiritual and economic guidance. If he is not enterprising, no development will be initiated in the early years of the diocese’s formation.
“There is no doubt, the diocese has been blessed. It has started with a hardworking and visionary person. Ntagali has a constant commitment to work, otherwise, he would not have spent the nine years in Karamoja.
“I worked with him in Bunyoro-Kitara Diocese when he was still a youth and admired his working principles,†Bishop John Rucyahana of Shyra diocese in Rwanda says of Ntagali.
In his speech, Ntagali revealed that he is due to unveil a strategic plan to ensure the church becomes self-sustaining. His concern is about the trees, which are being felled for charcoal without being replaced. He says he will design a special project to plant and encourage every household to plant trees.
A new diocese of Masindi-Kitara was recently inaugurated.
Hundreds of Christians and non-Christians from Uganda and abroad thronged St. Matthew Cathedral in Masindi district to witness the event.
To many, it was not the building that they turned up to see. It was the consecration of their first bishop, the Rt. Rev. Stanley Ntagali.
“God is great! I never believed that it would come to pass. Today, it is done. We have been preparing for this function for over five years and have encountered a lot of internal resistance,†Sam Byakagaba of Kijweka, Karujubu sub-county, says.
The House of Bishops of the Church of Uganda meeting in Mukono on August 18, elected Ntagali as the first bishop of Masindi-Kitara Diocese.
“Never did I expect it. I was surprised and thought my colleagues were just making fun of me. Later on, it was confirmed and I thank God for choosing me to serve Him,†a delighted Ntagali says.
His journey to serve the Lord started in 1972 when he became a youth leader in Wambabya Church Parish in Bunyoro-Kitara Diocese (from where Masindi-Kitara has been curved out).
“I formed a choir, which became famous in the diocese. From that time, I developed a personal relationship with the bishop, Yustus Ruhindi, who was inspired by my performance. Up to today, I refer to Ruhindi as my mentor,†he recalls.
However, Ntagali says he would not have become a bishop hadn’t it been for his mother’s guidance.
“She implored me to do church service. When I refused, she challenged me and said I was heading for hell. But it was because of God’s might,†Ntagali says.
In 1976, his service to God had gained momentum. Ten days after the murder of Archbishop Janani Luwum by Idi Amin in February 1977, he was called upon to go to Karamoja as a missionary. By then, most Christians had given up on God’s work for fear of being killed.
Karamoja was considered a missionary diocese because it did not have enough church workers. Every diocese in the Church of Uganda was requested to send missionaries to the region.
“I was received by the Rt. Rev. Brian Herd, the bishop of Karamoja, who was later deported by Amin, a week after my arrival. I developed much fear, but prayed to the Lord, who took me there, for protection. Indeed He heard my prayers,†he says.
Ntagali, who says he has lived a happy life, encountered his most challenging experience, while he was still in Karazmoja. He says he was born in Kabale district, the coolest in the country and then sent to Karamoja, Uganda’s hottest part. The kind of living among the Karimojong, also threatened Ntagali.
“There were guns every where.
They were shooting and killing each other. I remember one time, a pregnant woman was shot dead in a hut by cattle rustlers, in my presence. As a preacher of peace and love, I fell helpless and took to my heels to flee the marauding Karimojongs,†he reminisces.
Ntagali praises God that although he experienced the most alarming situation in his life, the happiest moments were celebrated in the same region.
“I married Beatrice (whom he does not call by her sur name, apart from Beatrice Ntagali) in 1978.We had our honeymoon in Moroto,†he recalls.
Ntagali was born on March 1, 1955 in Kabale district. At the age of 16, he migrated with his parents and settled in Wambabya, Kiziranfumbi sub-county in Hoima district.
Ntagali and Beatrice have five children; four boys and a girl.
He is among the lucky few, who hold degrees without going through secondary education. He completed his Primary seven at Kitooma Primary School at the time when his parents were migrating to Bunyoro.
The new settlers, who lived a peasantry life, did not have enough money to send their first born to Duhaga, the only Anglican secondary school nearby. It was an impoverished family forced out of Kabale for lack of financial power to compete for land.
Determined to have a bright future, Ntagali kept himself informed through borrowing library books and doing private studies. He later became a licensed teacher in Wambabya School. It was from there that he was picked on to serve the Karimojong.
In 1979, he enrolled for a certificate in theology at the Bishop Tucker Theological College (now Uganda Christian University) Mukono and was ordained a deacon in 1981 at St Phillips Cathedral in Moroto. He was later ordained priest in 1982 at St Peter’s Cathedral, Hoima.
The 49-year-old Ntagali graduated with a bachelors degree in divinity from St. Paul’s United Theological College in Limuru, Kenya, 1993. Today, he holds a Masters degree in Theology and Development from the Oxford Centre for Missions in the United Kingdom.
Ntagali has been enthroned at a time when the church is facing a number of challenges. It is being criticised over homosexuality and divisions. Church of Uganda was sued by some followers, who claimed that Ntagali was unconstitutionally elected and had abused office during his time as provincial secretary of the Church of Uganda, the office he held for two years to the time of his election.
“Nothing has changed. The church has conflicts because it is made up of human beings, who are bound to sin. Even in the Old Testament, homosexuals are talked about. Jesus himself was taken to court. Who are we not to be taken there?†he asks.
“My only challenge,†he continues, “is to teach and preach love, peace, unity and reconciliation, so that people can learn to respect one another and live in harmony as children of God.â€
All the 25 parishes in the diocese are looking up to Ntagali for spiritual and economic guidance. If he is not enterprising, no development will be initiated in the early years of the diocese’s formation.
“There is no doubt, the diocese has been blessed. It has started with a hardworking and visionary person. Ntagali has a constant commitment to work, otherwise, he would not have spent the nine years in Karamoja.
“I worked with him in Bunyoro-Kitara Diocese when he was still a youth and admired his working principles,†Bishop John Rucyahana of Shyra diocese in Rwanda says of Ntagali.
In his speech, Ntagali revealed that he is due to unveil a strategic plan to ensure the church becomes self-sustaining. His concern is about the trees, which are being felled for charcoal without being replaced. He says he will design a special project to plant and encourage every household to plant trees.