St. Matayo Kigaaya church opened in Hoima

Sep 27, 2011

THOUSANDS of Christians on Sunday thronged St. Matayo Catholic Church in Kigaaya in Buhimba town council Hoima district.

By Pascal Kwesiga and Robert Atuhairwe

THOUSANDS of Christians on Sunday thronged St. Matayo Catholic Church in Kigaaya in Buhimba town council Hoima district.

The faithful had converged to celebrate the opening of the church constructed by Uganda’s ambassador to Burundi, Brig. Matayo Kyaligonza.

Entrance was, however, restricted to visitors who included diplomats, ministers, MPs and a delegation of Christians from Burundi and Kenya.

This, notwithstanding, the lower and upper chambers of the church were packed to full capacity that some delegations followed the three-hour mass in the tents outside the church building.

Christians were subjected to thorough security checks by the Police and UPDF soldiers deployed at the main entrance and doorways.

Choirs that included that of Christ the King Church, Kampala, Queen of the World Church from Burundi and Kigaaya Church, sang hymns in Runyoro, Luganda, Kiswahili, English and Kirundi.

Christians from both Anglican and Catholic communities in Hoima attended the mass that was led by the Hoima Catholic Diocese Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Lambert Bainomugisha.

“I don’t think Kyaligonza’s name is near those of rich people in this country. But he has built such a magnificent church for God,” Bainomugisha said.

The Bishop of Bunyoro-Kitara, the Rt. Rev Nathan Kyamanywa said: “God was doing his works through people like Kyaligonza.”

The Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, said Kyaligonza had given a huge challenge to all leaders

Kyaligonza said the project, that he is yet to complete had so far cost him sh1.8b.

“I have not furnished some of the parts but it will cost more than sh2b,” said Kyaligonza.

He said he conceived the idea of building the church in his home area in 1975 while on a pilgrimage to Rome with the late Cardinal Emmanuel Nsubuga.

“I started the project but the political turmoil during Amin’s regime hampered the work and it stalled,” he said.

Kyaligonza also constructed a house for the priest and another house for the bishop.

He said he had constructed the house for Bishop Emeritus the Rt. Rev. Albert Edward Baharagate.

President Yoweri Museveni said it is gratifying that the political upheavals that Uganda faced had not barred Kyaligonza from completing the project after the return of peace.

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