Bishop Mukwaya lived to love, serve and unite

Sep 10, 2008

MANY have described him as a loving leader who served the people. “He was a man of prayer who dedicated his life to God, never wanting to see anyone suffer,” Sister Justine Nalule said of The Rt. Rev. Joseph Mukwaya. The 78-year-old Bishop Emeritus of Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese, succumbed to cancer

By Luke Kagiri

MANY have described him as a loving leader who served the people. “He was a man of prayer who dedicated his life to God, never wanting to see anyone suffer,” Sister Justine Nalule said of The Rt. Rev. Joseph Mukwaya.

The 78-year-old Bishop Emeritus of Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese, succumbed to cancer at Nsambya Hospital on Thursday, September 4, 2008.Bishop Mukwaya was a man who lived by the motto: “To love, serve and unite.”

Bishop Joseph Anthony Zziwa described him as someone who had strong faith. “He had battled cancer for long, but even then, his faith only grew stronger. At the time of his death, he had a rosary in his hands and the breviary close to him.” (A breviary is a book of Psalms, hymns and prayers recited by clerics and certain members of religious orders).

Bishop Mukwaya was born to the late Andrew Katula and Elizabeth Mubiito on September 26, 1930. He attended Mulajje Primary School and at a tender age, was known for his love to read newspapers. His teachers remember Mukwaya asking them for a copy of the Munno newspaper, so he could look through it.

But it was his religious interest that stood out above everything else. He excelled in anything to do with religious affairs and in the absence of the priests, he would say prayers in front of the class.
After Primary Four, Mukwaya applied to join a minor seminary, but he did not pass the interview. He then went back to school in Gayaza, where he was living with his aunt. He then joined St. Peter’s, Nsambya for his secondary education. The headteacher of St. Peter’s helped Mukwaya join Nyanga Seminary, where he studied Latin, as well as other subjects. From here, he went to Gaba Seminary and studied Philosophy and Theology.

In his second year at the seminary, he was chosen to go for studies in Rome, but he declined the offer, preferring to stay in Uganda.
He was selected a second time to go to Rome, but declined again, saying he wanted to be ordained a priest as fast as possible. He argued that going abroad would delay the process.

At the seminary, like in his previous schools, Mukwaya continued to excel in his religious dedication. He conducted the seminary band and choir and was the editor of the newsletter.

Mukwaya’s wish to be priest finally came true on December 18, 1960. He was ordained by Bishop Vincent Billington at Nsambya. He was then appointed as a curate at Kayunga Parish for six months, and was later transferred to Nsambya as the curate and supervisor of schools, as well as a chaplain.
When Bishop Billington resigned, Father Mukwaya was appointed private secretary to the vicar capitular, Messenger G. Wierts. Later, he was posted to Namilyango and Nyanga parishes.

Five years after he was ordained as a priest, he went to study in London, where he obtained a diploma in Social Development at Claver House. He also got a diploma in Religious Education from Corpus Cristi College, London.

He later got another diploma in radio broadcasting from Nairobi and in communications from Kitwe, Zambia and served on the board of directors of both institutions. He also served on the executive board for the International Catholic Association for Television and Radio for seven years. He was later appointed vice-president, a post he held for three years.

In 1968, he was appointed to head the social communications department at the Uganda Catholic Secretariat, until 1973, when he became the secretary of the AMECEA Social Communications Office.

During this time, he also worked as a consultant for the Pontifical Commission for Social Communications, until 1982. It was in this year that his Episcopal ordination took place at Lubaga Cathedral on October 31.

In August 1979, he was elected secretary general of AMECEA by the Catholic bishops of eastern Africa.
Bishop Mukwaya served as the auxiliary in Kampala Diocese until 1988, when he was appointed bishop Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese, replacing Bishop Emmanuel Wamala (now cardinal). He served Kiyinda for 16 years, and retired in 2004, after a prolonged illness. He was succeeded by Bishop Anthony Zziwa.

Bishop Mukwaya was buried on Monday, September 8, 2008.

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