Catholic Church mourns its former Secretary General

By Mathias Mazinga

The former secretary general of the Uganda Episcopal Conference and long serving rector of Kisubi Minor Seminary, Rev. Fr. Francis Xavier Mugambe has been laid to rest at the priests’ cemetery at Rubaga Cathedral.

During the requiem mass that preceded the burial, various mourners spoke highly of Mugambe’s dedicated service to the Church and country.

The reigning secretary-general of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, Msgr. John Baptist Kauta said: “Fr. Mugambe was the second native Ugandan secretary general of the Catholic Bishops, of Uganda, after Msgr. Barnabas Helem I’mana.”

Msgr. Kauta said Fr previously. Mugambe worked at the Catholic Secretariat as the executive secretary for the Pastoral and Ecumenical Commissions.

“The Catholic Bishops fully recognise the dedicated service, dutiful and royal disposition of our brother Mugambe when he was at the Secretariat,” he noted.

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Rev  Fr  Francis Xavier Mugambe's funeral

Mugambe’s contemporary, Fr. Charles Kato referred to Mugambe as a multi-talented priest.

“Mugambe was a born virtuoso organist, who helped people to worship God with joy as he skillfully played the organ. He was also a greater swimmer and dancer. He was also an intelligent priest, who spoke Latin and German with amazing agility.”

The Metropolitan Archbishop Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga also spoke highly of Mugambe’s love for Catholic priesthood.

“Fr. Mugambe has been in great pain. But whenever I visited him, he never prayed to God to be healed. He instead prayed that his nephew, Deacon Charles Mpiima, be ordained to the priesthood. I am happy that God granted his wish, two weeks before his death.”

Fr. Mugambe died on August 23, at Rubaga Hospital, after a decade-long battle with diabetes.

Prior to his death, he was staying at Mapeera Bakateyamba’s Home, Nalukolongo.

Fr. Mugambe’s funeral prayers were presided over by the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Archbishop Augustine Kasujja.

The resume mass was also concelebrated by Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala, Msgr. Charles Kasibante, Msgr. Matia Kanyerezi of Kasana-Luweero Diocese and hundreds of priests.

M-Lisada Brass Band (from Nsambya) animated the worship alongside the Good Samaritan band from Mapeera Bakateyamba’s Home, Nalukolongo.