Ugandan senior priest receives Lambeth award

RELIGION

A Ugandan retired senior priest of the Church of England, The Venerable Prince Dr. Daniel Kimbugwe Kajumba is among the 27 recipients of the 2019 Lambeth Awards for making an extraordinary contribution to the Church and wider society.

Kajumba received the prestigious Canterbury Cross award for services to the Church of England presented to him by the Archbishop of Canterbury and head of worldwide Anglican Communion, the Most Reverend Justin Welby last week at the Lambeth Palace in Central London.

Kajumba, 66, who retired as Archdeacon of Reigate in 2016 as the second highest priest in the Church of England after Archbishop John Sentamu at the time was mainly recognised for being at the forefront of the battle against poverty, inequality, discrimination and injustice since arriving in the UK in 1971 as a refugee from Uganda.

As Chair of the Committee for Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns (CMEAC), Kajumba was appreciated for tirelessly campaigning for equality and opportunity for all to be reflected in the structures of church and state and, in particular, for Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Anglicans to be reflected at all levels within the church.

He also nurtured, mentored and assisted BAME members to sustain their ministry and actively mobilised the church against racism and to promote cultural diversity and was exceptional in sourcing and mentoring individuals into positions of responsibility.

Kajumba served with grace and an understanding of the needs of both the wider Church and its minority ethnic constituency, with a genuine belief in and consideration of the value of all members.

Before he retired as Archdeacon of Reigate, he helped bring community cohesion, encouraging interfaith dialogue between the different diaspora communities in the UK to mention but a few.

The Lambeth Awards, launched by Archbishop Justin Welby in 2016, recognise outstanding service in different fields, including those of the Archbishop's ministry priorities of prayer and the religious life; reconciliation and peacebuilding; and evangelism and witness.

In total 27 awards were this year given to people from across the Church and beyond who have given outstanding service in fields including reconciliation, evangelism, the religious life, ecumenism, supporting refugees and community building.

 From left Venerable Prince Dr. Daniel Kimbugwe Kajumba, Omukungu Enock Mayanja Kiyaga and Archbishop Justin Welby.

Archbishop Justin Welby said: "As we look around our world today, we could be tempted to despair at the injustice, inequality and suffering that so many people are enduring. But our faith in God, and in our Saviour Jesus Christ, teaches us that there is always hope.

"The tireless work of these men and women for justice, peace and reconciliation is a great source of such hope," he added.

In citation preceding the award, Kajumba was described as a person who is well loved and respected by many for deploying his many skills in various capacities: as missionary, evangelist, pastor, social and community activist, counsellor, broadcaster, politician, entrepreneur, diplomat and conservationist.

At the award ceremony, he was accompanied by his wife Tina Kajumba, Dr. Elizabeth Henry, The Advisor to Archbishop's Committee for Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns (CMEAC) and Omukungu Enock Mayanja Kiyaga, the deputy Kabaka's Representative to UK and Republic of Ireland.