Untold story regarding consecration of the Archbishop of Uganda

Feb 06, 2020

A historical narrative reveals why this choice is imperative, inescapable and most likely divine

OPINION

By Sam Mayanja

The Rt. Rev. Dr Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu shall not be consecrated Archbishop of the Anglican Province of the Church of Uganda at the Archdiocesan All Saints Church Nakasero, but at St. Paul's Cathedral of Namirembe Diocese.

A historical narrative reveals why this choice is imperative, inescapable and most likely divine. It was on Namirembe Hill that the Anglican community first established its formal place of worship. It was opened for service on July 31, 1892.

 The structure whose architect was Nicodemo Sebwato the Protestant Chief of Budu was constructed using 500 Nzingu trees, huge amounts of reed-like muli or elephant grass, special grass known as ssubi. The structure itself was the traditional ganda architecture modified from circular to rectangular formation.

It had a capacity of slightly over 2,500 worshipers. It was an awesome structure hitherto unseen in the entire lake region kingdoms and surrounding region. Bishop Tucker was awed and in his own words "the new church, or - as I think I must call it - the Cathedral,..... is certainly worthy of the name. For central Africa, it is as wonderful a building as Durham Cathedral is for England." 

This was the beginning of the importance of the uniqueness of Namirembe and in 1897 when Uganda became an independent Diocese and Namirembe the seat of its Bishop, it was always referred to as "the Cathedral".

The 1892 Cathedral lasted for only two years, until October 1894 when the entire building suddenly collapsed. Unknown to the worshipers the poles had been rotting under the ground. 

The building was destroyed but the faith of the believers was not affected and on 21st November 1894 the Protestant chiefs under the chairmanship of their Political Leader the Katikkiro Apollo Kaggwa resolved to rebuild the cathedral. 

 Apollo Kaggwa was the architect and he instructed that this time around the supporting poles should be made from three types of wood namely; the nkoma, the "Nzingu", and "Lusambia". The special quality of these types of trees made them less subject to rot and insect attack.

This second Hilltop Cathedral was formally opened on 14th July 1895.  It could accommodate about 4,000 worshippers and was considered one of the three most remarkable churches in sub-Saharan Africa. The others being the Scotch Mission at Blantyre in Nyasalanda (Malawi) and the Cathedral in Zanzibar.  

The second Cathedral began to show signs of collapse around the year 1900. Termites were gaining hold of the structure and it was feared that, if nothing was done, the building would collapse.

Apollo Kaggwa the political leader of the Protestants took this as a personal challenge and mobilised the Protestant chiefs and Missionaries to put in place a more permanent Cathedral.

A design based on that of the temple church in London was adopted. Resources were mobilised and the building was finally finished in mid-1904 having taken a good three years to construct. On 23rd September 1904, thousands witnessed Bishop Tucker consecrate the glorious church.

The Cathedral had been in existence for only six years when it was struck by lightning.  Within a split of a second, the whole roof was ablaze. Now for the third time in less than twenty years, the protestant community had to think again about their Cathedral. 

The faith of these early Christians remained strong and within two months of the fire, they had asked Bishop Tucker to look for a suitable architect in England. The job was given to Professor Beresford Pite of the Royal College of Art. By April 1911 Pite's architectural drawings had arrived at Namirembe.

Raising the huge amount required to put the fourth Cathedral was a daunting task.  It was the First World War period and continued hostilities in Europe made it impossible for materials unique for the building to be exported to Uganda. It was difficult to find timber of the required quality. 

Some building boards could only be obtained from Kenya at great cost. Other materials were equally difficult to obtain.

Financial resources ground to a trickle. Apollo Kaggwa appealed to all Protestant chiefs to contribute a third of their monthly income to the construction.  It was now realised that a fundamental mistake had been made when the Baganda Protestant had started the building without consulting the surrounding countries. 

They had regarded the whole cathedral project as a Baganda effort.  A church meeting was held in early 1917 and the Baganda Protestant's apologised to their Christian brethren from other parts of Uganda and their region and by a unanimous show of hands the brethren accepted the apology and declared themselves "willing to cooperate to the utmost in the final stages".

Eventually, the contribution also came from other parts of Uganda and the region and work which had stalled around 1914 rebound and by mid-1915 the site was described as an imposing array of wall and scaffolding.   By April 1919, the scaffolding had been removed and plans were drawn for the consecration ceremony to take place later in the year.  

13th September 1919 when the cathedral was finally consecrated, the faith of the protestant Anglican community had been severely tested.  It was therefore fitting that the consecration was done amid great rejoicing.

Inside the cathedral, the Governor presented the signed petition of Consecration, to the Chief Justice, and to Bishop Willis. The Deed of the donation was offered by Apollo Kaggwa.  It is estimated that twenty thousand people surrounded the Cathedral in addition to rows inside who were estimated to have numbered around four thousand.

The building of St. Paul Cathedral as it stands today on Namirembe Hill being the fourth was a massive undertaking.  It was by far the largest contribution made by Ugandans themselves.

The historical narrative of the four cathedrals demonstrates the courage and determination of the Ugandan people not to be overcome by calamity or discouraged by hardship.

Around 2016 Bishop Luwalira of Namirembe Diocese decided that something needed to be done about the dilapidated state of the Cathedral, and spearheaded a massive rehabilitation. Ugandans from all walks of life and from all corners of the country responded positively.

The late Professor Apollo Nsibambi who was Namirembe Cathedral congregant informed his friend and boss President Museveni about the rehabilitation work going on at Namirembe.

His Excellency the President, not only responded with generous financial contribution but also found time to inspect the work in progress. His personal attendance at the consecration of the now sparkling fully renovated Cathedral was a fitting statement as to the national character of St. Pauls Cathedral Namirembe.

The Cathedral is, therefore, a national edifice giving testimony to what Ugandans can do for the national good. It is a symbol of the celebration of tenacity and faith.

Within this scheme of things, therefore, on 1st March 2020, Dr Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu shall be consecrated Archbishop of the Province of the Anglican Church of Uganda in a Cathedral which symbolises the nation, the faith and evidence of what men of goodwill can do across generations in time and space. 

The narrative of St. Paul's Cathedral Namirembe certainly provides Archbishop Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu with the knowledge, which he already has but must constantly be reminded, that even in a desert, God provides.  Tukutendereza Yesu.     

Sam Mayanja is a Senior Partner with Kampala Associated Advocates

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