Finally, a female bishop in Uganda

A jolly woman, who loves a good joke, the warmth in her smile envelopes you like the embrace she is quick to give.

That hug was a surprise. One would expect a bishop to be aloof. Instead, she is grandmotherly, telling me that her handsome son is looking for a wife, if I am still single.

The Rt Rev Aidah Namirengo, Bishop of Dorcus for Christ Diocese, intimates that throughout her life she has been a leader, taking full responsibility of those around her.

“In baptism class, in 1954 at the Native Anglican Church in Namwiwa, Kaliro, I lead the class, teaching them to recite the Catechism,” she says, during our meeting at Holy Comfort Church in Bugembe, Jinja District.
“I was the head girl in primary school, and in secondary, a welfare officer, head forester, and chapel warden. These positions groomed me into the person I am today.”

The school teacher
“Teaching was the only career path open to me. It is what I dreamed of. I graduated as a Grade Two teacher from Bishop Willis Teacher Training College, Iganga, in 1966.”

Namirengo had made up her mind to practice for at least five years before getting married. For a rural young woman, this was a bold dream.

Educated women were in demand. So much so that Namirengo’s school calendar was keenly followed by a neighbour.

“On the last day of my final examinations, that old man asked my father for my hand in marriage,” she narrates, laughing at the memory.

“My father was shocked! This man had many wives. But the surprise was that he was asking on his son’s behalf.” The young woman returned home to wedding preparations. Her pleas to her father to allow her practice her profession first, fell on deaf ears. “My father betrayed me. But I made them swear that my husband would not confine me to the kitchen.”

In 1966, a few months after her traditional marriage, Namirengo graduated and she began teaching in schools around Busoga sub region.

In 1968, she joined the Madhivani Group as a teacher and headmistress, spending 14 years teaching in the Group’s schools, among them, Ntinkalu Primary School.

Entering ministry
“As a headmistress, I led church services, preached, and offered counselling to the teachers and community. For me, ministry was not a matter of choice; it was a call from God,” says Namirengo.

In 1976, she joined Kattonte Church of Uganda (COU) where she preached every Sunday. “I had no position but because of my knowledge in the Word, I was selected by the congregation to be a lay leader.”

A lay leader is a member of the congregation chosen to perform some of the duties of the ordained clerical officials.

These can be preaching the sermon, chairing church committees, taking scripture readings, reading announcements, and leading non-sacramental services such as the morning, evening and burial prayers.

Around that time, there were some wrangles which threatened to split Busoga Diocese.

Some members openly accused the bishop at the time of mismanaging resources and the issues were only resolved when he retired. Namirengo belonged to the group that was opposed to their bishop.

“In January 1999, a compromise was reached and Church of Uganda told the factions to reconcile. But because we had been tortured, we remained aloof.”

While in that state, a friend, who was a lay leader in the Charismatic Episcopal Church of Uganda (CEC), invited her to attend the Church’s National Convocation in Nakasero, in December 1999.

“After the Convocation, we were given positions. I was placed under Reverend Canon (now Bishop) Samwiri Luboggo as a lay leader in The Source of the Nile Diocese.”

On April 29, 2001, she was ordained a Commissioned Minister, and five years later, on October 29, 2006, a Priest.

“To strengthen my position, I undertook a couple of courses to upgrade my knowledge. In 2012, I joined Bible Education by Extension-Uganda for a diploma in Practical Ministry and Theology.”

In the same year, she attended a Leadership in Ministry training in Jinja. Recently, at 70, she enrolled for a two-year degree course in General Theology at the Charismatic Theological University.

Namirengo the activist
“I have always hoped that women would rise from the pit of no confidence,” says the woman who is also a passionate farmer. “Women must come forward and serve God. They are kept behind yet they are hard workers.

According to the Bible Mary, Martha and Dorcus served our Lord, yet they were not called disciples or Apostles. They were just known as the women who followed Jesus.”

Namirengo believes that equality in the Church is necessary because in the sight of God, both sexes can serve Him.

“My interests now are geared towards seeing women use their gifts. What a man can do, even a woman can do.”
The bishop is opposed to early marriage, which can hinder a woman from following her dreams.

Appointed Bishop
On October 10, 2014, Namirengo was appointed bishop at a meeting of the House of Bishops held in Garuga, on Entebbe Road. “It was a milestone in the history of Christianity in Uganda.

There was no opposition. By the time the information reached me, the Bishops had made their decision, after praying, fasting, and seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit.”

The bishops had come to the conclusion that the work of shepherding their flock was great. There was need to bring in women to help. “Of course, I was surprised at my appointment. I had never dreamed of reaching this level.”

She was consecrated on July 11, 2015. Currently, in CEC, four women hold the title of ‘Reverend.’

The greatest trial of all
Namirengo says that the death of her husband in 2002 was the hardest challenge of her life. “I lost hope. I lost direction. Life lost meaning. In 1967, we had a traditional wedding and in 2000, we had a church ceremony. Two years later, he was gone.”

The prayers of her colleagues, however, brought her back from the brink. In 2012, Namirengo lost her 35-year-old daughter, Naomi Naigaga.

“They were in church, leading praise, when she dropped dead on the stage. I think she had a heart attack. It was painful, but what helped is that she died serving God.”

Like Namirengo, all of her children are born-again. However, instead of serving in CEC, they attend Pentecostal churches .

Her Interests
The bishop, who lives in Magamaga, Jinja, prays and reads the bible in her free time.

Her most treasured item is her husband’s baptism certificate.

“I thank my archbishop and all the bishops for the love and trust they have placed in me to lead 115 churches. I also thank the government for the freedom of worship and I ask them to support our ministry.”

Background
Rt Rev Aidah Namirengo was born in a corner of her father’s house on May 11, 1945, to Yeremiya Kakuba Kunya and Merabu Kafuko in Bukonde parish, Namwiwa Sub-county, present-day Kaliro District.
She attended Namwiwa Primary School from 1956-1960, Wanyange Girls School, and Bishop Willis Teacher Training College. She married Elisa Namirengo in 1967 and they had 10 children.

The Charismatic Episcopal Church
The Charismatic Episcopal Church (CEC) was founded in May 1995 when current Archbishop, John Oboketch, left COU.

At the time of his departure, Oboketch was serving in the Youth Ministry at All Saints Church, Nakasero.

Initially under the International Episcopal Church, the CEC is an independent entity stretching from South Sudan to Bunya, DRC.

The y are born-again Anglicans. Their services place an emphasis on praise and worship sessions like the Pentecostal churches, instead of singing only hymns.

They also have session of waiting for the Holy Spirit to speak and prophecy, something which is unheard of in the Anglican church.

What they say about her

Bishop Oboketch, Archbishop CEC
We made this decision based on the Bible, where men and women were equally created in the image of God.

Women supported Jesus’ ministry; when he resurrected, women were the first believers. Women make up the majority of our congregation – at least 75 per cent.

They are hard workers so we decided to include them in the leadership.

Some men were not happy with the appointment of Bishop Namirengo. They believe women belong to the background. What surprised me is that some women were also opposed.

The Rev Diana Nkesiga, Vicar, All Saints Cathedral, Nakasero
Nothing in the Church of Uganda (COU) constitution stops women from becoming bishops as long as they are priests, above 45, and are of good standing.

The House of Bishops, which makes the decision, is all male. I do not know if the decision not to appoint a female bishop is due to fear or incompetence.

People fear women leaders because they tend to be assertive.

Women are the majority in COU congregations, but they do not realise the power they have in their hands. If they rose up and demanded for a female bishop, they are more likely to be listened to than we, leaders, who people think, are power hungry.