Uganda gets first Lutheran Bishop

Charles Isabirye Bameka has been consecrated as the first Bishop of the Lutheran Church of Uganda.
The function which was attended by hundreds of Christians, took place at the Lutheran Church of Nakabango village, Mafubira Sub-county in Jinja District.
He was consecrated by Archbishop Emeritus Rev Walter Obare Omwanza of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya, assisted by Archbishop Rev Joseph Ochola Omolo of Kenya, Bishop Emeritus Rev David Tswaed of South Africa and Bishop William Lopepa of Tanzania.

Archbishop Emeritus Omwanza, urged the new bishop to promote unity among church members and spread the word of God.
According to the secretary of the National Synod Council, Mr James Odoo Okello, Mr Bameka was elected unopposed by 17 pastors from seven deaneries as the chairperson of College of Clergies and thereafter, his name was forwarded to the special committee of the Electoral College of Clergies, College of Laity, Women’s League and Youth League for approval.

Mr Bameka was then elected on October 29 at Jinja City Hotel before his consecration.
Speaking to journalists shortly after his consecration Bishop Bameka said he was happy with the new leadership because he had never even dreamt of becoming a bishop.

“This has come as a surprise because I grew up like any other child. I was a smoker when I was still at Busoga College Mwiri and this was due to peer influence but I was inspired through singing in church and doing translations,” he says.
“Since both my parents have a background in religious leadership, they also inspired me. My mother was a secretary to former Busoga Diocese Bishop Cyprian Bamwoze and my dad is the head Laity at Ikumbya Lutheran Church in Luuka District,’’ he added.

About Bameka

Born in 1971, Bishop Bameka is the third born in a family of nine children. He is the son of Mr Emmanuel Bameka and Jane Bameka of Ikumbya village in Ikumbya Sub-county, Luuka District.
He studied at Kamuli Boys School for his primary before joining Busoga College Mwiri for his O-Level and St James SS in Jinja for A-Level.

He obtained a diploma in Business Administration from Kabaale Uganda College of Commerce, and a degree in Business Administration from Makerere University Business School before joining the Lutheran seminary in Accra, Ghana for a bachelor’s degree in theology and a Master’s in Sacred Theology at Concordia Lutheran Ministry at St Louis, US.
In 2001, he was ordained a Lutheran Pastor before becoming a the director of Lutheran Media ministry in 2011. He was also president of Lutheran Church of Uganda before being elected bishop.

About the Lutheran Church
The Lutheran Church of Uganda [LCU] is part of the worldwide Evangelical Lutheran Church which begun in 1517 AD.
The church started in 1993 in Jinja and has since spread to other parts of Uganda.

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