Bukenya to direct Pope Francis choir
Choir director Jude Thaddeus Luwaga Bukenya. Photo by Dominic Bukenya.
What you need to know:
Singing for the Pope. Thaddeus Luwaga Bukenya, is the music director for the choir that will perform for Pope Francis at his open air Mass today in Namugongo Martyr’s Shrine. He told Frederic Musisi how he feels about having been selected to direct the choir.
“My name is Jude Thaddeus Luwaga Bukenya. I am married to Maria Cleofas Namitala Luwaga. We have a son, James Bukenya.
I am the chairman of the Kampala Archdiocesan Music Technical Committee. I am also the music director of The Catholic Centenary Memorial Choir (CACEMCHO), which was formed in 1978, to lead the faithful in commemorating 100 years of Catholism in Uganda in 1979.
I am happy that the choir I direct was selected to be among the choirs that will animate the Mass that will be led by His Holiness Pope Francis.
I thank God that I was also among the people selected to compose a song on the theme of the Pope’s visit. The theme is “You Will Be My Witnesses.” My song, Go Forth You Will Be My Witnesses, is among the two theme songs selected. The other, You Will Be My Witnesses, is by Rev Fr James Kabuye.
Every choir member in Uganda would have wanted to be part of this great choir. But it is only those that were selected that will have the opportunity to sing for the Holy Father.
Right now, we have gone through every song that will feature in the Mass.
At first, the choirs that had been selected practiced in their different parishes. We started practicing together in the first week of October. We have been rehearsing every Tuesday at Christ the King Church in Kampala.
The choirs that form the ‘Pope’s Choir’ are from Mbuya Parish, Makindye Parish, Mulago Parish, St. Paul Mukono and Cacemcho. They were all requested to select 30 members.
I am optimistic the singing will be perfect. I thank the good Lord for this big blessing. May the Lord’s name be praised.”
profile
Thaddeus Bukenya
Background. Born on August 29, 1980, Bukenya studied at St Phillip Kyanukuzi PS in Masaka and thereafter went to Bukalasa Minor Seminary from 1995 to 2001, where he completed his high school.
In 2002, he went to Makerere University for a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Music, which he completed in 2005. He thereafter lectured music at Katigondo National Major Seminary for four years. He currently teaches music at Bukalasa Seminary and has trained and directed a number of choirs in and outside the country.
Church work. Bukenya, is also the secretary of the Luganda inter-diocesan music committee for the Luganda-speaking dioceses of Kampala, Kasana-Luweero, Masaka, Lugazi and Kiyinda-Mityana.
