Sub-Saharan Africa’s first Catholic Basilica towers in Muslim district

Every year, the religious of all hues and ages in West Nile sub-region troop for pilgrimage to the sub-region’s only Basilica in Lodonga, Yumbe, a predominantly Muslim district.

In the Catholic Church, a Basilica is a sign of unity and divine providence. Most of the pilgrims to Lodonga have a scant idea, if any, about the origins of the Basilica.

In his book, The History of the Catholic Church in West Nile, Comboni Missionary priest Rev Fr Toni La Salandra notes that high-spirited Rev Fr Pietro Valcavi initiated the construction.

Fr Valcavi worked closely with Fr Bernardo Sartori; a man who through his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary overcame obstacles that failed his predecessors. Fr Sartori shared his idea to build Lodonga Basilica with Msgr Angelo Negri.

The idea to build a church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary had really put wings to Fr Sartori’s feet. Fr Sartori wanted Brother Arosio to help out on the project.

“I set out to prepare the materials. At least 750,000 bricks were necessary for it. So we started laying bricks by the thousands, drying and baking them; then we needed stones for the foundations, and poles for the scaffolding. Thus we hired a crowed of workers of all kinds; all people trained in the mission since its opening,” Rev Fr Salandra recounts.
The church’s massive plan frightened Msgr Negri. “A church of this size, are you crazy? This is not Rome or Milan… cut down the size,” he said.

“My Lord, please, do not look at the plan because I am not an engineer,” argued Rev Fr Sartori, “The church will not be so large after all. Yes, the sanctuary is large. That’s all.”
And the Monsignor replied: “I see you are not an engineer, father, but the measurements are written out here clearly, 12x 45x 25 metres, I can see that…”

Rev Fr Bernardo did not give in easily. He told the bishop that the foundations had already been laid, and even quoted the Bible, when King David prepared a lot of materials for the temple, because “ the building to be erected for the Lord must be extraordinarily large, such that it will call for the admiration of all people around.”
“My Lord,” Fr Sartori said, “The African people are similar to the oriental people: they believe more with their eyes than with their ears. Seeing a large church, they will think of the greatness of God”.

Msgr Negri was speechless. The reasons that Fr Sartori advanced were confusing.

“My Lord, you know very well that since we came here, the Muslim fanaticism has decreased; they even complain that after 20 years of promises for school, they cannot read and write yet. So let us look to the future and prepare a worthy church.

I will not trouble you for funds, as I will write to all my benefactors, pleading for support. Just sign the plan as it is, my Lord,” argued Rev Fr Sartori.

And a Basilica stood, towering in the predominantly Muslim Yumbe District. Seventy-six per cent of the residents are Muslim and 24 per cent Christian. Fr Valcavi had endured the flogging or poisoning of catechumens. Rampaging fanatical Muslims burned chapels, attacked parents of catechumens, or robbed their cattle.

No Muslim girl could marry a Christian and those that dared were plucked out of the marriage forcibly. Fr Valcavi denounced these abuses to the chiefs, but nothing was done.

Fr Bernardo told a reluctant Msgr Angelo Negri, “For the time being, start work and later on we shall see. We might have to lower all the buildings as it looks too high.”

Msgr Negri then blessed the first stone of what was going to be the first Basilica in the sub-Saharan Africa. Under the guidance of Brother Arosio, the work went on well and fast.

But as the walls went up, it appeared clear that such a big church with a small sanctuary would look like a crippled child. So Fr Sartori went back to Msgr Negri, accompanied by Bro Arosio.
“My Lord, we cannot leave out the sanctuary nor reduce its size…” Msgr Negri, being a realistic man, was still of the opinion that it was too large, but because he loved his missionaries, and didn’t want to disappoint them, he just replied: “Go on as you think best.”

Sometime after, when the bishop came for the opening, seeing the church so packed with Christians, he whispered: “Praise the Lord that Fr Bernardo had a harder head than mine. Msgr Negri had come to know the government plan for West Nile.

This piece of land was to provide workers for the sugar factory at Lugazi, and it was set apart to be a Muslim territory. Both these plans had to fail, thanks to the people like Fr Sartori and others in the area.”

This account is captured in the book of the life of Fr Sartori: “La Sfida d’un uomo in ginocchio”.

The church was then renewed in 1960 to prepare it to be approved as Basilica by the Holy See.

At this time, Fr Sartori was in the neighbouring Koboko District. Fr Mario Ruggieri with Bro Fanti Vittorio changed the floor of the church with terrazzo work. The presbytery was also changed according to the new directives from Rome on Liturgy. Bro Fanti decorated the presbytery with a nice vault with a marvellous design of a beehive.

Then a complete ceiling was put throughout the church. Bro Fochesato constructed the choir platform with a winding staircase.

The 1979 war effect of the church

In January 1971, Idi Amin Dada staged a coup d’état, overthrowing the UPC government. This event brought some perplexity in the Catholic Church.

Amin’s declaration of Uganda as an “Islamic State” had consequences both in public affairs and in religious matters too.

The war of 1979, which toppled Amin who hailed from West Nile, caused great destruction on the Basilica. It was necessary to repair and renew the Basilica. The work started in 1990 under the supervision of Bro Udeschini Giuseppe and Fr Toni.

The roof was changed completely from tiles and poles to a steel and iron clad. Mr Makario Diku retouched the internal decor. It is now a masterpiece of Romanesque style as a monument to the Blessed Virgin.