Archbishop-elect Kaziimba lays out agenda for Church

Mityana Diocesan Bishop Stephen Samuel Mugalu Kaziimba, who was yesterday announced archbishop-elect of the Church of Uganda (CoU), has pledged to be a frontline soldier of Christ to take the Gospel to households.

“The reason for my ministry is to know Christ and to make him known,” he said in a speech after his election at CoU headquarters at Namirembe Cathedral in Kampala.
Kaziimba, 57, said he would uphold CoU’s mission and vision with a focus on holistic ministry to bring conversion of the head, heart and hand.

“Once the head is transformed, the heart is transformed and the hand is transformed to work and to support each other. The head, the mindset, the heart, the emotions, one that conversion is done, you have a wonderful Uganda and peaceful,” he said.
The Archbishop-elect said his March 1984 decision to accept Jesus Christ as his personal saviour had propelled him to achieve things he never imagined, considering his humble beginnings.

Bishop Kaziimba was elected the nineth Archbishop to replace Stanley Ntagali, who will be leaving after clocking 65 years, the mandatory retirement age for a prelate set in CoU Constitution.
The Dean of the CoU, Bishop Edison Irigei, said Bishop Kaziimba had more than two-thirds majority of the votes of the House of Bishops.
Kaziimba was consecrated bishop on October 26, 2008, and has served as the Bishop of Mityana Diocese for almost 11 years.

He will be installed as Archbishop on March 1, 2020, at St Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe, and the highlight of the event will be him receiving the pastoral staff from his predecessor Ntagali.
Bishop Kaziimba will have to shift to Kampala to allow for the election of his successor in Mityana since he, as the Archbishop, will also become the substantive Bishop of Kampala Diocese headquartered at All Saints Cathedral.

Bishop Irigei, the dean of the province, who currently is the longest-serving Anglican bishop in Uganda, will preside at the enthronement of Archbishop Kaziimba.
In a statement issued yesterday, Bishop Irigei said between now and March 1, 2020, Archbishop Ntagali will continue with his work and also continue to bid farewell to each of the 37 dioceses.

“We thank God for his clear voice and direction among us for who shall be our next leader. We also ask all Christians to pray for this season of transition, especially for the Archbishop and Archbishop-elect who are bidding farewell in their dioceses, and for the Archbishop-elect to be prepared to receive the mantle of spiritual authority as archbishop,” he said.
On August 22, 2018, at the 24th Provincial Assembly, Archbishop Ntagali, announced his intention to retire on March 1, 2020, setting in motion a process that culminated in yesterday’s election.

Archbishop Ntagali was installed as Archbishop on December 16, 2012, replacing Dr Luke Orombi. Archbishop-elect Kaziimba yesterday thanked God from whom all his blessings have come.
“I did not expect to be what I am now; it is by God’s grace and I want to thank God for that,” he said in a speech tinged with emotion.

He described the election as “an answered prayer” reasoning that “without prayer whatever we do will backfire, misfire or make no fire”.
He paid tribute to the bishops for choosing him.
“This is such a big calling, a new challenge and a new opportunity for the Gospel. So I want to invite everybody to join us so that we work together. I want to call the bishops, the clergy, the lay people, the government of Uganda, the cultural officials to give us the support we need because without that we can do a lot of nothing. But where God is, the impossible will become possible,” he said.

Meanwhile, the House of Bishops on Tuesday announced that they had elected the Venerable Julius Caeser Nina as the second bishop of West Lango Diocese.
He will be consecrated and enthroned as Bishop on December 15, at St Peter’s Cathedral Aduku in Apac District to replace Bishop Alfred Acur Okodi, the first bishop of the diocese.

The CoU Provincial Secretary, the Rev Can Capt William Ongeng, said in a statement that the Ven Nina is currently serving as the Archdeacon of Kiryandongo Archdeaconry in Masindi-Kitara Diocese.

About Kaziimba

Born on August 15, 1952, from Buikwe Najja, formerly Mukono District to Besweri Kaddu and Jessica Nanyonjo, Archbishop-elect Kaziimba, 57, was ordained to the priesthood in 1990 by former Archbishop Livingstone Mpalanyi Nkoyoyo (now deceased) and has since served in various positions in the establishment of the Anglican Church in Uganda including Provincial Secretary who organised the installation of Archbishop Stanley Ntagali. He was consecrated Bishop on October 26, 2008 and has served as the Bishop of Mityana Diocese for almost 11 years.
Previous archbishops

1st. Leslie Brown (1961 -1966)
2nd. Erica Sabiti (1966 – 1974)
3rd. Janani Luwum (1974 – 1977).
4th. Silvanus Wani (1977 – 1983).
5th. Yona Okoth (1983 – 1995)
6th. Mpalanyi-Nkoyoyo (1995 – 2004)
7th. Henry Luke Orombi (2004 - 2012)
8th. Stanley Ntagali (2012 - 2020)

EDUCATION

He holds Doctor of Ministry and Master of Divinity degrees from Western Theological Seminary, Holland, Michigan,USA, degree and diploma in Theology from Uganda Christian University, Mukono.

What they say...

Bishop Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira – Namirembe Diocese The election of the 9th Archbishop has been peaceful. We pray for him (Kaziimba) as he prepares to take over the mantle. We pray for the will and direction of God for successful tenure.

Archbishop Ntagali. I am going to retire at the right age as per the Constitution. I am proud and humbled to have preached the Gospel. I prayed for people to know Christ and change their lives, especially the youngsters who want this and that. I am retiring from office but I will be doing ministry and preach the Gospel.

Bishop Benon Magezi – North Kigezi. Today is a historical day for the province. Kaziimba is our own and has been elected team leader. He is spiritual, developmental and cool-hearted person. We expect a lot from him.

Bishop Michael Lubowa – Central Buganda Diocese. I have known Kaziimba for nine years but before then he was Archdeacon at Busimbi where I worked with him. He is holistic in that he preaches the Gospel and first class in development. The Church of Uganda has received a wonderful Archbishop to take the church to another level.

Bishop Emeritus Dunstan Bukenya – Rtd Bishop of Mityana. I handed over to Kaziimba in Mityana and he has done well. I thank the people of Mityana for nurturing him well and I pray that he completes all the projects started in the diocese.

Bishop Dan Zoreka - Kinkiizi Diocese. We are blessed to have Kaziimba as the Archbishop. He is a man who loves to preach, hardworking for development and it can be witnessed by the change in his own diocese (Mityana) where his work is not only in buildings but also a unifying factor.

Bishop Alfred Acur Okodi - West Lango Diocese. He is a servant, humble, a good speaker and he loves God. We are looking forward to see development in church.

Bishop Eridard Nsubuga - Luweero Diocese. We give thanks to God for the successful election. Kaziimba takes over in a smooth process. Our prayer is for God to uphold Ntagali as he winds up his work and I trust God would use Kaziimba mightily to develop the province.

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