Family is a source of happiness – Ssekamanya

Cars and boda-bodas racing to the top of a slant tarmac hill, past Mt St Mary’s Namagunga, you might think you are late for the next mass at St. Peter Claver church which stands at the top of this hill.
But as you proceed to the top, you realise cars are making their way through a black gate next to the church.
The hill buried in silence, you are only welcomed by the delightful smell of flowers wafting through the air, the sound of chirping birds while the tinkling of wind chimes will cool off as the trees gently rustle in the wind.

This is where Ssekamanya, 82 lives in a quiet comfortable life. However, with no one to attend to you, you might think you are lost or probably in a wrong place.
For anyone to come to your assistance you will need to press hard on an electric bell that stands by the door side.
Clad in a white shirt with a clerical collar and pair of black trousers, the tall yet slightly bent bishop lurches to open the door.
“You may come in and please have a sit,” he mutters. The portraits in the living room tell his life story.
Although expecting me, with a wistful smile and strict tone he asks to confirm who I was.

Showing me around the house and where the washrooms were, he reaches out to the kitchen offering me a soda and biscuits as he first attends to other visitors.
After two hours of waiting, he comes back clad in his black and purple cassock with a purple mitre on his head, ready for the interview.

Joining priesthood
Catching the attention of the then parish priest of Mulaje in Luweero District, late Rev Fr Joachim Masagazi paved way for Ssekamanya’s journey into priesthood.
“I had never thought of becoming a priest, not until the day I was called upon by our church priest. Closing his office door he asked, ‘Don’t you want to become a priest and evangelise to your people?’ A task I was told to think about,” he reminisces.
For better grooming, at the age of eight, Ssekamanya was asked to stay at the parish.

Working hard at achieving his calling in priesthood, on December 19, 1965, he was ordained priest at Rubaga Cathedral.
Upon ordination, his first placement was Karoli in Kawempe. However, after 51 years of evangelising in the different parishes, Ssekamanya says, he had never seen himself become a bishop.
On November 30, 1996 he was appointed bishop of Lugazi Diocese by the late Pope John Paul IV.

As his appointment letter was delivered by the then Apostolic Nuncio of Uganda, for fear Ssekamanya nearly recanted the calling
“I got angry and almost rejected the appointment because becoming a bishop comes with lots of demands. I was scared,” he recalls.
As a bishop, Ssekamanya mentions, you are a general superintendent of the entire church in the diocese of placement. You are, therefore, expected to give spiritual guidance, monitor the rules and regulations and you are responsible for setting all clergy appointments in the diocese. “All that worried me.”

First paying job
“My first paying job was as a teacher in 1973. I was assigned to Katigondo Major Seminary for a year and half teaching spiritual guidance. In 1978, after five years of studying Spiritual Theology at Gregorian University in Rome. I was appointed general spiritual director at Ggaba Major Seminary. After a couple of years, I was appointed the rector of the same seminary until 1985,” he recalls.

Preparing for retirement
Wearing out with age, all that is history now, in 2009 Ssekamanya felt the need to address his retirement letter to Pope Francis. However, he says this was responded to after three years, retiring at 78.
“After submitting my mandatory letter of retirement, I expected a few more years in office as the Pope searched for a suitable candidate,” he explains. Nevertheless, before sending his retirement letter to Vatican, with permission from the diocese, a house where he was to retire from was constructed a few kilometres from the diocese’s headquarters. The house that sits besides St. Peter Claver church contains a bedroom, office, living room and other apartments where three of his helpers reside.

“Upon retirement, as a church leader you are free to retire to any diocese of your choice. I had always wanted to be part of this community and retiring here meant I would give more time to my people,” he explains.

Still in active service
Once a bishop always a bishop, as a retired clergyman Ssekamanya says he is still a bishop. “My retirement does not mean I am barred from celebrating the sacraments and Mass. I only retired from my administration work of overseeing the works of the diocese,” he remarks.
Now Ssekamanya spends most of his time counselling couples and campaigning against domestic violence among families, especially those in Lugazi Diocese.

He says families are a source of happiness yet many people still live miserable lives. Observing that unless there is change in family values and people start living a life according to Christian principles, the crime rate will not reduce.
To supplement on his food stock, during his free time, Ssekamanya engages in farming majoring in matooke and vegetables.

Good deeds paying off
Without a paying job or children to cater for his needs, Ssekamanya is still the diocese’s responsibility. Taking care of his well-being and funding his necessities. Nonetheless, he says Tuesdays remind him of the old school days when parents visited their children in school.
“Tuesday is like a visitation day here, people from all walks of life keep checking on me, some come for counselling yet others avail me with different food stuffs, among other things. “I thank God for I do not lack.”