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| Bishop John Baptist Kakubi, |
Uganda Episcopal Conference is mourning the death of Rt. Rev. John Baptist Kakubi, the Bishop Emeritus of Mbarara Archdiocese who died on February 11, 2016 at Kampala International Hospital in Kampala after a long battle with hypertension and diabetes.
Bishop Kakubi (86) was the third ordinary and first indigenous African Bishop of Mbarara to take over from Bishop Jean Marie Ogez, who succeeded Bishop Lacoursiere F.X. Bishop Kakubi led Mbarara from 1969 to 1991.
Born on September 23, 1929 in Mbarara District, he attended Primary School from 1939 to 1943 and joined St. Francis Xavier Kitabi Minor Seminary in 1944 to 1950.
According to his Memoir ‘A Day to Remember’ a total of 24 students joined the Seminary but, only four students, him inclusive, completed the seven year journey. “I had made a resolution in my preparatory at Kitabi that even if all my 23 classmates leave, I shall become a priest.” Bishop Kakubi narrates in his memoir.
He then joined Katigondo Major Seminary in 1951 to 1956. In 1958 Bishop Ogez sent him to England to continue with his studies at Allen Hall St. Edmund’s College, Ware Hertfordhire. He was ordained a priest on June 11, 1960 at Westminster Cathedral in London by William Cardinal Godfrey of Westminster Archdiocese. He had his first Mass at St. Patrick London University Church in Soho Square.
After his ordination, he remained in London and attended a course in Catholic Social Studies at St. Peter Clever Institute from 1960 to 1961. He was a teacher at Katigondo Major Seminary from 1963 to 1964 after which he worked as Diocesan Secretary for Education for Mbarara and Kabale from 1964 to 1966.
On July 5, 1969 he was appointed Bishop of Mbarara and consecrated on August 1, 1969 by Pope Paul VI at Kololo Airstrip together with other four Bishops. His motto was “Lord you are my shield” Psalm 3:3.
From March 1992 to the time of his death, Bishop Kakubi lived in Ibanda Priest’s House (house for priest’ and those that are retired and sick) which he renovated and expanded.
On many occasions, Bishop Kakubi was invited to give spiritual talks and retreats to priests and religious both in the diocese of Mbarara and other dioceses.
A requiem Mass was held for him on Friday 12 at Lubaga Cathedral in Kampala. He was later laid to rest on Saturday February 13 at St. Joseph’s Vocational School chapel, as per his wish, in Mbarara Archdiocese. He has lived and served as a priest for 56 years and as a Bishop for 46 years. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
By Jacinta W. Odongo; Media Officer, Uganda Episcopal Conference