Following Pope Francis’ appointment of Most Rev. Paul Ssemogerere on Thursday, December 9, as the new Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese, Uganda, the chairman of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences of Eastern Africa (AMECEA) has sent congratulatory message to the Prelate encouraging him to have joy and courage as he administers to God’s people. Most Rev. Paul Ssemogerere
In a letter addressed to the Archbishop-elect a day after the Apostolic Nuncio in UgandaMost Rev. Luigi Bianco announced the appointment, Bishop Charles Sampa Kasonde noted on behalf of the AMECEA, “I extend our best wishes to you and pray that the good Lord may continue to give you good health and the strength which you need to faithfully carry out the mission which our Lord Jesus Christ and the Church have entrusted to you in the Archdiocese of Kampala, and to do it with joy and courage.”
Bishop Kasonde of Solwezi Diocese, Zambia, has acknowledged the timeliness of the appointment, following the untimely death of Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga who was the Local Ordinary of Kampala Archdiocese, which suddenly occurred on April 3, a day after he joined the Uganda Joint Christian Council to commemorate the Way of the Cross.
Rt. Rev Charles Kasonde, AMECEA
Chairman and Bishop of
Solwezi Diocese, Zambia,
“The AMECEA bishops join the Church in Uganda in thanking His Holiness Pope Francis for the timely appointment which is indeed a blessing to the Catholic Archdiocese of Kampala,” the AMECEA chairman said in his message of Friday, December 10, adding that the appointment has come after dedication and commitment of Archbishop-elect Ssemogerere not only in his Diocese of Kasana-Luweero, but also as the Apostolic Administrator of Kampala Archdiocese, a position he has held since April 8, after the death of Archbishop Lwanga.
Bishop Kasonde has asked for the intercession of Uganda Martyrs to continue supporting the Archbishop-elect in his apostolate.
Since his priestly ordination in 1983, the new Archbishop-elect has worked in various capacities including being a parish priest, Vice-Rector of a seminary, Vicar-General and Episcopal Vicar among others before his appointment as Local Ordinary.