Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Christopher Kakooza as the new Bishop of Lugazi diocese after
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| Bishop Christopher Kakooza |
having accepted the resignation of Bishop Matthias Ssekamanya of Lugazi after having reached the age of retirement.
A Press Release issued on 4th November 2014, by the Apostolic Nunciature’s Office and made available to AMECEA Online News through Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC) Communication department stated that Bishop Kakooza who is, until his appointment, the Auxiliary Bishop of Kampala Archdiocese, is a well-known person to many of the faithful of Lugazi where he devoted many years of priestly service before the separation of the diocese of Lugazi from the Archdiocese of Kampala.
He was born on 15th November, 1952 in Lisaze and was ordained a priest of Kampala Archdiocese on 3rd June, 1982. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Kampala and Titular Bishop of Casae in Numidia on 2nd June, 1999 and was ordained Titular Bishop of Casae in Numidia on 17th April, 1999.
According the Press release, Bishop Ssekamanya completed his 75 birthday three years ago and obediently to the law of the Church, duly submitted his resignation to the Holy Father, but in view of the particular circumstances of that time, Bishop Ssekamanya was asked to remain in office until a successor could be found.
Bishop Matthias Ssekamanya, now 78, had also served as the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Kampala before he was appointed the first Bishop of Lugazi on November 30, 1996.
Speaking to AMECEA Online News from Uganda, Bishop Kakooza said that his appointment as the local ordinary of Lugazi has given him opportunity to be a missionary. “I am born in Kampala and have been here all my life, and I am leaving after 62 years; it is an opportunity for me to be a missionary,” he said.
Bishop Kakooza expressed gratitude to his predecessor Rt. Rev. Bishop Matthias Ssekamanya whom he said was his teacher in Spiritual Theology at the seminary. “When he was appointed Auxiliary bishop of Kampala, we met again when I was appointed Vicar general of His Eminence Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala and we worked together,” he said.
“As I am succeeding him, I am grateful and thank him for tremendous work he has done in the diocese of Lugazi. He has built a new Cathedral, the Bishop’s house, an administration block and most importantly, he has built Christianity in the hearts of the people based on the word of God.”
Bishop Kakooza will be taking possession of the new diocese on 3rd January 2015.
SOURCE: Fr Phillip Odii, UEC Communication Officer and Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Social Communications
