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| Most Rev. Paul Bakyenga during the celebrations to mark his Silver Jubilee of Episcopate |
Former Chairman of AMECEA and Archbishop of Mbarara, Most Rev. Paul K. Bakyenga, on 20thJune celebrated his Silver Jubilee of Episcopate in a colorful celebration that was attended by among other dignitaries, the Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda H.E. Archbishop Michael A. Blume, His Eminence Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala and President of Uganda His Excellence Yoweri Museveni.
Archbishop Bakyenga, who was Chairman of AMECEA from 2002 to 2008, was appointed Co-adjutor Bishop of Mbarara on 6th March 1989 and later became the Ordinary of the same Diocese on 23rd November 1991 when his predecessor Bishop J. B. Kakubi retired. On 2nd January 1999, His Holiness Pope John Paul II appointed him Archbishop of Mbarara with the suffragan Dioceses of Kabale, Kasese, Fort Portal and Hoima.
While serving as Chairman of AMECEA, he was also Chairman of Uganda Episcopal Conference, a position he held from 2002 to 2008. By becoming a Chairman of AMECEA and UEC ipso facto became the Chancellor of Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) and the Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi respectively.
The colorful thanksgiving Eucharistic Celebrations was led by Archbishop Bakyenga himself and concelebrated by H.E. Cardinal Wamala, the Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda H.E. Michael A. Blume, Archbishop John Baptist Odama of Gulu and Chairman of Uganda Bishops’ Conference as well as Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga of Kampala. In addition, Ten Bishops and more than 200 priests graced the occasion.
Archbishop Bakyenga thanked God for the gift of life and grace that has enabled him to render services to God’s people. He said that he was specifically grateful to the Creator for allowing him to serve the Church in the area where he was born and the people he knew well which enabled him to serve them better and communicate to them easily.
He thanked all people who contributed in cash and kind for the success of his Silver Jubilee celebrations and appealed to them to continue praying for him and the Church as he continue to respond to God’s call with commitment in the years to come.
The Apostolic Nuncio, HE Archbishop Blume urged the faithful of Mbarara to reward Archbishop Bakyenga’s service by pledging a renewed and deeper love for the Holy Scriptures; while on behalf of Uganda Episcopal Conference, the chairman, Archbishop Odama, commended Archbishop Bakyenga for his achievements as a prelate of Mbarara and as regional and international leader in the Catholic Church. He praised him for representing them well and living an exemplary life as well as being a role model to many and appealed to the upcoming leaders to borrow a leaf from him.
His predecessor, Bishop Emeritus, John Baptist Kakubi described him as “A man who doesn’t rush into problems. He takes his time. I noticed this when I would go to consult him on some Diocesan difficulties when he was in Ggaba as a Rector,” Bishop Kakubi said adding that at first glance, Bakyenga looks a very serious man, but this first glance can be deceitful.
“On the contrary, Archbishop Bakyenga is a man full of humour and an entertainer. He will joke over an issue that some of us might tremble over. He is a man of humour, shown sometimes through jokes and purring in his conversation,” he said adding that Archbishop Bakyenga is a talented preacher. His sermons, with an African touch of proverbs, make his listeners want to hear more but very often he says, “Even the one who cultivates on a nice soft ground must stop and go home, ” said Bishop Kakubi.
By Sr. Mary Germina Keneema; Diocesan Executive Secretary for Social Communication Archdiocese of Mbarara