Celebrating 100 Years of Faith, Service & Hope
“Lamaga Yoyoota – Remember, Sustain, Renew”
As the sun rises over Lubaga Hill, it carries with it nearly a century of prayers, milestones, and community service. On 26th.October 2025, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kampala marks the 100-year anniversary of Lubaga Cathedral, its Mother Church. Under the banner Lamaga Yoyoota (meaning “Let us rise, let us prosper” or “Remember & Renew”), the Archdiocese invites all its faithful—and indeed all Ugandans—to join in a season of renewal, remembrance, and recommitment to faith.
A Brief History of Kampala Archdiocese
The roots of today’s Archdiocese date back to 1883, when the Holy See established the Vicariate Apostolic of Victoria Nyanza under the White Fathers (Missionaries of Africa).
In 1889, Buganda’s King Mwanga II donated land on Lubaga Hill to the missionaries. On that land, construction of what is now Lubaga Cathedral began in 1914 and was completed in 1925, at which point it was consecrated as St. Mary’s Cathedral Lubaga.
Over time, as the Catholic community grew and the Church’s administrative structures were refined, the territory of the Archdiocese changed. What had been the Vicariate of Uganda later became the Diocese of Kampala (1953) under the ecclesiastical province of Rubaga. Then in August 1966, a section of the Diocese of Kampala and the Archdiocese of Rubaga were joined to create the current Archdiocese of Kampala.
The Archdiocese today covers some 3,644.75 km², is made up of 77 parishes, and serves a population of over 3.5 million people in central Uganda.
Leadership Through the Years
The leadership of the Archdiocese has been in the hands of committed bishops and archbishops. Some key figures:
Cardinal Emmanuel Kiwanuka Nsubuga (Archbishop 1966-1990) helped cement the church’s role in national life.
Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala (1990-2006) continued building the church’s presence in social services, education, and health.
Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga (2006-2021) was known for strong pastoral care and bringing Church services closer to the grassroots.
Today, Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere (since late 2021) leads the Archdiocese into this centennial celebration, under the Lamaga Yoyoota campaign.
The Lamaga Yoyoota Campaign & Centennial Celebrations
The centenary of Lubaga Cathedral is more than a date on the calendar—it’s a moment to reflect on the Church’s journey: how the faithful have built, sacrificed, and served for generations. It is also a time of looking forward: preserving legacy, renewing infrastructure, and reinforcing the mission in a changing world.
Key features of the campaign include:
Renovation of Lubaga Cathedral — structural repairs, renovations of grounds, expansion or improvement of facilities to accommodate growing numbers of faithful.
Fundraising drive — Lamaga Yoyoota has mobilized funds across many sectors of the Archdiocese. By early September 2025, about 60% of a target of UGX 2.4 billion had been raised.
Contributions have come from many: priests, catechists, youth, married couples, heads of laity, men’s and women’s guilds, and also civil leaders.
Archbishop Ssemogerere has made public appeals, urging generosity and a sense of shared ownership. He has framed restoration of the Cathedral not merely as preserving bricks and mortar, but as safeguarding a symbol of faith, unity, and hope.
Lubaga Cathedral: Symbol & Significance
Lubaga Cathedral is more than an architectural landmark:
It is the seat of the Archbishop of Kampala, central to the spiritual life of millions of Catholics in Uganda.
Its foundations connect to early missionary work; many relics, artifacts, and archives preserved by the Archdiocese trace back to the arrival of the first missionaries and to the establishment of the Church in Uganda.
It has been a focal point of many major church and societal moments: hosting big liturgies, serving as a beacon in times of crisis, and shaping community life through education, health care, and social outreach.
What the Centennial Means & What Lies Ahead
As Lubaga Cathedral approaches its 100th anniversary (consecrated in 1925), this centenary season gives the Kampala Archdiocese a chance to:
Honour the past—remembering early missionaries, bishops, laity, and the sacrifices of generations.
Sustain the present—ensuring that the Cathedral is safe, beautiful, functional, and welcoming; that the Catholic community is strong in faith, participation, and social witness.
Renew for the future—investing in youth, in vocations, in social services; integrating modern pastoral practice; preserving artifacts, archives, and faith heritage.
Call to the Faithful & All Ugandans
The Lamaga Yoyoota campaign is a call not just for Catholics, but for every Ugandan who values heritage, community, unity, and service. Whether by prayer, voluntary service, or financial support, everyone has a role to play.
In Archbishop Ssemogerere’s words: “You can have all the wealth in the world, but if you keep it to yourself instead of using it for the work of God, it amounts to nothing.” Let us rise together—to remember, sustain, and renew.
Lubaga Cathedral’s centenary is more than a celebration of a building—it is the celebration of a people, a faith community that has stood firm for a century, through tumult and peace, through growth and challenge. Lamaga Yoyoota reminds us that the Church is not static; it is alive, moving, and in need of each generation’s care. As The Urban Gazette, we salute this moment, and we encourage every citizen—Catholic or not—to weigh the value of legacy, unity, and service that this centenary represents.
