It’s a beehive of activities at Lubaga Cathedral as the Kampala Metropolitan Archdiocese prepares for the solemn liturgical ceremony of installation of the fourth Archbishop, Paul Ssemogerere.
Pope Francis named Bishop Paul Ssemogerere as new Archbishop of Kampala Metropolitan Archdiocese on December 9, 2021. Until that day, the designated Episcopate was the Bishop of Kasana Luwero. He had also been named apostolic administrator of Kampala Metropolitan See following the demise of Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga.
Our reporter visited the Cathedral on Monday and found several members of different organising committees holding their final preparatory meetings. Decorators are beautifying inside and outside the Cathedral, every inch of the floor in and around being mopped, and a red carpet being prepared for the dignitaries. The compound has been slashed clean and tents have also been erected.
Inside the Cathedral, the Protocol team and ushers are rehashing how the guest will be received with the choir fine-tuning their voices for the big celebration.
Deo Nyanzi, a member of the central organizing committee and a lay leader from Mitala Maria Parish in Mpigi District notes that everyone who was given responsibilities on the function is making final touches. According to him, by 10;00 pm, everything will be set.
Peter Kikulwe Mukasa, one of the directors of the sacred heart Lubaga Cathedral Choir which is going to animate the mass, says that the choir has been training for a month and prepared several songs to give the function colour and make it memorable. Mukasa who is witnessing a function of this nature for the second time in his lifetime notes that he is excited ad cannot wait for the day.
Rev Fr Anthony Musaala, one of the chief Organizers of the function notes that the function will kick off at 6 a.m. with the faithful in Kampala Archdiocese waiting to receive their new ordinary who will be coming from his former diocese of Kasana Luweero.
Fr Musaala says that the archbishop-elect will be received by Papal Knights and lay readers in the Archdiocese. From there they will start the canonical procession which will end at Lubaga Cathedral at around 9 a.m.
Musaala says that at around 10;00 a.m. the installation ceremony for the archbishop-elect will begin with the Papal Nuncio (or another delegate) reading the Pope’s Apostolic Letter of appointment to the College of Consultors in the presence of the Chancellor of the diocese and entire congregation. He adds that the new ordinary will then be seated in the Cathedra (which is the bishop’s chair), at which moment he formally takes possession of the Archdiocese.
According to the sitting arrangement, all the seats inside the Cathedral have been reserved for priests, religious leaders, the choir, and selected guests. Musaala says that although all faithful are welcomed to join the procession, only those who were invited will be around at the Cathedral encouraging the faithful to remain home and follow the event on different television stations and online platforms.
Meanwhile, Rogers Nsereko, the Kampala metropolitan traffic commander has informed motorists and other road users to expect traffic disruption in most routes leading to Lubaga cathedral. According to the traffic plan released by police, there will be normal traffic flow at Wakaliga road but access rood to Lubaga cathedral will be restricted to guests and drivers will park their vehicles at designated points as directed by traffic police.
“Those with blue stickers will access the Cathedral at Stensera Road, those with red stickers will access the cathedral via Rubaga Road. Those seeking medical attention at Lubaga Hospital will access the facility via the maternity gate,” the traffic plan reads in parts adding that all vehicles that will be parked at undesignated areas will be towed to Old Kampala Police Station at the owners’ cost.
