Hundreds of believers gathered at Kigungu Mapeera pilgrimage center on Saturday 17th February to commemorate 145 years of Catholic faith in Uganda. Among those present were Archbishop Augustine Kasujja, Bishop Anthony Zziwa, and the Kampala Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere serving as the main celebrant for the event.
During the mass, Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere asked Ugandans especially those in special positions to preach the effects of corruption so that even young ones grow up knowing that it’s a crime and evil.
He also urged believers to always pray and stick to the church’s values, especially in this lent period as well as living in line with the moral values that the pioneer missionaries preached.
As celebrations went on, there was also a fundraising launch of over 300 million shillings for the renovation of the church which has been destroyed by water.
Rev. Gerald Mpanju the parish priest of Entebbe-Bugonga parish noted that the site would be at the level of a tourism attraction but it has been neglected, and therefore called upon the government and all the catholic community to join efforts in the renovation and development of the site.
“Because of the forces caused by an increase in water levels over the past years in Lake Victoria, the church was also submerged so we need to rebuild the place, to expand it and of course to preserve it as a faith tourism place, especially for those that are interested in the history of Uganda,” he said.
He also called the general public to support the cause because it would be shaming for such a historical place to be washed away.
The White Fathers landed in Uganda at this historical site of Kigungu Mapeera pilgrimage center on 17th February 1879 for Evangelization.
Fr. Simeon Lourdel Mapeera and Bro. Delmas Amans were the first-ever catholic missionaries to come to Uganda. They arrived by canoe at the Kigungu landing site in Entebbe after which they walked to the palace of King Muteesa 1 of the Buganda kingdom to seek his permission to preach the catholic religion
They established their first mission station at Nabulagala Lubya in Lubaga where the Kabaka had given them land.
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