Kasana –Luwero Catholic diocese requests Pope to appoint new Bishop

By Francis Jjunju

13^th April 2022

Kasana – Luweero Diocesan Administrator Msgr. Francis Xavier Mpanga together with priests have petitioned the Papal Nuncio to Uganda, His Excellency Archbishop Luigi Bianco requesting for an expeditious process into the appointment of a new bishop.

On December 9, 2021, the seat of the bishop of Kasana-Luweero diocese fell vacant after Bishop Paul Ssemogerere was fully appointed by Pope Francis as Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese after 13 years of service in the diocese since August 23, 2008.

He succeeded the late Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga who died on April 3, 2021, on Easter eve.

During his installation at Lubaga Cathedral, on January 25, 2022, Archbishop Luigi Bianco, said that Kasana-Luweero Diocesan Board of Consultors would elect the Diocesan Administrator to fill the gap left in the Diocese after the changes as they pray for the Pope to make another choice for the ordinary of the diocese.

In this regard, the Board of Consultors sat on Friday, 28 January 2022, and elected Monsignor Francis Xavier Mpanga for the role.

While celebrating Ash Wednesday, on March 2, 2022 at Kasana-Luweero, Archbishop Ssemogerere asked the people of Kasana-Luweero to avoid speculation but pray for the appointment of a new bishop by the Pontiff.

Moments after leading Chrism Mass which was attended by more than 70 Priests in the diocese at Kasana Cathedral, Monsignor Mpanga used the opportunity to ask the Papal Nuncio for a special consideration for the appointment of a new bishop because a lot of work is at stand still due to lack of a bishop.

A number of Priests supported Msgr. Mpanga’s concern.

One of them Rev. Fr. Frank Mutebi, a curate attached to Nattyoole Parish said that he and his colleagues were expectant that the Papal Nuncio’s unusual visit to Luweero to celebrate Chrism Mass with them, was pointing to some good news in regard to a new bishop.