The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
On Thursday, the Pope’s representative to Uganda, (Papal Nuncio) Archbishop Bianco Luigi announced that Bishop Ssemogerere of the Kasana-Luwero Diocese will oversee the archdiocese as its Apostolic Administrator until a substantive Archbishop is appointed.
However, the Chairperson of the Episcopal Conference, Bishop Anthony Zziwa, explained that Bishop Ssemogerere remains Diocesan Bishop of Luwero and only will govern the diocese in the name of the Supreme Pontiff and coordinate the day to day work of the Archdiocese.
Jacent Katende a member of the Kasana-Luweero Diocesan Women’s Guild says that it will be a challenge for Bishop Ssemogerere to administer two dioceses at the same time.
Erasmus Musisi, the Diocesan Treasurer for the Laity says he has hopes that although the tasks ahead for Bishop Ssemogerere are immense, he will manage them.
Margret Mukiibi Nyirabangi a parishioner in Namaliga Parish is concerned that the appointment of Bishop Ssemogerere could affect the preparations for the Kasana-Luwero Diocesan silver jubilee celebrations slated for March 6, 2022.
Charles Ssebyaala, the leader of the laity in Kasana Cathedral Parish says Bishop Ssemogerere appointment is bound to affect services in Kasana Luweero due to the many tasks for both Dioceses.
Bishop Paul Ssemogerere was born on 30 June 1956 at Kisubi, in present-day Wakiso District.
He attended Kigero Primary School before transferring to Kisubi Boys’ Primary School. He then studied at St. Maria Goretti Senior Secondary School Katende, where he completed his O-Level studies.
In 1976, Bp. Ssemogerere and seven other young men became pioneer students at St Mbaaga Seminary at Ggaba. This was the first class of this seminary, which specializes in admitting men to train as priests when they are older than usual, and without attending minor seminary.
In 1978, the late Cardinal Emmanuel Kiwanuka Nsubuga sent Ssemogerere to the Saint Francis de Sales Seminary, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the United States, where he graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in 1982.
On 21 November 1981, he was ordained a Deacon by Archbishop Rembert George Weakland, the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee. He was ordained a priest on 3 June 1983 at Kampala, by Cardinal Emmanuel Nsubuga. He served as a priest in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kampala, until 4 June 2008.
He was then appointed Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kasana-Luweero, on 4 June 2008.
