The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
By Joan Akello
The Church of Uganda will enthrone a new Archbishop on Sunday at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe. About 3,000 people are expected to attend the ceremony, including the President, political leaders, business leaders, and all the Bishops of the Church of Uganda. Eleven Archbishops from other Provinces in the Anglican Communion will also be present.
Rt. Rev. Stanley Ntagali was elected the 8th Archbishop of the Church of Uganda during a meeting of the House of Bishops on 22nd June. He was consecrated in December 2004 as pioneer Bishop of Masindi-Kitara Diocese.
His Grace Rev. Henry Luke Orombi announced his early retirement in January 2012. He was enthroned as Archbishop in January 2004 for a ten year term till 2014.
“My passion as a Christian and a leader is preaching the Gospel, and that has been my life-long calling. When I have been invited to our Dioceses on pastoral visits, I have always made it an opportunity to preach and invite people into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. So, I want to devote the rest of my life, while I am still able, to fulfilling this calling full-time,” said Orombi while addressing the press about his early retirement.
He has consecrated 26 new Bishops and launched four new Dioceses, made extensive travels and preached around the country. He has been a source of encouragement for the emergence of the Global South churches as leaders for Biblical faithfulness within the worldwide Anglican Communion.
His tenure will be remembered for his Decade of Mission, fronting the construction of the church house, reconciling conflicting dioceses, infrastructural development at the Provincial offices in Namirembe and engagement with youths around Uganda.
The enthronement ceremony will be characterized by a proclamation of the Gospel, a recommitment on the part of the new Archbishop to his ordination vows and to upholding the Constitution and Canons of the Church of Uganda.
All the Bishops of the Church of Uganda will pledge their canonical obedience to the new Archbishop. Orombi will hand over the Provincial Staff to Ntagali, thus symbolizing the transfer of spiritual authority from one Archbishop to another.
The new Archbishop will be seated in his special Primatial Chair at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe, and will read his Charge, outlining his vision for the Church and country.
