The Rt. Rev. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba
Elected
9th Archbishop of the Church
of Uganda
 |
| Rt. Rev. Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu Archbishop Elect of the Province of the Church of Uganda |
On 28th
August 2019, at a press conference held at the Provincial Secretariat,
Namirembe, the Rt. Rev. Edison Irigei, Dean of the Church of Uganda, announced
that the Rt. Rev. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba was elected the 9th
Archbishop of the Church of Uganda. The election was held during a meeting of
the House of Bishops on Wednesday, 28th August 2019, at St. Paul’s
Cathedral, Namirembe.
The election
was by secret ballot and was presided over by the Provincial Chancellor. Bishop
Kaziimba was elected with more than a two-thirds majority, per the Constitution
of the Church of Uganda.
Bishop
Kaziimba was consecrated Bishop on 26th October 2008 and has served
as the Bishop of Mityana Diocese for almost eleven years.
He was born
on 15th August 1962 in Buikwe Najja to Besweri Kaddu and Jessica
Nanyonjo. He was born again as a Christian in 1984.
Bishop
Kaziimba did his diploma and undergraduate degree in theology from Uganda
Christian University, Mukono, and received his Master of Divinity and Doctor of
Ministry degrees from Western Theological Seminary, Holland, Michigan (USA).
In addition
to his responsibilities as a diocesan Bishop, Bishop Kaziimba also currently
serves as the Chairman of the Provincial Board of Household and Community
Transformation, as well as the Chair of the Board of Trustees for Ndejje
University, Chair of the Committee for HIV and Public Health for the
Interreligious Council of Uganda, and Chair of Words of Hope Uganda Radio
Ministry.
About his
calling, Bishop Kaziimba says, "Since I have known Christ, I want Him to
be known by word and life in the power of the Holy Spirit." He has a
passion for empowering others and developing the church, a subject he has
written about in his 2015 book, Empowering the Laity, published by Words of
Hope, Grand Rapids, Michigan (USA).
Bishop
Kaziimba is married to Margaret Naggayi Bulya, a strong Christian and
Intercessor. They both come from humble backgrounds. “God has raised me from a
hut to a state house, from nobody to somebody, from shame to fame, from grass to
grace and from nowhere to somewhere,” says Bishop Kaziimba.
Bishop
Kaziimba is a popular preacher at large conventions in Uganda and
internationally.
The
Kaziimbas have four grown sons, two grandchildren, and have also cared for and
raised more than 20 other children.
On 22nd
August 2018, during the 24th Provincial Assembly, Archbishop Stanley
Ntagali announced his intention to retire by his 65th birthday on 1st
March 2020.
Archbishop
Stanley Ntagali has served as the 8th Archbishop of the Church of
Uganda. Elected on 22nd June 2012, he was installed as Archbishop on
16th December 2012 at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe. He has served
with distinction for seven years; consecrated 21 new Bishops and launched three
new Dioceses. It is under his leadership that Church House was finished and
dedicated to the glory of God.
To be
eligible to be an Archbishop, one must already be serving as a Bishop in the
Church of Uganda, and must be at least 50 years old. Out of the 38 Bishops
currently active in the Church of Uganda, 33 were eligible to become
Archbishop.
The
installation of the new Archbishop is expected to take place on 1st
March 2020 at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe. At that time, Archbishop Stanley
Ntagali will hand over the pastoral staff to Archbishop-elect Kaziimba, who
will then be invested with the authority to lead the Church of Uganda as
Archbishop. The Presiding Bishop at the enthronement will be the Dean of the
Province, who is the longest serving Bishop in the Church at that time.
Between now
and 1st March 2020, Archbishop Stanley Ntagali will continue to do
the work of the Archbishop and the Bishop of Kampala Diocese, as well as
continue to bid farewell to each of the 37 Dioceses.
The
Archbishop-elect will say farewell to his Diocese and prepare to move to
Kampala. His current Diocese will elect a new Bishop, since he will leave his
Diocese to also become the Bishop of Kampala Diocese.
Bishop Edison
Irigei, Dean of the Church of Uganda, said, “We thank God for His clear voice
and direction among us for who shall be our next leader. We also ask all Christians
to pray for this season of transition, especially for the Archbishop and
Archbishop-elect who are bidding farewell in their dioceses, and for the
Archbishop-elect to be prepared to receive the mantle of spiritual authority as
Archbishop.”
The previous
Archbishops of the Church of Uganda have been the following:
·
1st Archbishop Leslie
Brown, a British missionary, was the first Archbishop of Uganda, Rwanda,
Burundi, and Boga-Zaire (1961-1966)
·
2nd
Archbishop Erica Sabiti (1966 – 1974)
·
3rd
Archbishop Janani Luwum (1974 – 1977). Martyred in 1977.
·
4th
Archbishop Silvanus Wani (1977 – 1983). In 1980, Rwanda, Burundi, and
Boga-Zaire became a separate, Francophone Province, and Uganda became its own
Province.
·
5th
Archbishop Yona Okoth (1983 – 1995)
·
6th
Archbishop Livingstone Mpalanyi-Nkoyoyo (1995 – 2004)
·
7th
Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi (2004 - 2012)
·
8th
Archbishop Stanley Ntagali (2012 - 2020)
Signed,
The Rt. Rev. Edison
Irigei
DEAN
OF THE CHURCH OF UGANDA.
