Catholic Church celebrates 142 years of first baptisms in Uganda

It is now 142 years since the first Catholic converts received the Sacrament of Baptism. 

The pioneer catechumens, Paulo Nalubandwa, Petero Ddamulira Kyonooneka, Yozefu Lwanga and Leo Kaddu, were baptized by Msgr. Leon Livinhac during the Easter Vigil mass at Mapeera-Nabulagala Catholic Mission Station (currently located in Rubaga Division), on March 28, 1880. 

The baptism of the pioneer Ugandan catechumens also marked the beginning of the Catholic Church in Uganda.

Catholics from various parts of the country on Sunday (March 27, 2022) made a pilgrimage of faith to St. John the Baptist Mapeera-Nabulagala Catholic Church, to commemorate the 142nd anniversary of the first native Ugandan Baptisms.

The celebrations were presided over by the Superior of the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) in East Africa, the Very Rev. Fr. Aloysius Ssekamatte, who in his homily, put it to the Christians to deepen their faith and also, to proclaim it in their words and actions.

“Our great grandfathers in the faith, Msgr. Leon Livinhac, Fr. Simeon Lourdel Mapeera and their contemporaries, who brought here the Catholic faith, always insisted on solid Christianity. They never entertained spiritual mediocrity. Today our country is awash with vices such as witchcraft, traditionalism, corruption, murder, land-grabbing, etc, many of which are committed by people who profess to be followers of Christ. We need to change our ways. We must become serious Christians, who reflect the Biblical principles in every aspect of our life,” Ssekamatte said.

In his latter remarks, Ssekamatte asked Catholic couples to exercise proper Christian parenting. 

He further asked them to entice their children to become missionaries, to ensure the sustainability of the missionary work of the pioneer missionaries.

As a symbolic act of commemorating the 142nd anniversary of the first Baptisms, Ssekamatte baptized, confirmed, and administered Holy Communion to 16 catechumens. He also gave Holy Communion to 140 children.

The mass was concelebrated by the parish-priest of Nabulagala, the Very Rev. Fr. Richard Nnyombi, and the parish’s curate, Fr.  Emmanuel Ddamba.