Why Villa-Maria Proto-Cathedral is significant for religious tourism

The need to develop religious tourism has become a very pertinent issue owing to its spiritual and economic benefits. 

Those who advocate for the strengthening of the sector commonly refer to countries like Israel, Turkey, France and Italy, which under normal situations attract millions of religious tourists, from whom they get a lot of foreign exchange.

Well, today when you talk about religious tourism in Uganda, people’s thoughts go to the Uganda Martyrs Catholic Shrine and the Protestant Shrine at Namugongo, in Wakiso district, where millions of pilgrims congregate on June 3 to honour the Uganda Martyrs that were killed on the orders of King Mwanga of Buganda between 1886 and 1887. This is as good as expected.

The Sanctuary of Villa-Maria Proto-Cathedral.

But it is also good to know that apart from Namugongo, there are other places/sites/establishments that are significant for religious tourism. One of them is the Proto-Cathedral of Villa-Maria (Masaka Catholic Diocese) in Kalungu district. So, what is the big deal about Villa-Maria?

Well, the gigantic Villa-Maria Proto-Cathedral was the Cathedral of Archbishop Henrique Streicher, a missionary Prelate of the Society of the White Fathers (also called Missionaries of Africa), who strongly advocated for the establishment of a native Ugandan Catholic presbyterium during a time when even some of his confreres still doubted the humanity of black Africans.

The tomb of the first native Ugandan Catholic priets, Fr Bazilio Lumu (left) and Msgr Victoro Womeraka Mukasa (right) in Villa-Maria Proto-Cathedral, Kalungu district.

Even amidst doubt, hostility and opposition, Streicher went ahead with his plans of recruiting and training native Ugandan seminarians for Catholic priesthood. 

He strongly believed that the future of the Church in Uganda and African could only be guaranteed by the presence of native Ugandan priests who would evangelize fellow Ugandans and Africans even more effectively.

Streicher’s dream of a native Ugandan Catholic presbyterium came to pass on June 29, 1913 when he ordained the first ever native Ugandan priests, Fr Bazilio Lumu and Msgr Victoro Womeraka Mukasa. 

The memorial function during which he imposed his episcopal hands on the two clerics took place at Villa-Maria proto-cathedral.

In one of his books, Fr Benedict Ssettuuma Junior (RIP) reported Archbishop Streicher to have shed tears of joy as he ordained the two priests.

Another prominent Catholic historian, the Rt Rev Msgr Henry Kyabukasa (RIP) did a conclusive research and firmly ascertained that Fr Bazilio Lumu and Msgr Victoro Womeraka Mukasa were not pioneer native Catholic priests in Uganda only but also in Africa South of the Sahara.

Fr Bazilio Lumu died on March 3, 1946. Msgr Victoro Mukasa died three decades later, in 1979. Prior to his demise, Pope Paul VI had made him a Protonotary Apostolic, which gave him the privilege of wearing a mitre like a Bishop. 

The two priests were buried in Villa-Maria Proto-Cathedral (where they were also ordained in 1913). Archbishop Henrique Streicher (July 29, 1863 – June 7, 1952) was also buried in the same Cathedral.

The majestic/historic Proto-Cathedral of Villa-Maria is one of the places of Catholic religious significance that the White Fathers and the White Sisters from all over the world visited when they came to Uganda in 2019 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of their missionary institute.