MSGR Kato championed social development

When Msgr Charles Kato Katongole was a newly ordained priest in 1967, he was posted to the vast Catholic parish of Katende in Mpigi district.

He initially worked as the assistant parish priest. He was later made the parish-priest, an office that he held until 1977 when he was transferred to Kisubi Minor Seminary as a bursar. Interestingly, even after his subsequent transfers, Kato’s influence in Katende and Mawokota County prevailed. Christians, Muslims and the traditionalists knew Kato and always spoke about him with great reverence.

School children in Katende, Luvumbula, Nnama, Mannyogaseka, Bujuuko, Kkonge, Mpigi and Nswanjere areas sang about Kato during their speech days. The name Fr Charles Kato became synonymous with Katende parish. So, what was the big deal about the youthful Catholic priest of Katende, Fr Charles Kato? Here is the answer that I got from my late uncle, the Very Rev Fr Francis Xavier Mugambe.

When he was starting his sacerdotal ministry at Katende, Msgr Kato put ineffective action the evangelistic approach of the White Fathers who trained him at the National Major Seminary of Katigondo. He preached the Gospel with admirable love and devotion. He used every talent that God gave him to spread the kingdom of God. He would wake up during the night and go to the remote villages of the parish to anoint the sick. He would also walk long distances to visit Christians. However, there was something even more special about Kato. Just like his venerable spiritual fathers, the White Fathers, Kato was mindful to develop his Christians.

He deeply assimilated the words of Jesus Christ in John 10:10: I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. Kato thus did not limit his ministry to celebrating Mass and administering sacraments. He went the extra-mile and taught his Christians to work.

He introduced agricultural programmes, which transformed the lives of many of his parishioners. Kato immortalised himself concretely when he built a MSGR Kato championed social devt Msgr Charles Kato Katongole From June 3, 1936 to February 25, 2021 f storeyed presbytery at Katende parish. Prior to the creation of the new urban parishes, such as Ntinda, the presbytery at Katende was the most breathtaking in the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kampala. Msgr Kato was also a great champion of education and health.

He worked hard to improve the standard of schools and health centres in his parish. Msgr Kato’s holistic approach to ministry was highlighted even more clearly by the Metropolitan Vicar General, the Rt Rev Msgr Charles Kasibante, who worked with him at Kisubi Minor Seminary, when he was still a young priest. “He preached the Gospel with total devotion. He was always committed to his assignments.

He was a zealous champion of the Church’s self-reliance. He introduced sustainable agricultural projects, which enabled the seminary to have food security. Even during the war of 1979, when all the food routes were cut off, the seminary had enough food to feed the seminarians and the displaced people it was accommodating. “Msgr Kato was a man of faith. Through his simplicity, sociability and goodwill, he helped many to know the goodness of God and also, to live in accordance to His tenets.

He was always careful and prudent in his choice of words and actions. He was prophetic in his disposition. He would not keep silent in the face of oppression, repression and domination of the poor and vulnerable people. He always stood with the weak and defended them accordingly.” Kasibante later praised Msgr Kato for his relief and social development initiatives.

“He fought poverty even more effectively when he headed the social development office of Kampala Archdiocese. Owing to his commitment to improving the economic wellbeing of Ugandans, Msgr Kato worked hard with Msgr Emmanuel Kibirige to start Centenary Bank.

He demonstrated his concern for the suffering when he traversed Luwero Triangle, providing relief items to the displaced during the bush war of the 1980s.” Msgr Mathias Kanyerezi, who studied with Msgr Kato at Katigondo National Major Seminary, called him a superb musician, who used to sing the Gregorian chants with admirable expertise. Joseph Kakooza, who spoke on behalf of the family, described Msgr Kato as a highly influential priest, who made effective use of his local and international connections to elevate the family.

“He connected us to the Church, the Kingdom of Buganda, Uganda and the international community.” The Katikkiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga, also paid tribute to Msgr Kato. “He was an embodiment of humility and development. He was very knowledgeable on national and ecclesiastical matters. Interestingly, he was never pompous. He was so humble that if you fixed an appointment with him, he would come in time and even wait for you to finish your business if he found you busy. He was committed to his culture. He loved the Kabaka and the Kingdom of Buganda.

” The Archbishop of Kampala, Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, expressed enormous admiration for Msgr Kato’s impactful priestly ministry, which enabled Christians in Kampala Archdiocese and Uganda to attain holistic development.

Kato’s prophetic will

Msgr Kato’s eulogies would probably not be full without his prophetic will, which was revealed by his nephew, Fr John Leonard Kakinda, during the Requiem Mass at Rubaga Cathedral on March 1, 2021.

Msgr Kato urged Ugandans to work hard in order to sustain themselves and consequently, develop the country. He asked people to have religious consciousness, which will help them to live as civilised people. Kato further urged leaders at all levels to be committed to the improvement of the living conditions of the people. He also urged the politicians (and all stakeholders) to do everything possible to ensure that Uganda starts a new political culture of peaceful transfer of power.

“Msgr Kato expressed sadness that throughout his life, he had not seen any Ugandan President handing over power peacefully to his successor. He also said he was heartbroken to see the rich and powerful political elite oppressing, repressing and dominating the weak and vulnerable people that they are supposed to protect,” Kakinda said. The Rt Rev Msgr Charles Kato Katongole died of cardiac arrest at Nsambya Hospital, on February 25. He was buried at Katende Catholic Parish Church on Tuesday, March 2.

FACTFILE

The Rt Rev Msgr Charles Kato Katongole was born at Mpunge, Gomba County (Bukalagi Catholic parish), in Mpigi district on June 3, 1936 to Gabriel Kaggwa Kattovu Salongo and Zoe Namutebi Nalongo.

He attended Bukalagi Primary School (1945-1950), Mubende Pre-Seminary (1951-59), Kisubi Minor Seminary (Cambridge Certificate of Education, 1952-59), Katigondo Major Seminary (Diploma in Philosophy and Theology, 1959-66), Corat Africa, Nairobi Kenya (Diploma in Management and Administration).

He was ordained a sub-deacon (by Bishop Greif) at Rubaga Cathedral on December 11, 1965. He was ordained a deacon at Villa-Maria Proto-Cathedral by Bishop Hadriano Kivumbi Ddungu on January 23, 1966. Emmanuel Cardinal Nsubuga ordained him a priest at Rubaga Cathedral on December 11, 1966.

He was subsequently appointed to Katende Catholic parish as curate (1967) and later as parish-priest (1977).

He was transferred to Kisubi Seminary where he worked as bursar, from 1977 to 1980. He was subsequently appointed as the head of the social development office of Kampala Archdiocese (1980-1981).

He also worked with the Caritas office of the Uganda Episcopal Conference (1982-98). He also served as the parish-priest of Namugongo (1998 -2007), Vicar of Lands and Investments, Kampala Archdiocese (2007-2001). Prior to his death, he was the curate of Katende Catholic parish (2014-2021).

He served as Dean of Mpigi Deanery (1973-77, Chairman Board of Governors, St Maria Gorette SSS Katende (1984-2007), Chairman Kampala Archdiocese Priests’ Association (1993-2003), Advisor to the Archbishop of Kampala (1994-2021), Chairman Board of Governors, Uganda Martyrs SSS, Bukalagi (1998-2002), Dean, Namugongo Deanery (2003-2007).