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Uganda mourns Catholic archbishop

Kampala, Uganda

Uganda is mourning Catholic Archbishop of Kampala, Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, who has died at the age of 68.

Lwanga’s personal doctor pronounced him dead a few minutes after 9am local time on Saturday after his body was discovered in his room. However, it was not until a few minutes after 1pm that the archdiocese administration announced the news of Lwanga’s death.  

“With deep sorrow, I hereby inform you that our beloved Shepherd, the Archbishop of Kampala, His Grace Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga has been called to the house of the Lord,” read part of the statement issued by the archdiocese and signed by the chancellor, Fr Pius Male Ssentumbwe. 

Uganda archbishops

The late Catholic Archbishop of Kampala Cyprian Kizito Lwanga (left in black cassock), during the Way of the Cross on Good Friday. Anglican Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu wears a purple cassock. PICTURE: John Semakula.

While there was speculation around the cause of the Archbishop’s death – prompting a warning from Judith Nabakooba, the Minister of Information and Communications Technology, for people to wait for the  postmortem report, when it was released on Easter Monday, the official report indicated that he had succumbed to a heart attack. His personal doctor, who is also the head of the Catholic Church-founded Rubaga Hospital, Dr Andrew Ssekitooleko, was the first medic to reach Lwanga’s room. He said there was no sign that the prelate had struggled as he died. 

Lwanga had actively participated in two major events on the two days before his death. On Holy Thursday, the Archbishop led Mass in commemoration of Jesus’ Last Supper with His disciples, while on Good Friday, he had participated in an ecumenical Way of the Cross in Kampala, where he addressed the gathering and condemned the illegal detention and torture of supporters of opposition political parties following the general election on 14th January.

Lwanga’s body will be interred in Rubaga Cathedral, where he served as Archbishop for 15 years, on 8th April. Known for his efforts to fight social injustices, Lwanga’s death comes two months after the death of Bishop Emeritus John Baptist Kaggwa, who succumbed to COVID-19 in late January.

The Archbishop’s death comes as Uganda continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic with more than 40,000 cases and 335 deaths officially registered as at the end of March. Among those who have died have been politicians including Deputy Prime Minister Hajji Ali Kirunda Kivejinja.

On 10th March, the country launched a COVID-19 vaccination campaign but it has been dogged by fears of side effects. As a result, the Anglican Church last week launched its own campaign to ensure clergy receive the vaccine. Initial recipients included the Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Uganda, Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, together with his wife, Margaret Kaziimba, who received the injections on camera in an attempt to persuade hesitant Christians to be vaccinated.

Speaking to Catholic priests on 1st April, the late Archbishop Lwanga had noted many were afraid of taking the vaccine and asked the Ministry of Health to conduct a campaign to persuade Ugandans to accept the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

President Yoweri Museveni was vaccinated with his wife Janet on 27th March.

“The First Lady and I got our COVID-19 vaccine today, in Nakasero,” Museveni said on camera. “I encourage all Ugandans, who qualify for this vaccination to go to heath facilities and get it. But, remember to keep observing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) – wear face masks, wash, sanititise your hands and observe social distance,” Museveni said after receiving the jab.”

 

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