Buganda Kingdom Premier Charles Peter Mayiga was among distinguished recipients of church honours as Kampala Archdiocese celebrated 60 years since its establishment, with Archbishop Paul Ssemwogerere urging Catholics and Ugandans to embrace teamwork, unity and shared responsibility as foundations for social and spiritual progress.
Mayiga was recognised for his leadership and service as patron of Lweza Parish Men’s Guild during a thanksgiving Mass at Lubaga Cathedral, marking six decades since Pope Paul VI established Kampala Archdiocese in 1966. The Katikkiro was among Christians awarded medals named after former archbishops of Kampala in recognition of their outstanding service to their parishes and the wider Catholic community.
The honours included the Archbishop Joseph Kiwanuka, Archbishop Emmanuel Nsubuga and Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga Wamala medals, celebrating the legacy of church leaders whose service helped shape the Archdiocese and its mission.
The ceremony brought together church leaders, Christians and other invited guests to reflect on the institution’s journey since its formation, while celebrating individuals whose commitment has helped sustain parish activities and strengthen the Church’s presence in communities.
For Mayiga, the recognition highlighted the contribution of lay leadership to the life of the Church, particularly through associations such as men’s guilds, which mobilise Christians for prayer, fellowship, charitable work and community development.
His recognition also illustrated the longstanding relationship between Buganda’s cultural leadership and the Catholic Church, whose institutions have played an important role in education, healthcare, social welfare and the preservation of community values.
Archbishop Calls for Unity
In his homily, Archbishop Ssemwogerere called on Catholics and Ugandans at large to recognise that meaningful progress depends on people working together despite their different responsibilities, backgrounds and abilities. Drawing on the analogy of the human body, the Archbishop said every part had a distinct function, but the body could only operate effectively when all its parts worked together.
“Just like different parts of the body have unique roles but work together, we too must,” he said. The Archbishop’s message placed unity and teamwork at the centre of the anniversary celebrations, urging Christians to look beyond individual interests and appreciate the importance of collective effort in building strong families, parishes and communities.
His remarks also carried a broader message for Ugandan society, where cooperation among citizens, leaders and institutions remains important in addressing social challenges and improving people’s welfare. The Archbishop’s appeal suggested that the Church’s growth over six decades could not be attributed to the leadership of individual clerics alone, but also to the commitment of priests, religious men and women, catechists, lay leaders and ordinary Christians who have sustained its mission.
The recognition of parish servants during the Mass reinforced that message by placing the spotlight on people whose contributions often take place away from public attention. Through their work in parish councils, guilds, charitable initiatives and other church activities, lay members help translate the Church’s teachings into practical service within their communities. The medals therefore represented more than personal distinction. They also celebrated the collective efforts of Christians who have contributed to the spiritual and institutional development of Kampala Archdiocese.
Mayiga’s Recognition
Mayiga’s inclusion among the medal recipients was particularly significant because of his position as Katikkiro, the prime minister of the Kingdom of Buganda, and his involvement in parish activities as patron of Lweza Parish Men’s Guild. The recognition underscored the value the Archdiocese places on service within the Church, irrespective of the recipient’s public standing.
As a cultural leader, Mayiga occupies a prominent position in Buganda’s traditional administration, where the Katikkiro coordinates government business on behalf of the Kabaka. His recognition for parish service provided an opportunity to highlight the role that cultural and public leaders can play in supporting religious institutions and encouraging community participation.
Men’s guilds are among the lay organisations through which Catholic parishes encourage members to deepen their faith, support one another and participate in activities aimed at strengthening families and communities. Their work can include prayer, fundraising, visiting the sick, supporting vulnerable members and mobilising Christians for parish responsibilities.
By recognising Mayiga in his capacity as patron of the Lweza Parish Men’s Guild, the Archdiocese acknowledged leadership exercised within the everyday life of the Church. The awards also highlighted the importance of lay participation in an institution whose mission extends beyond worship to include education, healthcare, social support and the promotion of values that contribute to peaceful coexistence.
Six Decades of the Archdiocese
The anniversary marked 60 years since Pope Paul VI established Kampala Archdiocese in 1966, bringing together the Lubaga and Nsambya jurisdictions. The development formalised a new chapter in the organisation of the Catholic Church in the Kampala area and provided an institutional foundation for its subsequent pastoral work.
Over the decades, the Archdiocese has been served by successive archbishops whose leadership has helped shape its spiritual direction, administration and engagement with society. The legacy of these church leaders was reflected in the medals awarded during the thanksgiving Mass, which bear the names of former archbishops.
The Archbishop Kiwanuka Medal honours the legacy associated with Joseph Kiwanuka, while the other awards recognise the contributions of former leaders, including Emmanuel Nsubuga and Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, whose names remain connected to the history of the Archdiocese. By attaching the names of former archbishops to the honours, the Church connected contemporary acts of service to the generations of leadership that helped establish and strengthen its institutions.
The anniversary was therefore both a celebration of achievements and an opportunity to reflect on the responsibilities that lie ahead. For the Church, sustaining its mission requires continued investment in pastoral work, effective parish leadership, Christian formation and outreach to people facing hardship. It also requires the active involvement of lay members, whose time, resources and organisational abilities support the work of priests and other church leaders.
A Message Beyond the Church
Archbishop Ssemwogerere’s call for unity also resonated beyond the immediate Catholic community. His emphasis on the different parts of the body working together offered a reminder that diversity need not be an obstacle to progress when people recognise their shared responsibilities. In families, communities, workplaces and public institutions, individuals have different roles and capabilities. Their combined efforts, rather than isolated action, can produce results that would be difficult to achieve individually.
For Uganda, where social and political differences sometimes shape public debate, the Archbishop’s message provided an opportunity to reflect on the importance of cooperation and respect for complementary roles. The Church’s own history offers an example of how an institution depends on multiple layers of participation, from its hierarchy and clergy to religious communities and lay organisations.
The anniversary medals gave public recognition to some of those contributions while reminding Christians that service remains an essential part of their faith. The celebration at Lubaga Cathedral thus combined thanksgiving for the Archdiocese’s history with recognition of people who continue to support its mission. As Kampala Archdiocese entered its seventh decade, the message from its leader was that continued growth would depend not only on the achievements of the past, but also on the willingness of people to work together.
Mayiga’s recognition among the medal recipients illustrated that principle in practice: leadership within the Church, like leadership in wider society, is strengthened when it is accompanied by service. The 60th anniversary was consequently not merely a commemoration of the 1966 establishment of Kampala Archdiocese. It was also a call to renew the spirit of unity, commitment and shared responsibility that has sustained the institution over the past six decades.
Author Profile
- Charles Gazza Kodili is a seasoned journalist with over 20 years of experience in the media industry. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication. He’s currently the Chief Editor at the Investigator.
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