Some of the residents have been celebrating since last Thursday when the Papal Nuncio to Uganda, Archbishop Luigi Bianco, made the announcement of Ssemwogerere’s appointment.
Residents of Katabi Town Council were lining Mpala Road from Katuba stage to welcome the newly appointed Kampala Archbishop Paul Ssemwogerere.
The residents including Ssemwogerere’s relatives and friends started gathering after 10 am because he was expected to arrive by 2:30 pm.
Some of the residents have been celebrating since last Thursday when the Papal Nuncio to Uganda, Archbishop Luigi Bianco, made the announcement of Ssemwogerere’s appointment this afternoon.
Ssemwogerere was born on June 30, 1956, in the then Kisubi Parish, in the present day Nkumba Central village along Kasenyi Road in Katabi Town Council.
He attended St Donozio Kigero Primary School in Nkumba Bendegere village, also in Katabi Town Council in Wakiso district before transferring to Kisubi Boys’ Primary School. He later joined St. Maria Goretti Senior Secondary school Katende, where he completed his ordinary level studies.
As expected, dozens of people including believers and family members are now waiting to receive him in Mpala parish.
Fr. Joseph Kirumira, the Parish Priest Mary Queen of Martyrs Mpala Parish says there are close to 25,000 residents who subscribe to the Catholic faith in Katabi Town Council.
The Parish has five sub parishes Mary Queen of Martyrs Mpala, St Joseph Bukandekande, St. Jude Abaita Ababiri, St Christine Nkumba and Mpala subparish.
Fr. Kirumira says though he got a phone call last night about Ssemwogerere’s brief visit to the parish, it has not been difficult to mobilise believers to welcome him today.
Just like believers, he is excited that Ssemwogerere is visiting Mpala parish less than a week into his new role.
For now, the welcoming party is being entertained by youthful dancers and drummers on one side of the road leading to Mary Queen of Martyrs Church in Mpala.
Grace Musisi -Head of Laity for St. Jude Sub-Parish says the Catholic faithful in Katabi Town Council are overjoyed because of Ssemwogerere’s visit.
The residents are praying for Ssemwogerere’s success as the Archbishop of Kampala and believe that Mpala Parish which was carved out of Kisubi Parish less than a decade agowill grow as well during his reign.
After visiting the parish, Ssemwogerere is expected to preside over Thanksgiving prayers at the home of TV presenter Simon Kaggwa Njala.
Njala is celebrating 19 years of marriage among other things.
