The House of Uganda’s Anglican Church Bishops has elected Bishop Samuel Stephen Kazimba Mugalu of Mityana Diocese as the new Archbishop.
Bishop Kazimba beat off competition from Bishop Sheldon Mwesigwa of Ankole Diocese, Bishop Samuel George Bogere Egesa of Bukedi and Bishop Alfred Olwa of Lango to become the ninth Bishop of the Church of Uganda (CoU).
The House of Bishops is composed of bishops and assistant bishops from the 37 dioceses of CoU.
Kazimba is now archbishop-elect until his consecration at St Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe, on March 1, 2020.
Upon consecration, he will also take over the office of the Bishop of Kampala Diocese.
He will replace Stanley Ntagali who will turn 65, the retirement age for archbishops, on the same day he (Kazimba) will be consecrated.
Ntagali succeeded Henry Luke Orombi in 2012.
Previous archbishops were British missionary Leslie Brown (1961-1966), Erica Sabiti (1966-1974), Janani Luwum (1974-1977), Silvanus Wani (1977-1983), Yona Okoth (1983-1995), and Livingstone Mpalanyi-Nkoyoyo (1995-2004).
Ntagali Congratulates Stephen Kazimba
Meanwhile, outgoing archbishop Ntagali has congratulated Kazimba on his election.
Describing him as “my brother Bishop Stephen Kazimba”, Ntagali said he “never knew that God was preparing him to be the ninth archbishop of the Church of Uganda”.
“I congratulate you and thank God for you and for your humility.”
He also thanked the bishops for obeying God in their choice of Kazimba, adding that “leadership comes from God”.
“We thank God for this humble and great man of God to whom I am going to hand over the province as the ninth archbishop of Uganda,” concluded Ntagali.
On his part, Kazimba said the position of archbishop was “a new calling, a new challenge and a new opportunity for the gospel”.
He appealed for unity and solicited support.
“Let’s work together. Where God is, the impossible can be possible,” he said.
“Pray and support us so that at the end of it all, God’s name is lifted.”
On the focus of his ministry, Kazimba said he would “ensure that we do holistic ministry, to bring conversion of the head, heart and the hand”.
Once that conversion is done, he added, we shall have a wonderful Uganda.
Photo: Louis Jadwong
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