Joyce Namugambe
Rt. Rev. Moses Banja has been consecrated and enthroned as the sixth bishop of Namirembe Diocese. Banja replaces Bishop Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira, who reached the mandatory retirement age.
The celebrations on Sunday kicked off with the rhythmic beats of ceremonial drumming, announcing the impending commencement of the service. A procession into the crowded St Paul’s Cathedral ensued, and later West Buganda Diocesan Bishop Henry Katumba Tamale led the service setting the tone for the day’s festivities.
At 10:43 am, the eagerly anticipated consecration ceremony began, with the legal proceedings led by the Church of Uganda Provincial Secretary, Canon Captain William Onen. The Diocesan Secretary, Ven. Canon Henry Sagawa presented the minutes of the Diocesan Synod, where Bishop Luwalira expressed his intention to retire.
Diocesan Chancellor Frederick Joshua Mpanga followed, reading the minutes of the nomination committee that proposed two candidates for the highest office.
The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda His Grace Dr. Samuel Steven Kaziimba Mugalu has been the main celebrant in consecrating the 6th Bishop of Namirembe Diocese The Rt. Rev. Moses Banja who has replaced The Rt Rev Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira who is now Retired.
Bishop Luwalira wrote a letter to the province asking for his retirement and revealed that he will be making 65 years on 8th/12/2023 which is the right age for retirement and the provincial secretariat under the provincial constitution looked around for the new Bishop of the Diocese. The nominations committee under minute five mandated it to search and nominate two names of clergy to be forwarded to the House of Bishops to elect the 6th Bishop of Namirembe Diocese, and appointed Canon Moses Banja who was appointed on 20/11/2023 during the House of Bishops 7th sitting at St. Stevens Cathedral Bujiri, East Busoga Diocese.
In His speech being read by the Nalinnya Agnes Nabaloga, the Kabaka of Buganda His Majesty Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II congratulated Bishop Moses Banja upon getting to the role of the Bishop of Namirembe Diocese and encouraged him to serve people in spirit and development. He asked Bishop Banja to be Brave, strong, firm and careful during his service as he continues from where Bishop Luwalira stopped.
In the president’s speech which was read by the vice president, the president of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni noted that the consecration and enthronement of the Bishop is an important event since the country is witnessing handing over of office from a very knowledgeable senior servant of the kingdom of God and urged Christians to welcome the new leader and help them in case of any challenges.
He commended church leaders for faithfully joining the noble cause towards the transformation of church people through church programs over the years since the church is reaching out to people to enhance their participation in community development and wealth creation as the NRM party continues to push for economic transformation through the Parish Development Model country wide.
However, he expressed that the consecration of Bishop Banja is a statement and testimony of his unfailing devotion and faithfulness to the church and his remarkable spiritual growth that enabled the house of bishops to appoint him to this ministry at this point in time, imploring him to utilise his experience to equip the believers knowledge and skills that will enable the church to shine.
The vice president of Uganda Major Retired Jessica Alupo commended the day’s preacher Bishop Nathan Ahimbisibwe for highlighting the need for leaders to share the cake with the people they serve. She added that although the leadership stone is heavy, by the Grace of God, leaders can manage to handle.
The Katikkiro of Buganda Owek Charles Peter Mayiga congratulated Bishop Banja and noted that the church of Uganda and Buganda Kingdom has many things that bring them together therefore pledged to join the new Bishop in working towards people’s well being in issues such as talent development, education, health, fighting poverty among others. However, he challenged Bishop Banja to stand firm during the challenges that he might encounter at any time.
Meanwhile, the Archbishop of the church of Uganda the Most Rev Dr. Samuel Steven Kaziimba Mugalu welcomed Bishop Banja and as well commended Bishop Luwalira for his service towards the prayer ministry. He urged the congregation that as we are ending 2023, we need to encourage people to be united for service through conforming the truth of God’s word and not the partners of this world.
The Preacher of the day Bishop Nathan Ahimbisibwe Salongo, the Bishop of Ankole Diocese urged Bishop Banja not to take the calling as a joke but to stand firm and serve the people he is called to serve as The Lord has given him extra care to guide him throughout his service.
Bishop Ahimbisibwe asked leaders in the congregation to endeavor sharing the leadership cake with the people they serve during their service, because people need their service such as the orphans Widows HIV positive people among others, but cautioned them to work hard and not to be lazy if they are to get the cake to be shared by the people to lead.
While handing over his Pastoral stick back to the Archbishop of the church of Uganda, Bishop Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira who is now the retired Bishop of Namirembe Diocese appreciated God for his calling to serve as the Bishop of the Diocese and expressed gratitude towards the people who worked with him during his service such as the institutions, families, Buganda Kingdom, the central government, MPs, lay leaders, Clergy church members and all the people who have worked with him during his service. Bishop Luwalira pledged to work together with Bishop Banja during his service to make things easy for him as he serves.
The new Bishop of Namirembe Diocese Bishop Banja started his speech by appreciating Bishop Luwalira for giving him room to serve with him throughout the Diocese for development which he says has made him familiar to the Diocese and he has hope that this will make work easy for him during his service.
Among the things that he is to work upon during his service, Bishop Banja sited preaching the gospel in all nations while respecting God’s call, to continue building on what has not been completed by the Bishops who served before him, he is to use all the riches God will provide him to serve in transparency, improving on education, work to protect the church land which has been affected by land grabbers, and asked the central government to help the church solve the land conflicts among others. Among the challenges, Bishop Banja sited Poverty, violence in homes , land grabbing among other challenges that he said that the church is to continue to fighting.
This function was attended by the Archbishop of Kampala Diocese Paul Ssemwogerere Ministers, MPs, Kampala Lord Mayor Salongo Elias Lukwago, Division Mayors, district councillors, Nabagereke of Buganda, Katikkiro’s 1st Deputy, the speaker of Buganda Lukiiko, Bishops from different Dioceses around the country and their wives, institutions such as Uganda Christian University, Bible society of Uganda, Uganda joint medical stores, Inter religious council of Uganda, among others.
Bishop Moses Banja was born on 20/10/1964.
