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The
Historical Background
St.
Mbaaga’s seminary is a diocesan major
seminary belonging to Kampala Archdiocese.
The Archbishop of Kampala, His Grace Dr.
Cyprian Kizito Lwanga is the supreme head of
this seminary and he is the one responsible
for its staffing and general welfare and in
drawing the regulations that govern it.
Although St. Mbaaga’s is a diocesan major
seminary, but aims with all means the better
provision for the “solid training of the
students” (OT. 7) “to make them true
shepherds of souls after the example of Our
Lord Jesus Christ, teacher, priest and
shepherd” (OT. 4). St. Mbaaga’s is the only
diocesan major seminary in the whole of the
AMECEA region.
The
history of St. Mbaaga’s Major Seminary goes
as far back as 1931. It was in that year
that the Mill Hill missionaries opened a
major seminary on these premises for what
was then Kampala diocese which was under
their care. During its thirty six years of
existence it produced abundant fruits for
the church in this country. Many priests
trained here during that period are still
with us. Among them are seven Bishops:
His
Eminence Maurice Cardinal Otunga (R.I.P)
former Archbishop of Nairobi.
His Grace
Archbishop James Odongo, Archbishop of
Tororo
His
Lordship Bishop Joseph Mukwaya, Emeritus
Bishop of Kiyinda Mityana
His
Lordship Bishop Erasmus Wandera, Bishop of
Soroti
His
Lordship Bishop Joseph Oyanga, Emeritus
Bishop of Lira
His
Lordship Bishop Denis Kiwanuka, Bishop of
Kotido
His
Lordship Bishop Phillip Sulumeti, Bishop of
Kakamega, Kenya.
Foundation of St. Mbaaga’s Ggaba Seminary
When the
Uganda Episcopal Conference decided to
establish the system of National Seminaries,
the Mill Hill seminary ceased to exist in
1967. The premises then hosted the Pastoral
Institute of Eastern Africa which was here
from 1967 – 1975. The 1970’s were difficult
years. It was the time when Ex President Idi
Amin Dada was in power and hardly anything
in Uganda seemed to be going on well. The
Pastoral Institute of Eastern Africa had
just abandoned the premises and moved to
Eldoret, Kenya, precisely because of the
difficult situation which prevailed in
Uganda at that time. And sure enough, it was
just at that very time that Cardinal Nsubuga
of happy memory decided against all odds, to
open a major seminary for a second time. The
purpose was to cater for the late vocations
to the priesthood in the Archdiocese of
Kampala. The new seminary was officially
opened on February 16th 1976 and
was put under the patronage of St. Mbaaga,
one of the 22 Uganda martyrs canonized by
Pope Paul VI in 1964.
First
Rector and Students
When
the seminary was opened, it was entrusted to
Rev. Fr. John Baptist Kaggwa, currently Rt.
Rev. Bishop John Baptist Kaggwa, the Bishop
of Masaka Diocese, and Rev. Fr. Ssempijja as
a professor and had twelve students.
On May 10th,
1976 their number was increased by four
others who willingly joined St. Mbaaga
seminary from Bukalasa, Kisubi, and Nyenga
Seminaries.
Nine of
this first group of 16 seminarians was
ordained priests on June 3rd,
1983 at the seminary premises.
Presently
Although
the seminary legally belongs to Kampala
Archdiocese, it actually trains students
from other neighboring dioceses such
Kiyinda-Mityana, Kasana-Luweero, Masaka,
Lugazi, Jinja, Fortportal, Hoima and Lira
Dioceses. There are 144 students including
21 students on Pastoral Work |
