The 2024 Uganda Martyrs celebrations on the Anglican side have united six dioceses that were once a single ecclesiastical jurisdiction.
These dioceses came together in Namugongo to organize the event as a cohesive cluster, invoking the history of the times when they shared a single bishop and functioned as one.
The grouping termed as the Mid-west Cluster brings together the dioceses of Ruwenzori, South Rwenzori, East Ruwenzori, West Ruwenzori, Bunyoro-Kitara, and Masindi-Kitara.
All these were born out of what was once now known as Ruwenzori Diocese when it was erected and consecrated in 1961.
The Bishop of Ruwenzori, Rt. Rev. Reuben Kisembo stated that before the division of the country into dioceses the catchment area of Ruwenzori reached Mboga-Zaire, in what is now the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“It was one big diocese that later gave birth to the six dioceses on this side in Uganda. Looking back on the journey, we just glorify the Lord,” said Bishop Kisembo.
Black Men Spreading a New Religion
The interaction between Christianity and the area in question was distinct. This area was largely evangelized by African converts who were profoundly inspired by the faith, which spread like wildfire throughout Buganda and the surrounding territories, in contrast to the majority of Uganda, which was evangelized by foreign missionaries.
Prominent individuals including Aberi Balya, Yosiya Kamuhiigi, Apolo Kivebulaya, and Zabulooni Musana were instrumental in building a solid foundation.
Bishop Kisembo highlights that men like Kivebulaya volunteered to become catechists in Tooro shortly after embracing the Christian faith.
“He is our grandfather in faith. He heard the calling and left his comfort to come and preach the gospel to the mountains where few dared to go at that time,” said Bishop Kisembo.
Writing about Kivebulaya, Rev. Yossa Way mentioned that this Nubian-born Muganda, formerly known as Waswa Munubi, was a Muslim soldier who fought against Christians in Buganda’s religious conflicts in the 1880s.
But after seeing the light, he opted for the name Apolo during his baptism in 1895, having studied catechism for almost a year.
“In June of the same year, he decided to become a catechist and followed a basic biblical studies program in Namirembe (Kampala). When the catechists from Toro (sic) explained the need for people to serve in their region, Apolo was the first volunteer to go to Toro,” said Rev Way.
Way continued by saying that he was pleased with Apolo’s ministry in Tooro and that it was highly effective; later, he decided to enter Mboga-Zaire deep in the Congolese forests. He only brought his hoe and his Bible with him when he ventured into the wilderness.
This great man laid the groundwork for Christianity in the area but chose to remain in Congo, where he was eventually buried upon his death in May 1933.
The faithful in eastern Congo remembered him on Thursday, May 30, 2024, 91 years after his passing.
The first bishop of the newly erected West Ruwenzori Diocese iocese, Rt Rev Barnabas Tibaijuka, commended Kivebulaya for his efforts in planting the church in Ruwenzori and creating a solid foundation upon which other notable men built until they handed the batoon to the present generation.
Kivebulaya’s solid foundation allowed many more outstanding men to rise from the region.
Aberi Balya is another highly esteemed person in Ruwenzori and throughout Uganda. He is known to the younger generation from his statue in Fort Portal City, which depicts an old man seated in robes.
Records indicate that Balya, who had served in Bunyoro’s standing army before converting to Christianity in 1901, acted as an understudy of Kivebulaya.
Similar to Kivebulaya, he preached throughout Western Uganda before extending his ministry to the Congo and Sudan.
Balya eventually went back to Uganda, even though Kivebulaya expressed a desire to be buried in the Congo, a country known for its people and woods.
One writer described him as a “go-getter for the things of the Lord,” noting his dedication as he traveled across Uganda on foot and crossed rivers in dugout canoes to preach the gospel.
“His extensive efforts on behalf of Christ and the church took him throughout Uganda and into Zaire and Sudan,” Dan Graves wrote in his eulogy.
Aberi Balya’s dedication and service led to significant promotions within the Anglican Church, culminating in his appointment as an assistant bishop for Western Uganda in 1947. He became the first East African to achieve this rank, being consecrated on 25 October 1947.
During his tenure, Balya focused on training catechists and lay readers, establishing training centres to enhance religious education and leadership within the church.
Ruwenzori Created and Split
Fast forward to 1960, the Diocese of Uganda underwent significant changes, resulting in the creation of new dioceses. Among them was Ruwenzori, with Reverend Erica Sabiti appointed as its inaugural Bishop.
Bishop Sabiti later ascended to become Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Rwanda-Burundi, and Mboga Zaire in 1966.
From one diocese in 1960, the Church has evolved into a cluster of six dioceses preparing to participate in the Martyrs’ Day event on June 3 at Namugongo.
This transformation began with the split of Ruwenzori in 1972 to create the Diocese of Bunyoro Kitara, followed by further divisions in 1984 to establish South Rwenzori Diocese. Bunyoro Kitara Diocese underwent its own split in 2004, forming Masindi Kitara Diocese.
In 2009, Ruwenzori Diocese birthed another diocese, resulting in the formation of East Ruwenzori Diocese, and in 2023, yet another diocese – West Ruwenzori – was erected.
Some of these dioceses were born after mild and sometimes tense challenges as well ethnic undertones.
The creation of South Rwenzori Diocese was intertwined with political and tribal conflicts that affected the region in the 1960s and 1970s.
It emerged amidst the Bamba-Bakonzo struggle for self-administration. The desire for an autonomous district separate from Tooro also influenced the church, where leadership by non-natives paralleled local governance issues.
Information from the Diocese’s website, as parishes were established in mountainous regions, it became essential for the church to enlist local individuals to aid in spreading the message of salvation.
“It is no wonder, therefore, that the first voices for a separate diocese came from Kitholhu parish, where pastoral work became difficult for the bishop amidst the agitation for a separate administration,” the historian wrote.
The push for a South Rwenzori Diocese began as early as 1974 but intensified between 1978 and 1979 after the government established Kasese District.
During this period, members of the Rwenzururu movement warned Bishop Rwakaikara, who was ill at the time, against performing his duties in Kasese District. They also instructed church authorities in Kasese District not to send any funds to Ruwenzori Diocese.
The fighters frequently embezzled church funds in anticipation of establishing a separate diocese in Kasese. They also prevented Kasese church officials and synod representatives from attending meetings in Ruwenzori Diocese.
Meanwhile, at the national level, the Church was in turmoil following the brutal murder, in February 1977, of Archbishop Janan Jakaliya Luwum.
The Ruwenzori issue came to a resolution during the extensive visit of the Church of Uganda Archbishop, Sylvanus Wani, to the area in 1982.
Archbishop Wani had succeeded Archbishop Luwum. He spent days meeting various stakeholders, including Rwenzururu leader Charles Wesley Mumbere.
Records indicate that at the conclusion of his visit, Archbishop Wani, with assistance from the Bishop of Rwenzori Diocese, led prayers at St. Paul’s Church of Uganda, the then-headquarters of Kasese Archdeaconry.
During this service, he encouraged the congregation to follow established procedures in demanding a separate diocese.
Two months later, the new Diocese of South Rwenzori was officially established. Since then, the diocese has had three bishops.
Several clergies from Kasese were hesitant to comment when approached by our reporter for an interview on this particular issue. However, one clergy member who opened up mentioned that wounds from the creation of the Ruwenzori Diocese have not yet fully healed.
He requested that the media refrain from stirring up the matter and allow it to remain in the past.
“Let’s not reopen those issues. Let the past stay in the past. Times were tough back then, but now we should focus on working together as Anglicans and moving forward,” noted the clergy member.
Bishop Tibaijuka, sought to relax the controversy surrounding the split of the Ruwenzori Diocese, emphasizing that despite other circumstances, the primary goal was to enhance evangelism and serve the local faith communities.
He believed that overseeing such a large jurisdiction as Ruwenzori was challenging for a single bishop.
Bishop Tibaijuka acknowledged that different regions had unique needs; for example, West Ruwenzori’s distinct setting and geographical location warranted an independent diocese.
He highlighted the considerable distance between them and Fort Portal, the seat of the mother diocese, as a practical consideration.
Regarding tribal considerations, Bishop Tibaijuka downplayed any underlying tensions, noting that language and tribe were minor issues. He pointed out that people in West Ruwenzori had no issues speaking Rutooro or interacting with the Batooro tribe. Tibaijuka, himself bearing a Kitooro name, underscored that the core issue was primarily about geographical distance and logistical challenges.
However, this factor seemed to be a big one on the ground with some sentiments emerging in 2016, as Christians in Bumadu pushed for the creation of the West Ruwenzori Diocese.
The issue was contentious, but Bishop Kisembo handled it diplomatically and prevented it from escalating into a repeat of past conflicts.
During one of the meetings, Bishop Kisembo mentioned that he would forward the request to the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, emphasizing that there was nothing wrong with the planned breakaway.
In Martyrs the Six Unite
Bishop Kisembo acknowledges the past divisions but emphasizes that they have learned to prioritize their shared mission and history of preaching the gospel, setting aside what once divided them and embracing what unites them as a community.
He added that over time, they have come together as leaders and clergy, as well as with the laity who were once part of the same diocese.
“Uniting under one cluster at Namugongo also serves as a reminder that we all serve the same Lord,” Bishop Kisembo added.
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