The impending retirement of the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Most Rev. Dr Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, will take him to Northern Uganda for the final time later this month, closing a chapter in his relationship with the region after nearly seven years at the helm of the Church.
Kaziimba, who turns 65 this year, is expected in Gulu on September 26 for a two-day pastoral visit, with his main farewell service scheduled for September 27 at Gulu High School playgrounds.
The visit comes six months before his expected retirement in March 2027, when he will leave office after reaching the mandatory retirement age for senior Anglican bishops.
The Bishop of the Northern Uganda Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Godfrey Loum, said Kaziimba’s departure would mark the end of his official ministry in the region, while acknowledging what he described as several developments during his tenure.
Speaking to journalists on Monday at the diocesan headquarters in Gulu City, Loum cited the consecration of 22 new bishops, support for hunger-stricken communities in Karamoja and promotion of coffee-growing initiatives among the Archbishop’s contributions to the Church.
Under Kaziimba’s tenure, Loum said, the Northern Uganda Diocese has also recorded an increase in the number of local churches at parish level, from 288 to 386. The figures are based on a census conducted four months ago. But for the clergy who have worked under his leadership, Loum said Kaziimba’s departure should not mean an end to his guidance.
“Ours is an appeal for him to continue praying for us, but also to remain available for us for consultations where need may arise,” Loum said.
Kaziimba was consecrated in March 2020 as the ninth Archbishop of the Church of Uganda. He is among seven senior Anglican bishops expected to retire in 2027 after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 65. Loum urged Christians in Northern Uganda and neighbouring areas to use the farewell visit to meet the Archbishop and receive his blessing before he leaves office.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for us to meet with the servant of God, to pray together with him, to give him something to bless him for having accepted to be our shepherd for all this period,” he said. The Venerable Canon Peter Oloya, chairman of the House of Clergy and the organising committee for the visit, said preparations were underway, while appealing for financial and material support from Christians and well-wishers.
“If a shepherd cannot bring his feet into your compound, then you should know that you are not blessed,” Oloya said, describing the Archbishop’s visit as an opportunity for the faithful to receive his blessing.
Kaziimba’s retirement will set the stage for a leadership transition in the Church of Uganda, with his final pastoral engagements offering an opportunity for dioceses across the country to reflect on his tenure before he leaves office in March 2027-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
