There was excitement in Masindi Kitara Diocese on Friday after news filtered in that the area bishop, Stanley Ntagali, has been elected Archbishop of the Church of Uganda.
The House of Bishops on Friday elected Ntagali, who Bishop of Masindi-Kitara Diocese for eight years, as the 8th archbishop, taking over from His Grace Henry Luke Orombi.Ntagali is to be installed as Archbishop on December 16, 2012. Early this year, Archbishop Orombi announced that he was retiring two years early to concentrate on full time evangelism.
Shortly after midday when the announcement was made at the Archbishop’s palace in Namirembe, Kampala, groups of people from in and around Masindi town stormed the diocesan headquarters in Bulyasojo, Masindi municipality, to join the staff in celebration.
Songs of praise were sang at the diocese as several groups came in one after another in celebration of Ntagali’s ascension to the highest position in the Anglican Church in Uganda.
Everse Kabagabu Ssenyonga, the Masindi Kitara diocesan Mothers Union coordinator, could not hide her excitement as she spoke to URN on phone.
Kabagabu says news of Ntagali’s election took them by surprise as they did not expect it. The Mothers Union coordinator, however, attributed this to Ntagali’s trust in God and the endless prayers his flock has been dedicating to him since the retreat started.
Meanwhile in the neighboring Bunyoro Kitara Diocese the mood is as usual. At the time URN visited the diocesan headquarters in Duhaga, the staff appeared a bit quiet. The diocesan secretary, Canon Sam Kahuma, said he was not aware of Bishop Ntagali’s election.
Canon Kahuma said he was yet to get an official communication. He however added that as Church of Uganda, they are to work with anyone God will have appointed regardless of tribe or region.
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Meanwhile John Kyamanywa, a member of laity at All Saints Church in Hoima town, says his prayers had been dedicated to Bishop Nathan Kyamanywa of Bunyoro Kitara diocese. Without commenting further Kyamanywa said he is not happy with the outcome.
The Archbishop-elect was born in Ndorwa County in Kabale District in 1955, but shifted with his family to Wambabya Parish in Kizirafumbi Sub-county in Hoima District when he was 16 years old. In December 1974, at the age of 19, he became born again.
He began working as a teacher in Wambabya Primary School, and later spent two years as a missionary in Karamoja Diocese. He did his theological training at Bishop Tucker Theological College, St. Paul’s Theological College, Limuru, Kenya, and the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies in the United Kingdom.
After serving as a missionary in Karamoja Diocese, he served the remainder of his priestly ministry in various capacities in Bunyoro-Kitara Diocese until 2002, when he was appointed Provincial Secretary
