Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga. COURTESY PHOTO.
Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, a Roman Catholic prelate who was serving as the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kampala has died at 68.
The Catholic Church confirmed his passing in a statement Saturday afternoon.
“With deep sorrow, I hereby inform you that our beloved Shepherd, the Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese, His Grace Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga has been called to the House of the Lord. The Archbishop was found dead in his room this morning. We pray that the Almighty and Merciful God may grant him eternal rest,” said Fr Pius Male Ssentumbwe in the statement.
According to media sources, Dr Lwanga was last seen in public yesterday (April 2, 2021) as he said mass at Rubaga Catholic church where he led the homily of Good Friday celebrations.
URN reported that the Archbishop also delivered a speech on Good Friday during the Ecumenical Public Way of the Cross, along side several other clergy under the Uganda Joint Christian Council-UJCC at St. Paul’s Cathedral Namirembe.
During the event, he condemned police brutality and also expressed concern over the rampant disappearance of civilians in the country.
“We are deeply concerned about the actions of some security forces in the nation to the ongoing disappearances of some of our people, especially the youth. This is brewing anger, division, fear, and anxiety within the population. It totally contravenes the human rights frameworks, to which we are signatory as a country. We are troubled that a disregard of these God-given rights and freedoms shall weaken our social fibre, from harmony and social cohesion,” he said.
The leaders included the Church of Uganda Archbishop Dr. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, and the Bishop of Namirembe Diocese Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira among others.
Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga was born at Naggalama in Mukono district formerly the Archdiocese of Kampala (but now the Diocese of Lugazi) on January 19th 1953.
For his Motto, the Archbishop often used the phrase, ‘Ora et Labora ut Habeant Vitam’ which means that, ‘Pray and work so as to have life to the full’. These words, he adopted from the Motto of St. Benedict (480 AD – 550 AD). He further stated that prayer calls for work as work is watered by prayer.
He attended Kyabakadde Primary School and in 1964, he joined Nyenga Seminary. He thereafter entered the National Major Seminary of Philosophy of Katigondo (1972-1974) and in 1974-1978, he studied Theology at the National Seminary of Ggaba.
He was ordained a priest on April 9th 1978 by the Late Cardinal Emmanuel Nsubuga of the Archdiocese of Kampala.
In 1979, he joined the University of Clermont-Ferrand (France) to study a course in administration and languages, with particular focus on administration.
He was appointed Chaplain of His Holiness in 1986. In 1994, he was awarded a Doctorate in Canon Law of the Pontifical Urban University in Rome. He was named, and installed as Bishop of the Diocese of Kasana – Luweero in 1997.
Dr. Cyprian was elected and named the new Archbishop of Kampala in August 2006.
