By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
Mbarara Archdiocese Archbishop Emeritus Paul Kamuza Bakyenga is dead.
The oratorical Bishop passed on Tuesday (July 18) morning at St. Francis Nsambya hospital Kampala where he has been hospitalized.
Born on June 30, 1944, Bakyenga has died at the age of 79yrs.
He was the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Mbarara, since 2 January 1999. Pope Francis accepted his resignation on 25 April 2020 and appointed Auxiliary Bishop Lambert Bainomugisha as the Archbishop of Mbarara Archdiocese.
Early Life
Bakyenga was born in Bumbaire, Igara Bushenyi district. He attended pre-primary school in the church building at Bweeza, Bushenyi District and Ibaare Primary School, before he joined Ibanda Preparatory Seminary from 1958 until 1960. In 1961, he joined Kitabi Seminary, where he graduated with a High School Diploma. He was admitted to Bukalasa Minor Seminary, in present-day Kalungu District for his A-Level studies but he did not complete. He was expelled, along with others, for “indiscipline”.
After teaching briefly at Rushoroza Seminary, in Kabale District, he was then admitted at Katigondo Major Seminary, in Kalungu District to study philosophy but abandoned the course after two years. At this point, Bishop John Baptist Kakubi of Mbarara, sent him to study at St Andrews College in Scotland, where he obtained a degree in Theology.
He was ordained a priest on 11 July 1971 at Mbarara at the age of 27. He served as priest in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mbarara, until 6 March 1989
As Bishop
Bakyenga was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Mbarara, Uganda on 6 March 1989. He was consecrated as bishop on 24 June 1989 at Mbarara by Bishop John Baptist Kakubi, Bishop of Mbarara, assisted by Bishop Adrian Kivumbi Ddungu, Bishop of Masaka and Bishop Serapio Bwemi Magambo, Bishop of Fort Portal.
On 23 November 1991, he succeeded as bishop of Mbarara, replacing the late Bishop John Baptist Kakubi, who resigned. He was appointed Archbishop of Mbarara on 2 January 1999 a position he held until April 25, 2020.
Life Well Lived
Bakyenga is known for growing the faith in Mbarara Archdiocese and the greater Ankole sub-region with a number of parishes consecrated under his reign. He was also a great educationist who established many catholic schools in the diocese including the only diocesan catholic university, the University of St. Joseph located in Nyamitanga Division Mbarara City among other achievements.
MAY HIS SOUL REST IN ETERNAL PEACE.
