Politicians from different political shades yesterday joined thousands of Christians in Uganda to celebrate 100 years of Lubaga Cathedral.
In the midst of an election campaign, the various politicians sought to show their allegiance to the Catholic Church in a country where nine out of ten people subscribe to a religion.
President Museveni, who has often confessed that he rarely attends Church, made an unannounced appearance at the celebrations, where he urged people to combine prayer with work.
Fredrick Albert Mukungu, an independent candidate for Entebbe Municipality, commended the Catholic Church for its significant contributions to development programmes aimed at enhancing the lives of Christians and Ugandans nationwide.
Speaking to Bbegmedia on the sidelines of the centenary celebrations marking 100 years of Lubaga Cathedral, Mukungu thanked the church for being a key partner in establishing development projects that have transformed the lives of many people.
“This is evident in the schools, banks, hospitals, universities, and other initiatives that are vital to the economic progress of our country,” Mukungu said.
He also praised Buganda for donating the land on which Lubaga Cathedral stands. Mukungu extended his gratitude to the church for effectively utilising this land to expand Christianity, promote education, and provide healthcare services to the sick.
He said the celebrations were a symbol of unity for Christians and Ugandans, transcending political, tribal, religious, and national divides, with attendees coming from within Uganda and beyond.
Walter Lubega Mukaaku of the Democratic Front also welcomed the celebrations, emphasising their significance as the 2026 elections approach.
He urged Ugandans and Christians to unite in electing faithful, transparent, and trustworthy leaders who will combat dictatorship, corruption, sectarianism, abuse of the rule of law, and human rights violations, following the example of Jesus Christ.
Eugenia Nassolo, a National Unity Platform (NUP) parliamentary candidate for Lubaga South, expressed gratitude to God for the opportunity to celebrate the centenary.
The cathedral was filled with congregants from various parishes, while others celebrated from the surrounding grounds. The event was spiced by performances from the police band and various choirs.
Before the celebrations, Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere officially opened a multimillion-shilling car park to accommodate vehicles for worshippers, enhancing accessibility for the congregation.
