Monsignor Lawrence Mukasa, the vicar general of the Kiyinda Mityana Diocese, has been named by Pope Francis as the new bishop of the Kasana Luwero Diocese.
Archbishop Luigi Bianco, the Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda, made the announcement.
Bishop Paul Ssemogerere, named the Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese on December 9, 2021, would be succeeded by Monsignor Mukasa, 66.
The declaration was read aloud by Monsignor Francis Xavier Mpanga, the Kasana Luwero Diocesan Administrator, at the Our Lady of Fatima Queen of Peace Cathedral in the Luwero town council.
The Nuncio wished Monsignor Mukasa well in his new role and many blessings in his pastoral work.
Additionally, he thanked Monsignor Xavier for his assistance during the episcopal see’s vacancy.
But who is the New Bishop, Monsignor Lawrence Mukasa?
The Diocese of Kiyinda-Mityana is where Monsignor Mukasa was born on March 14, 1957 in the village of Nabwiri. Between 1964 and 1969, he attended Kakindu Primary School, and between 1969 and 1970, he attended Nswanjere Preparatory Seminary.
From 1971 to 1976, he attended Kisubi Minor Seminary before transferring to National Major Seminary Katigondo Masaka to further his philosophical studies.
He enrolled in St. Mary National Seminary in Ggaba, Kampala, where he studied theology from 1981 to 1984. From 1990 to 1992, he studied church history at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
On June 24, 1984, the Bishop of Kiyinda-Mityana, Emmanuel Wamala, consecrated him as a priest at the Mwera parish.
From 1984 until 1986, Monsignor Mukasa was the vicar of the parishes of Bukalagi and Naluggi. From 1992 until 1997, he served as the spiritual leader of the National Major Seminary of Katigondo, Masaka.
Mukasa served as the parish priest of Bukalagi from 1997 to 2001 and the spiritual leader of St. Mbaaga Major Seminary in Kampala from 2001 to 2005. From 1998 to 2011, he was the commissioner of the lay apostolate.
Since 2005, he has held the position of Kiyinda Mityana’s vicar general. In January 2018, he was named vicar for the clergy.
According to canon law, Monsignor Mukasa will be ordained and installed as Bishop no later than three months after the date stated by the church.
While some Christians in the Kasana Luwero Diocese have had mixed reactions to the news of his appointment, Charles Ssebyala, the head of the laity at Our Lady of Fatima Queen of Peace Cathedral, has welcomed it and stated that the Diocese will gain from his experience and pastoral ministry.