Church in Uganda Preparing for First Ever Virtual Installation of Archbishop

Canon law provides that unless lawfully impeded, a Cleric who is promoted to the office of diocesan Bishop, "must take canonical possession of his diocese within four months of receiving the apostolic letters. If he is already consecrated, he must take possession within two months of receiving the apostolic letters." 

The guests will include representatives of the Clergy, men and women religious, the lay faithful including political and civil leaders. The choir will be limited to a few people to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19.

In an interview with Ugandan local media, Mbarara Archdiocese media relations Director, Fr. Charles Mutabaruka called upon other Christians and well-wishers to follow the function on TV, radio and social media. 

The media relations director explained that the installation is expected to have two phases. 

"There is the canonical one, in which the Archbishop will take possession of the Archdiocese, sometimes called installation. This is what will happen on Saturday,” Fr. Mutabaruka said.

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He added, “The second phase shall be more social and pastoral, where the entire Christian community in the Archdiocese, province and the country shall welcome and congratulate the Archbishop. Because of the COVID-19 lockdown, such an event shall be organized at an opportune time in future.”

Bishop Bainomugisha's virtual installation as Archbishop will not be the first in the world. It will be the 24^th in the Catholic Church since the coronavirus pandemic restrictions began, Uganda’s New Vision has reported.

Since April 1, Pope Francis has made 90 appointments of Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops. Of these, eight bishops have been ordained with less than 100 people in physical attendance.

Ugandan media reports that nine Prelates have also been installed in a ‘scientific' ceremony globally so far, out of the 13 scheduled between April and June. These included one Cardinal, four Archbishops and eight Bishops. Two of these, (Archbishop Jean Patric Iba- Ba of Libreville, Gabon and Bishop Peter Ebele Okpaleke of Ekwulobia, Nigeria) are from Africa.

A Cleric of Mbarara, the Archbishop-elect Bainomugisha was born on July 12, 1961 at Kashumba, Bukanga (present-day Isingiro district) in Uganda and ordained a priest on July 13, 1991.

In July 2005, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Mbarara Diocese and ordained in October 2005. In November 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Apostolic Administrator of Uganda’s Hoima Diocese after the death of Bishop Deogratias Byabazaire, where he served until Bishop Vincent Kirabo was installed as new Bishop. On April 25, Pope Francis appointed him the Archbishop of Mbarara.

Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.