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Church in Uganda Mourns Bishop Who Recently Advised Government to Postpone Elections

Late Bishop John Baptist Kaggwa.

The people of God in Uganda are mourning Bishop John Baptist Kaggwa who passed on Wednesday, January 20 at the age of 77.

Bishop Kaggwa’s death was announced by the Chairman of the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC), Bishop Joseph Anthony Zziwa of Uganda’s Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese.

Bishop Kaggwa was at the helm of Uganda’s Masaka Diocese from January 1998 to April 2019 when he retired. 

In a separate message sent to the Uganda Radio Network, the Chancellor of Masaka Diocese, Fr. Edward Ssekabanja, says Bishop Kaggwa’s death was as a result of a “long illness.”

Before his appointment as the Local Ordinary of Masaka Diocese, the late Ugandan-born Prelate had served as the Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese for a period of three years. 

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He was ordained a Priest in December 1971.

During his 25th Episcopal Ordination anniversary in June last year, Bishop Kaggwa advised the Ugandan government to consider postponing the 2021 general elections as aspiring candidates were not allowed to hold open-air campaigns in accordance with the Electoral Commission’s  directives .

The Electoral Commission's directives were in line with the COVID-19 guidelines of social distancing. 

“How will I vote without seeing my candidate? My opinion is that if we cannot have the usual campaigns, let the government extend the elections for two years so that people can freely choose their new leaders without the current restrictions,” Bishop Kaggwa said during the 24 June 2020 celebration.

In the January 20 statement, the Chairman of UEC indicates that funeral arrangements for the late Bishop “will be communicated later.”

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Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.