By Jumah Kakomo
The Church of Uganda is set to celebrate a momentous occasion with the official opening of the new All Saints’ Cathedral in Kampala on November 1, 2024. The new sanctuary, designed to accommodate 5,000 worshippers, will mark its inauguration with a fully completed interior. Work on the exterior is scheduled to continue into early next year.
The project to build the new cathedral began in earnest in 2024 after a needs assessment highlighted the demand for a larger and more suitable worship space. The All Saints Cathedral Building Committee (ABC) was established to oversee the development, with significant contributions from former Archbishop Livingston Mpalanyi Nkoyoyo. Construction officially started in December 2010, and the foundation stone was laid by former Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi in February 2011.
Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Samuel Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, spoke to the media ahead of the opening ceremony, emphasizing the cathedral’s unique design, which features two galleries and a spacious layout without middle columns.
The ceremony will also include the consecration of the Bishop Elect and the ordination and installation of canons. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is scheduled to be the guest of honor, with Rt. Rev. Alfred Olwa, Bishop of Lango Diocese, delivering the guest sermon.
Rt. Hon. John Patrick Amama Mbabazi, Chairperson of the organizing committee and former Prime Minister of Uganda, revealed that the event is expected to host around 3,000 attendees, including dignitaries from both within Uganda and internationally. The budget for the inauguration is set at UGX 700 million.
Vivian Igundura, Chairperson of the building committee, reported that the construction has thus far cost UGX 18 billion. The total projected expenditure upon completion is UGX 25 billion, a significant reduction from the initial estimate of UGX 32 billion, achieved without compromising the quality of the construction.
The opening of the All Saints’ Cathedral marks a significant milestone for the Church of Uganda, promising to serve as a prominent center for worship and community events in Kampala.
