GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION

The Diocese of Masaka consists of the Districts of Masaka, Rakai, Ssembabule, Lyantonde,and Kalangala. It boarders with Tanzania in the south, comprising the whole group of the Ssese islands in lake Victoria on the eastern side, Mbarara Diocese to the west ,with Kiyinda Mityana and kampala Arch diocese boardering all the North. The area of Masaka Diocese is 10,360 sq. km. The inhabitants are mainly Baganda. But there are many immigrants of other neighboring tribes: the Bahaya from Tanzania, the Banyarwanda and Barundi from Rwanda/Burundi, and Banyankole from Ankole, and others who work and live there.

EVANGELIZATION

The work of the evangelization of Masaka, as was with almost the rest of Uganda, goes mainly to the credit of the White Fathers, Missionaries of Africa as they are called; and Archbishop Heinrich Streicher, whom always the local people used to call MUNSENNYERE STENSERA , a French Alsatian, was the leader of the pioneer group that brought the light of the Faith to Buddu. He founded the first Mission station at Bugoma, Ssese Islands, in 1889. This was later on moved to the present Bumangi Parish.
Together with Pere Gacon and Brother Victor, Pere Streicher crossed the lake to Buddu and established their first settlement at KIWALA some six miles distance from Masaka Town. They intended to found the Mission Station there.

But Divine Providence had arranged otherwise, and the Missionaries moved to the place called LUBALE (1892) which came to be known as VILLA MARIA up to the present time; and when Pere H. Streicher was consecrated Vicar Apostolic of the VICTORIA NYANZA VICARIATE, he made this Mission Station his residence though RUBAGA was the official one.

In the same year (1892) the mission station of Biikira was founded, to be followed later by Kasozi (1894), Narozaari (1900), and Nazareth (1902).

EVANGELISATION PROCESS CONTINUES STEADILY

With his stupendous foresight Msgr. H. Streitcher, among other things, first and foremost planned and started the training of some young African boys towards the priesthood. Many people looked at this move with much askance. But his efforts were duly blessed by God and the first fruits of his untiring efforts ripened on the 29th June 1913 when the late Father Basilio Lumu and Msgr. Victor Mukasa were ordained to the priesthood. This was the cradle of all the Seminaries we have not only in Uganda but also in other parts of East Africa.

Again with the same foresight Msgr. H. Streicher in close cooperation with Mother Mechtilde, a White Sister, laid the foundation stone of the first congregation of Religious Women on the continent of Africa, the Bannabikira, Daughters of Mary. This Congregation has its Motherhouse at Bwanda, Masaka Diocese, with a membership of 661 professed Sisters. The same Congregation achieved the ?Decoretum Laudis? status in 1958.

There is an incident worth mentioning. When the then Pere Streicher and his companions left Kiwala to found the mission station of Villa Maria, the big cross which marked the station of Kiwala, was transplanted to Kitovu, which was in due course to be the Cathedral Parish of the first African Bishop of modern times. This precious souvenir can be seen at Kitovu mounted on a brick stand in the lawn of the left side of the Cathedral Church.

In the year 1933 Msgr. Streicher proposed to the Holy see the division of the Vicariate of Uganda into two, one to be known as Rwenzori Vicariate which was entrusted to Msgr. F.X. Lacoursiere, and the other to remain as the Vicariate of Uganda.

In the same year Msgr. Streicher tendered for his resignation, which was duly accepted by the Holy See on the 1st June, and he was made an Archbishop. He was succeeded by his Co-adjutor Bishop E. Michaud as the Vicar apostolic of the Vicariate of Uganda, while a special provision was made for the District of Masaka, where Rev. Fr. Joseph Mpagi was chosen as the Vicar Delegate to visit and supervise the existing mission stations in the area, which had now been transferred to the African Clergy.

MASAKA BECOMES A SEPARATE VICARIATE

The year 1939 was to mark the beginning of a new era in the Vicariate of Uganda, when the then Pere Joseph Kiwanuka was elected and named the first Vicar Apostolic of the new Vicariate of MASAKA. He was consecrated in Rome the same year by Pope Pius XII of happy memory. As soon as he returned to Masaka he recalled Archbishop H. Streicher from Ibanda, Ankole. Archbishop Streicher readily accepted the invitation and came back and stayed with us until his death at Villa ? Maria, TARBARCA his former residence. He died on 7th June 1952. He was laid to rest in the Church of Villa Maria on 10th June, 1952. His tomb is a centre of attraction both to those who knew him in his lifetime and those who only hear of him from others. The 65 years of his untarnished priesthood were indeed years of relentless apostolic labours and daily sacrifice.

Masaka Vicariate became a Diocese In the year 1953 when the Holy See raised Uganda to the state of Hierarchy and declared it an Ecclesiastical Province with one Archbishop, Rubaga being his Metropolitan seat.

Yet another change was to come in the year 1961: His Excellency Bishop Joseph Kiwanuka was transferred from Masaka to Rubaga and named Archbishop in succession to the retiring Archbishop J. Cabana.

In Masaka Archbishop J. Kiwanuka was succeeded by, the Most Rev. Bishop Adrian K. Ddungu. His Excellency Bishop Adrian K. Ddungu was born at Ggwanda (Ssango), Nazareth parish, Masaka Diocese, on the 15th July 1923. He made his Primary Studies at Nkoni and Kyamaganda. He joined the Minor Seminary of Bukalasa in 1939. After the six years of the Minor Seminary training, he joined the Major Seminary of Katigondo in 1945; and before the end of that same year he was selected by Bishop J. Kiwanuka to go to Rome for further studies at the Pontifical College of the Propagation of the Faith. He was ordained Priest on 20th December 1952. He was consecrated Bishop on 18th March 1962, by the same Archbishop J. Kiwanuka his predecessor.

Bishop Adrian K. Ddungu served dedicatedly for 33 years. In the year 1988, 15th December, Bishop Henry Ssentongo was appointed auxiliary bishop of Masaka diocese. Rt.Rev. Henry Ssentongo was born on 30th Novemnber 1936 at Villa Maria. He was ordained priest on 21st December 1963.He was ordained Bishop on 18th march 1988 at Kitovu cathedral. On the 30th of March 1992, Bishop Ssentongo was appointed Bishop of Moroto Diocese.

Bishop Adrian K. Ddungu was succeeded by Rt. Rev. John Baptist Kaggwa who is now the Ordinary of Masaka Diocese. Bishop J.B. Kaggwa was born at Bulenga in Busega parish in the Arch diocese of Kampala on 22nd March 1943.He was ordained priest 12th December 1971 in Lubaga cathedral by the late Emmanuel cardinal Nsubuga. Nominated Co-Adjutor Bishop of Masaka on Holy Thursday 13th April 1995. Ordained Bishop on 24th June 1995 at Kitovu cathedral by Rt.Rev.Adrian K. Ddungu assisted by His eminence Emmanuel cardinal Wamala Metropolitan of Uganda and the Rt. Rev. Paul Kalanda. He was appointed the Bishop of Masaka on 10th January 1998, enthroned on 22nd March 1998 at Villa Maria.