Archbishop Emeritus Paul K Bakyenga has finally been laid to rest at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral Nyamitanga in Mbarara City, on Sunday July 30, 2023.
His Grace Lambert Bainomugisha held a Requiem Mass to celebrate the life of the late Archbishop who was known for his generosity but above all, his love for Christ.
“Bakyenga fed the hungry even when he didn’t have enough bread and fish. He dared to give to everyone. He not only fed their bodies, he also fed their souls. He was a good shepherd and you were a good flock to him,” Bainomugisha said.
He also said that he religiously preached the Gospel of Christ without any fear or favor.
“Like St Paul, Archbishop Bakyenga will be remembered as a preacher who spread the gospel of the Lord to multitudes, far and wide. He taught the good news of Jesus Christ with no boundaries,” Bainomugisha added.
The Vice President Jessica Alupo, who represented President Museveni said that Bakyenga was a man of God and that the country had lost such a pillar to the Catholic Church.
“On behalf of President Museveni, I joined thousands of faithful as we paid respect to Archbishop Paul Bakyenga who was laid to rest today. He taught, preached and pursued the life of Christ,” Alupo said.
According to the Vice President, Emeritus Bakyenga initiated various development projects, changed communities, which helped many people improve on their standards of living.
The Final send off was attended by thousands of people and government officials like the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa and the Minister of Internal Affairs, Gen Kahinda Otafire, among others.
The Life lived by Paul Bakyenga
The now late Paul Kamuza Bakyenga, is a man that dedicated 50 years of his life to the priesthood, serving as a priest for 52 years and as a bishop for 34 years.
He was born on June 30, 1944, in Bumbaire Village, Igara sub-county, in the present-day Bushenyi District-the Western Region of Uganda, to Sipiriano Kamuza and Maria Gakibayo.
- The 4th born of 10 children attended nursery school in the church building at Bweeza, Bushenyi District. He went on to attend Ibaare Primary School, before he joined Ibanda Preparatory Seminary from 1958 until 1960. In 1961, he joined Kitabi Seminary, where he graduated with a High School Diploma.
He taught briefly at Rushoroza Seminary, in Kabale District, and was later admitted at Katigondo Major Seminary, in Kalungu District to study philosophy. Bishop John Baptist Kakubi of Mbarara also sent him to study at St. Andrews College in Scotland, where he obtained a degree in Theology.
Archbishop Emeritus Paul K Bakyenga has been buried inside the Nyamitanga Cathedral, in Mbarara City.
