Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere confirmed on Thursday that Lubaga Cathedral's official name is St. Mary's Cathedral, after verifying Vatican records to resolve years of confusion over whether it should be called Sacred Heart Cathedral or St. Mary's Sacred Heart Cathedral. The prelate spoke to thousands at centenary celebrations, where President Museveni attended as the chief guest at the hilltop church built on the former palace site of Kabaka Mutesa I.
Construction began in 1914 and was completed in 1925, making it the seventh structure on Lubaga Hill, following the destruction of six earlier buildings between 1891 and 1914 by fire, earthquakes, and religious conflicts. The twin-towered Romanesque building measures 248 feet long and 63 feet wide, holds 5,000 people, and required 2.5 million bricks.
Three popes visited the cathedral, with Paul VI becoming the first pontiff to visit any African cathedral in 1969, followed by John Paul II in 1993 and Francis in 2015. The building hosted three episcopal ordinations and hundreds of priest ordinations for Kampala Archdiocese and missionary groups.
Construction began in 1914 and was completed in 1925, making it the seventh structure on Lubaga Hill, following the destruction of six earlier buildings between 1891 and 1914 by fire, earthquakes, and religious conflicts. The twin-towered Romanesque building measures 248 feet long and 63 feet wide, holds 5,000 people, and required 2.5 million bricks.
Three popes visited the cathedral, with Paul VI becoming the first pontiff to visit any African cathedral in 1969, followed by John Paul II in 1993 and Francis in 2015. The building hosted three episcopal ordinations and hundreds of priest ordinations for Kampala Archdiocese and missionary groups.
