Ugandan-Born Cleric Appointed Bishop in South Africa, Says He is “baptized and sent”

He added, “I still remain a Ugandan, but in the family of the Catholic people in South Africa. So, it is just sharing that we have come to share our faith with the people of Southern Africa.”

After receiving news of the appointment of their kinsman, Mons. Kizito, jubilation filled his native home of Wakaliga in the suburbs of Uganda’s capital, Kampala, with members of his family, neighbors and friends gathering at his ancestral home singing songs of praise, The Independent of Uganda has reported.

According to the report, Mons. Kizito’s mother, Christine Babirye Nsubuga shed tears of joy saying she felt blessed and humbled for being alive to receive the news.

Asked how he received the news of his appointment, Mons. Kizito told ACI Africa that the news was “a shock to him.”

“I was called by the Nuncio, that is, last week Friday and he said I should open my email and there would be a message from the Holy Father,” Mons. Kizito recalled and added, “and the message came, it was a shock, it was something that was with mixed feeling.”

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He continued, “I was afraid but I reflected and told the Nuncio, look, if this what has come, I trust you. I am not alone.”

He further reflected on his appointment saying, “The Church can be proud of itself. It brings out the message of being one. The church has no boundaries.”

Mons. Kizito also spoke against the recent xenophobic attacks witnessed in South Africa, saying his appointment “has come at the right time to say we the Church, we don't look at colour, we look at the person.” 

As he looks forward to his Episcopal Ordination in February, 2020 and installation as Bishop of Aliwal North diocese, he is being guided by the motto “Love one another,” which he explained, “is the summary of all our Christian calling, it touches on all the areas of the Gospel (and) of human life.”

The diocese of Aliwal North where Mons. Kizito was incardinated and later ordained priest in September 1997 is part of South Africa’s Ecclesiastical province of Eastern Cape.

Having been born in Wakaliga within the Archdiocese of Kampala in Uganda, Mons. Kizito had his basic education in his ancestral land of Uganda. While in primary school at Christian Brothers’ School and Achilet Banakaloli Brothers’ School, he enrolled as an altar server and became a youth leader at St. Mary’s Lubaga Cathedral parish.

According to a report by the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) regarding the Bishop-elect, “After a year of being in the Cathedral he joined the Order of the Servants of Mary at (OSM) in Kisonga and one year later he went to join St Augustine Major Seminary Roma Lesotho where he obtained his Cum laude Probatus degree in Philosophy.”

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.