President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has congratulated the Catholic community in Uganda on marking 100 years of St. Mary’s Cathedral Rubaga, commending the Church for its role in shaping the nation’s moral, social and educational foundations.
Addressing thousands of faithful gathered at Rubaga Hill for the centenary celebrations, President Museveni praised Christianity for complementing Africa’s traditional values, saying it deepened spiritual concepts like resurrection, forgiveness and moral discipline.
“When Christianity came, it added value to our heritage. We Africans already believed in God, but Christianity strengthened ideas like resurrection and forgiveness,” he said.
Rubaga Cathedral is Uganda’s oldest and most historic Catholic church. It was consecrated in 1925 and has since served as the mother church of the Kampala Archdiocese, nurturing priests, promoting education, and contributing to social development across the country.
True Christianity Means Work
In a characteristically reflective message, Museveni urged believers to embrace a form of Christianity grounded in hard work and self-reliance rather than dependence.
“I disagree with the teaching that compares us to birds that neither sow nor reap. My advice is to follow the parable of the talents and St. Paul’s message. ‘Whoever does not work, should not eat.’ Work hard, get out of poverty, and support your families, the Church and the State. That is true Christianity,” he emphasized.
He encouraged Ugandans to view faith as a force that inspires productivity and nation-building, noting that laziness and dependency contradict biblical teachings on stewardship and responsibility.
A Century of Faith and Resilience
Rubaga Cathedral’s history is as rich as it is symbolic. Construction of the current red-brick structure began in 1914 and was completed in 1925, built on land that once hosted the palace of Kabaka Muteesa I of Buganda.
According to Fr. Yves Tourigny’s book St. Mary’s Cathedral Lubaga, the current building is the seventh church to stand on Rubaga Hill. The six earlier churches, constructed between 1891 and 1914, were destroyed by religious conflicts, earthquakes and fires, a testament to the perseverance of the Catholic faith in Uganda.
Over the past century, Rubaga Cathedral has stood as a beacon of hope, a center for evangelization, and a hub for education and social transformation, producing generations of clergy, teachers, and leaders who continue to shape the moral fabric of the nation.
Celebrating the Journey Ahead
As the celebrations marked a century of faith, unity, and resilience, President Museveni reiterated his appreciation to the Catholic community for partnering with government in education, healthcare and social welfare.
“Congratulations on this milestone. Let us continue working together to build a morally upright, self-reliant and prosperous Uganda,” he said.
The event was attended by clergy, government officials, cultural leaders, and thousands of pilgrims from across the country, all gathered to honor a century of faith and the enduring legacy of St. Mary’s Cathedral Rubaga.
