The Ecclesiastical Province of Mbarara is mourning with shock the demise of His Grace Paul K. Bakyenga 79, the Archbishop emeritus of the province, which has taken place in the wee hours of today, July 18, 2023.
Bakyenga’s Brief Biography
Born on June 30, 1944, Paul Kamuza Bakyenga, was born in Bumbaire Village, Igara sub-county, in present-day Bushenyi District in the Western Region of Uganda.
He attended pre-primary 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, Bakyenga joined Kitabi Seminary, where he graduated with a High School Diploma.
He was admitted to Bukalasa Minor Seminary, in present-day Kalungu District for his A-Level studies which he did not complete.
Life at the Major Seminary
After teaching briefly at St. Paul’s Seminary Rushoroza, in Kabale District, Bakyenga was admitted at Katigondo National Major Seminary to study philosophy, but abandoned the course after two years. It is at this point, that Bishop John Baptist Kakubi of Mbarara, sent him to study at St Andrews College in Scotland, where he obtained a degree in Theology.
He was then ordained a priest on July 11, 1971 at Mbarara at the age of 27 where he served as priest in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mbarara, until 6 March 1989.
Episcopal life
Paul was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Mbarara, Uganda on 6 March 1989. He was consecrated as bishop on 24 June 1989 at Mbarara by Bishop John Baptist Kakubi, Bishop of Mbarara, assisted by Bishop Adrian Kivumbi Ddungu, Bishop of Masaka and Bishop Serapio Bwemi Magambo, Bishop of Fort Portal.
On 23 November 1991, Bakyenga succeeded as bishop of Mbarara, replacing the late Bishop John Baptist Kakubi, who resigned.
He was appointed first Archbishop of Mbarara on January 2, 1999, following it’s elevation to the status of Archdiocese.
His Grace Paul Bakyenga, retired on April 25, 2020 after reaching the canonical year of retirement and was succeeded by His Grace Lambert Bainomugisha as the second Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Mbarara.
