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Places of worship in Uganda

Places Of Worship

Religion in Uganda has been traced back to the mid-nineteenth century when Kabaka Muteesa 1 converted to Islam; seeing that the first foreigners always somehow ended in central Buganda.Prior to that,Ugandans were vicious devotees of the traditional African religion.Now that has changed and most people are staunch believers of what was once “foreign”religion.The most significant religious sects being: Catholic, Anglican, Islam, Pentecostal and a subtle Orthodox following. Within the city centre, their respective places of worship are:

CATHOLIC:

  1. Christ the King Church located on the cross road of Pilkington road and Kimathi avenue.There are daily masses said at 6.30am,7.00am and 1.00pm.
  2. Uganda Matyrs Basilica Namugongo situated in Kyaliwajjala in the outskirts of Kampala is both a of religious and historic significance.It is here that the 1886 holocaust occurred where young christians were massacred because of failing to denounce their faith.They are now commonly referred to as the Uganda Martyrs.
  3. St.Peter’s cathedral Nsambya.
  4. Rubaga cathedral which is situated on Rubaga one of the traditional 7 hills that made up Kampala.It is also viewed as the head quarters of the catholic church in Uganda.
  5. Our Lady Of Africa Parish Mbuya situated on Mbuya hill in Bugolobi a suburb of Kampala offers daily mass sacrifice.
  6. Our Lady and St.Jude Church Naguru is a full parish seated on Naguru hill one of the most significant hills right from the city centre.
  7. St.Augustine chapel Makerere is situated right in the heart of Makerere university.

PROTESTANT CHURCHES IN KAMPALA:

  1. All Saints cathedral founded in 1912 is the city parish of Kampala diocese and the seat of the Bishop of Kampala who is the head of the Anglican church in Uganda.
  2. St.Paul cathedral commonly known as Namirembe cathedral is seated on one of the tradtional 7 hills of kampala and was established in 1915.
  3. St.Luke parish Ntinda located in Ntinda a suburb of Kampala.
  4. St.Francis chapel Makerere situated in Makerere university right next to St.Augustine catholic chapel.
  5. St.Stephens Cnurch Of Uganda Nsambya in the police barracks of Nsambya.

ISLAM:

  1. Kibuli mosque located on Kibuli hill one of the traditional 7 hills of Kampala.It is significant as the mother mosque and ancestor of Islam in Uganda.
  2. Old Kampala mosque which was built by the Libyan government as a gift doubles as the seat to the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council which is the body that governs Islam in Uganda.
  3. Nakasero Mosque which is in the heart of the city centre.It is located on Entebbe road.

PENTECOSTAL CHURCHES IN KAMPALA: There are more than a handful of pentecostal styled churches sprawled all over the city but the main ones are:

  1. Watoto Church formerly Kampala Pentecostal Church(KPC) which is situated on Plot 87 Kampala Road.
  2. Miracle centre Rubaga which boasts of a capacity of 10,500 and claims to be the biggest auditorium in East Africa.Built at a cost of $7million,it is headed by Pastor Robert Kayanja brother to Archbishop John Sentamu of the Anglican church.
  3. Watoto Church North, situated in Ntinda in the outskirts of Kampala is a branch of Watoto Church formerly KPC.
  4. Victory church Ntinda situated along the Ntinda-Wandegeya highway.
  5. Watoto Church East: This is another branch of Watoto Church
  6. Kansanga Miracle Center:  Found in Kansanga is an off shoot of the Miracle Center Church found in Rubaga.
  7. Watoto Church South: This is located in Lubowa just off the Quality Supermarket area. It is also a branch of Watoto Church.
  8. Calvary Chapel: Located at Gadeth house opposite Mutasa Kafeero on William Street.

Then there is the Orthodox community with a following of 200,000.The Orthodox church is of sublime importance because it is in Uganda that the first Orthodox community begun to form in the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa.Their parent church is in Namungoona.