KAMPALA – President Museveni on Sunday toured the ongoing works on the new cathedral complex at All Saints Cathedral, Nakasero in Kampala and donated Shs500m towards the completion of the new multi-million project.
The President handed over Shs50m in cash, saying he had only come with little amount because he didn’t know the magnitude of the work.
“I am going to contribute Shs500m, the Shs50m I brought cash and I am going to mobilise the remaining Shs450m which I will bring soon,” he said.
He thanked the Christians of All Saints Cathedral for working hard, saying “this Kafunda here is too small and I thank you for putting up that big church.”
He also urged the religious leaders and the Christians to engage in commercial agriculture to end poverty. He said for generations, churches have been for poor people, and challenged the Christians to change that trend.
“I urged every Christian to go for commercial farming and those of who have the means can put up small factories where they can make contributions for fighting poverty,” the President said.
Archbishop Church of Uganda Stanley Ntagali said the 5,000-seater complex is being constructed in phases, with the work expected to be completed by December this year.
“This cathedral has continued to grow over the years. We agreed that this project should be done in phases. We completed the first phase about six years ago and the current phase we started the work last year and over the last 18 months, the work has really progressed well. These Christians raised Shs5b for the construction,” he said.
The cathedral, situated on Nakasero Hill, is the headquarters of the Diocese of Kampala. The Archbishop of the Province of Church of Uganda (Anglican) is also the Diocesan Bishop.
In its 106 years of establishment, the cathedral has grown to over 6,000 worshippers, with diverse backgrounds.
The present sanctuary, which has over the years, been expanded three times, is currently packed to the brim. Plans for the current expansion commenced in 2004, under the stewardship of the then Archbishop Livingstone Nkoyoyo, with the acquisition of Plots 2, 4 and 6 on Lugard Road.
Nkoyoyo’s successor Archbishop emeritus Henry Luke Orombi was steward during deliberations in the design of the new cathedral complex.
Last year in May, Ntagali re-commissioned the continuation of the construction. The extent of the construction includes walling and two galleries in the structured reinforced concrete frame, roofing, windows and doors, a 12-floor bell and prayer tower, five chapels, and five vestries.
The new complex immersion baptistery and elevated altar will seat 100 ministers and other 70 persons.
