FULL PROFILE: John Baptist Kaggwa was a Ugandan Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop Emeritus of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Masaka, where he served as the Ordinary from 10 January 1998 until his retirement on 16 April 2019.
For a period of more than two years, from 19 December 1994 until 10 January 1998, Bishop Kaggwa served as Coadjutor Bishop of Masaka, Uganda.
Early Life of Bishop John Baptist Kaggwa?
John Baptist Kaggwa was born on 23 March 1943 at Bulenga, Busiro County, Wakiso District, in the Buganda Region of Uganda. He attended Lubaga Boys Primary School from 1952 until he completed Primary 6 in 1957. He then joined Kisubi Minor Seminary in 1958. While at Kisubi, he studied Latin. Later he studied at Katigondo Major Seminary, were he studied Philosophy.
In 1965, Archbishop Joseph Kiwanuka sent him to study at Pontifical Urban University, in Rome, on scholarship. He was ordained deacon in May 1970 in Rome. On 12 December 1971, he was ordained a priest, also in Rome, at the age of 28 years. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Canon Law and Secular Law, awarded by Pontifical Urban University.
Priesthood
Bishop John Baptist Kaggwa was ordained a priest on 12 December 1971 in Rome, at the age of 28. Following his doctoral studies, he was appointed vice-rector of the Pontifical College of St Paul, in Rome, for five years. He returned to Uganda in the 1980s and was appointed the first rector of St. Mbaaga Seminary at Ggaba.
On 19 December 1994, he was appointed the coadjutor Bishop of Masaka. He was consecrated bishop on 24 June 1995 by his predecessor, Bishop Adrian Kivumbi Ddungu. He succeeded as Bishop of Masaka, Uganda on 10 January 1998.
On 6 July 2019, Bishop John Baptist Kaggwa was the Principal Consecrator of his replacement, Bishop Serverus Jjumba as the Ordinary of Masaka Diocese. Bishop Kaggwa then retired as bishop but continues to work in the diocese as directed by Bishop Jjumba.
Following his death, several Ugandans have come out to mourn the catholic cleric.
Sadab Kitatta said, “If I am asked to write an epitaph of Bishop John Baptist Kaggwa, I may fail, not because I have nothing to write about him but the shock with which I received the news of his death. Bishop Kaggwa loved me, loved me and loved me. It’s sad! Covid-19 is real.”
Joseph Masembe noted,” Rest in Peace Bishop Kaggwa. My former Parish Priest at Christ the King and the cleric with whom my Father drunk 5 Lords Scotch Whiskey years ago . A memory I haven’t forgotten. May God grant you eternal rest.”
Buule Gabriel said, “Bishop Emeritus John Baptist Kaggwa has passed on #RIP.”
Do you have a story or an opinion to share? Email us on: [email protected] Or join the Daily Express WhatsApp channel for all the latest news and trends or join the Telegram Channel for the latest updates.
