Monsignor Joseph Mugambe shares Joy of 100 Years of life and 70 of Mowing Souls for the King of the Universe

 

by Valerian Kkonde

ACCPU

 

Msgr. Joseph Mary Mugambe during Mass. Photo by Valerian Kkonde/ ACCPU

It was the perfect decision to celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King while congratulating Msgr. Joseph Mary Mugambe upon his 70^th priestly anniversary and 100 years of the gift of life.

This Solemnity, in the Roman Catholic Church, marks the end of the Liturgical Year, thus proclaiming aloud that Jesus is the King of the Universe; He is the Centre of everything. So Christ the King Parish- in the centre of Kampala- had every reason to celebrate on November 23, 2025 as it also marked 95 years of being a tent of encounter with God, and even recognise their long-serving and dedicated parishioners both living and resting in the Lord.

“According to the Baptism Register at Gayaza Catholic Parish, I was born on December 5, 1925,” says Msgr. Mugambe in his reflections on this tremendous journey of winning souls for the King of the Universe.

 

How can I repay the Lord’s goodness to me? Some of the gifts brought to the Altar. Photo by Valerian Kkonde/ ACCPU

Born to the Catechist, Peter Kabbankolo and the Sacristan Mary Nakayima in Gayaza, Msgr. Mugambe recounts that it was, the now Servant of God, Msgr. Aloysius Ngobya who presided over the Holy Mass when he completed his first religious instructions.

“I still remember well telling me to be firm in the faith. And when I reached home, I asked my mother and brothers whether they had heard what the priest had told me.

My mother responded that she, together with my father, had dedicated me to God. She kept repeating these words from time to time and they stuck in my mind.”

Indeed the call to priesthood kept ringing aloud and in 1942, together with 41 companions, he joined St. Joseph’s Seminary Nyenga. That was after P.5 in St. Peter’s Nsambya. He had studied P.1 to P. 4 in Gayaza. While in Nyenga they studied Mathematics, Geography, Latin, English and Science.

 

The choir animating the Mass. Photo by Valerian Kkonde/ ACCPU

“Being obedient and interested in learning from our European formators played a key role in my success.”

Academics aside, Mugambe learnt to mow grass and even taught himself to use the mowing machine to the great delight of his Rector. This he has done in many places where he has worked as a priest. Talk of holistic formation.

    “Through your ministry, countless souls have been touched, comforted and inspired to grow closer to God. Thank you for being such a steadfast shepherd, teacher of faith and a living witness to God’s grace”- Daughters of St. Paul

 

In 1949 he joined St. Mary’s Major Seminary Ggaba. They were five from the number that had started the formation in Nyenga, but were joined by one companion from Kenya.

On October 2, 1955 Bishop Vincent Billington ordained Joseph Mary Mugambe a priest in Nsambya. The thanksgiving Mass was at the Parish in Gayaza.

As a priest, the first appointment was in the present day Jinja Catholic diocese. He was posted in St. Joseph Parish which is the present day Cathedral, for two years, and then moved to Kiyunga. He also worked in Kabimbiri and Nkokonjeru which are in present day Lugazi diocese. Nsambya and Our Lady of St. Jude Naggulu have too experienced his zeal for the priestly ministry.

 

A section of the congregation. Photo by Valerian Kkonde/ ACCPU

From September 9, 1994 to date, Msgr. Mugambe has been a zealous and exemplary priest in the capital city Kampala- Christ the King Parish. Today he is confined to the wheelchair and bed and is assisted by a nurse; he has indeed accepted to diminish while Christ the King increases.

“Msgr. Mugambe Joseph has lived and served here at Christ the King Parish for the last thirty one years which is 45% of his seventy years in the priestly Ministry. This community has been blessed by your presence and service especially in the confessional box.

In your life story you indicate that you were very gifted in taking care of compounds and beautifying them: in Nyenga Seminary, Ggaba Seminary and Namugongo Martyrs Shrine,” the Parish Priest Msgr. Gerald Kalumba complimented the Centenarian.

 

Media apostles, the Daughters of St. Paul, were part of the congregation. Photo by Valerian Kkonde/ACCPU

“Here at Christ the King Parish you have mowed the souls of many of us and made them beautiful before the Lord. You have been so devoted and dedicated and the confessional box is the landmark of your stay at Christ the King. It is a pleasure and gratification to be remembered for doing the work for which you were ordained.”

Msgr. Kalumba praised and thanked the nurse, Isaac Magomu for “being brave and courageous, and for supporting Msgr. Mugambe with dignity and honour.” He complimented Msgr. Mugambe for discipline and hard work. He said that Msgr. would have breakfast, and work the whole day without lunch. He added that this made the other priests to ensure that they are around for supper so as to give him company.

In his homily, the Archbishop of Kampala Paul Ssemogerere pointed out that Pope Pius II instituted the Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe in 1925 in response to the secularism that was rampant. He invited us to honour Christ because He loved us and came to serve us.

 

Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere congratulates Msgr. Mugambe with a gift. Photo by Valerian Kkonde/ACCPU

“Christ’s kingship is rooted in the cross. It is on the cross that He saves us and defeats death. On the cross the thief recognised His Kingship and on behalf of other sinners, he pleads for mercy. This reminds us that Christ’s Kingship is of mercy and forgiveness. It is different from the kingdoms of giving orders and commands.”

The Archbishop urged the faithful to take courage like the thief on the cross, to go to Jesus because the whole of humanity is weak and sinful. He told them to embrace Christ’s qualities of compassion, integrity and service.

“Christ the King invites us to embrace service rooted in love for others.”

At the time when Msgr. Mugambe came to Christ the King Parish, the Archbishop was the parish priest. When he was chosen as Bishop for Kasana- Luweero Catholic diocese in 2008, it was Msgr. Mugambe who presented him to the ordaining Bishop.

“Msgr. Mugambe left me in Kasana- Luweero but I later found him here again.”

 Msgr. Mugambe with the priests. Photo by Valerian Kkonde/ACCPU

The Archbishop referred to Msgr. Mugambe as a very disciplined and obedient priest. He added that even if he is in pain, he will never complain. He too thanked Isaac Magomu, the caretaker, for a job well-done.

“Whenever there is work to do, he will simply say that if the Parish Priest says that I do that, I will do it. And he will do it obediently. That is a very good example to us as priests and religious. When I arrived this morning, I asked him what he would want me to do for him and he said that I should join him to thank God for the one hundred years.

We pray that God keeps you going.”

 

Msgr. Mugambe with family members. Photo by Valerian Kkonde/ACCPU

Spicing up the day, the Archbishop remarked that he knows Msgr. Mugambe as a priest who loves eating cakes and drinking Coca Cola. But that God has spared him the diabetes challenge, adding that he is as old as the St. Mary’s Cathedral Lubaga. Centenary celebrations of the Cathedral were held on October 26, 2025.

Among those inspired by Msgr. Mugambe’s priestly ministry were his younger brothers and sister. Sister Maria Redemptor Namugambe (RIP) joined the Mary Reparatrix Congregation - Ggogonya and rests there. Emilio Ssenkubuge (RIP) too joined the seminary but did not make it to priesthood, but his two daughters: Sr. Flora Jude Namugambe and Sr. Clare Thaddeus Nabikolo followed their paternal aunt to the Mary Reparatrix Congregation. Fr. John Chrysostom Luyambi died while working in Kiyinda- Mityana diocese and is buried there.

Msgr. Mugambe is further grateful to the Lord for other priests who proudly refer to him as their inspiration to priesthood. Msgr. Richard Kayondo, the Vicar General of Lugazi diocese, and Fr. Professor Chrysostom Maviiri also of Lugazi diocese are some of the priests he inspired. More so, he says that he baptised the latter in 1957!

 

Msgr. Mugambe with his nieces Sr. Clare Nabikolo and Sr. Flora Namugambe. Younger sisters with grey hair are to his sides. Photo by Valerian Kkonde/ACCPU

Sr. Clare Thaddeus Nabikolo threw the congregation into a bout of laughter when she revealed that at her time of celebrating 25 years in religious life, she came and invited her uncle to join the family in the celebrations. She narrated how Msgr. Mugambe replied that the Christians will come for confession while he was away, and turned down the invitation.

No one can doubt the Lord’s goodness to His faithful priest and for granting him his prayer which is drawn from Psalm 27:4

“There is one thing I ask of the LORD, only this do I seek: to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD to inquire at his temple.”

Msgr. Mugambe is not forgetful of the parishioners and the priests he continues to work with. His former Parish Priest- the Archbishop of Kampala- His Grace Paul Ssemogerere as well as the current one Msgr. Kalumba Gerald are highly appreciated. Even before speaking, the

Fr. Frederick Kiwanuka shows the congregation one of the thrones made by Msgr. Mugambe. Photo by Valerian Kkonde/ACCPU

Centenarian embodies gratitude, contentment, happiness and a life well lived. The memory is very stable, the eye sight and voice are all clear; more reasons to glorify the name of the Lord.

“In my time of illness, the Lord gave me a young man Isaac Magomu, who has looked after me so devotedly. He is my nurse twenty-four hours. God gave him to me as a gift. I am ever grateful. Thank you so much, Isaac.”

It is worth pointing out that Msgr. Mugambe also embodies resilience and faith; he is the priest who by his body language, words and actions speaks of firmness in his conviction and trust.

True to his pastoral zeal, when asked to address the congregation, Msgr. Mugambe talked about one of the enduring acts of ensuring that Christ reigns in the hearts of the people he is shepherding, that he is leaving the faithful.

 

Msgr. Mugambe addressing the congregation as Isaac Magomu holds the microphone. Photo by Valerian Kkonde/ACCPU

The inspiration of making thrones for the Ostansorium whenever the Holy Eucharist is displayed for veneration and praises, came about when Pope Francis visited the country in 2015.

“I was one of the people who met the Pope in Lubaga Cathedral. At the end of the meeting I stayed behind while others went out. My mind was on the chair the Pope had used. But I was sad because the chair looked too ordinary to fit the successor of St. Peter. I went and kissed it.

Later I got inspired to come up with a chair that would fit the glory of the King of the Universe; at least something that would bring out something similar to that. I got a pen and started sketching the throne that had been drawn in my mind,” Msgr. Mugambe narrated to the attentive congregation.

Behind all this was the burning desire to help fellow priests and all the faithful to know more and praise God better. Bringing out the majesty of the King of the Universe was an assignment that he had to accomplish with perfection.

 

A section of the congregation. Photo by Valerian Kkonde/ACCPU

The great surprise that Msgr. Joseph Mugambe met was that when he went out to get a carpenter to design the throne, the person he approached was a Muslim but that he perfectly brought the idea to life!

Msgr. Gerald Kalumba supported the project and the Centenarian then took it upon himself to contact the priest in charge of Liturgy in the Archdiocese. He too approved the project and what remained was getting the nod of the Archbishop who at that time was the late Cyprian Kizito Lwanga.

That the Archbishop immediately told him to make thrones for all the Parishes in the Archdiocese was proof that the project was indeed a divine undertaking. There is no further proof of this other than the request by two other dioceses to have thrones made for them.

Once the frame of the throne is completed, Msgr. Mugambe then goes out to look for materials to adorn it. This he does himself. At the end of the day, it is indeed a throne befitting the King of the Universe. The Wisdom of the King of the Universe guides his actions and decisions.

 

Msgr. Joseph Mary Mugambe blessing the congregation. Photo by Valerian Kkonde/ ACCPU

 Msgr. Mugambe’s words may at one time skip the memory of his parishioners but the thrones for the Divine Master to meet His people in the Sacrament of the Altar will have a lasting effect just like the Sacraments he has administered.

“I thank God for all the gifts in my priestly ministry. May He bless all the people who have come into my life all these years, more so this Community of Christ the King. God bless you all abundantly. AMEN.”

 

Caritas Uganda Roots for less Privileged Children through Local Fundraising

 

by Valerian Kkonde
ACCPU               

 

Some of Caritas Uganda staff at their office in Nsambya- Catholic Secretariat. Photo by Valerian Kkonde/ ACCPU

“A swift adoption of diversified fundraising strategies and broad engagement of grassroots givers can help ensure stability while creating a stronger base for future cultivation.”

That is the advice of Paul Clolery having noted a decrease in both the number of donors and dollars given across all donor types during the first quarter of 2023. This advice is aimed at countries like Uganda which are heavily dependent on donor- funding.

For Caritas Uganda, almost 100% depending on external donors and having no back-up plans when the donor taps run dry, this is a word to the wise.

Caritas Uganda is a Commission of the Uganda Episcopal Conference. It is the social services development and charitable arm of the Catholic Church. Caritas’ four priorities are: “Demand Truth and Accountability, Pursue Justice, Educate and Mobilize, and Strengthen People’s Participation.”

In order to remain relevant to its mission and mandate of caring for the needy members of the community, Caritas Uganda has come up with a program known as Childcare and Emergency Relief Program (CERP). CERP enables flexible funding to help Caritas Uganda respond to the food, education and health needs of the orphaned and vulnerable children, adolescent youths, and the sick and the elderly and offer real time response to the emergencies that occur in Uganda.

Such emergencies include famine, floods, wars, landslides and drought to mention a few.

“This program offers an opportunity to each and every person or organisation, in and outside Uganda, with an interest of supporting children and emergencies in Uganda, to make a free contribution to this cause,” points out Rosemary the Coordinator of the program.

According to UNICEF 2023 study, Uganda is home to over 900,000 child refugees and asylum seekers who have fled conflict or persecution from South Sudan, the DRC and Burundi. In the same year, the UNHCR study revealed that 2,207 people died of hunger in Karamoja region as a result of long dry spells. This led to acute famine.

Uganda continues to face major challenges in providing quality and accessible basic education to children and adolescents. The UNICEF study further revealed that only one of four children who start Primary School attends Secondary schools. There are a number of factors responsible for this.

Environmental crisis. The Church's prophetic voice is needed in these turbulent times. 
Photo by Valerian Kkonde/ACCPU

The global economic outlook remains fragile amidst a highly challenging environment and uncertainties. The wars in Ukraine, Gaza, Myanmar, Sudan, and many other parts of the world occupied with pandemics like COVID-19, recurrent epidemics like Ebola, the increasing state of HIV/AIDS of which globally 38 million people are still living with HIV.

According to the UN 2020 report, 25.4 million people are now on treatment and 12.6 million people are still waiting.

The new waves of natural disasters including floods, earthquakes, cyclones and droughts have reversed years of global progress across many years of sustainable development including poverty, healthcare and education affecting particularly women and children in developing countries

A new report by the World Bank found that in 2020 alone, the global extreme poverty rate rose from 8.4 per cent to 9.3 per cent as the pandemic drove 70 million more people into extreme poverty.

The areas targeted through this program include Education of the orphaned and vulnerable children, Food emergency and relief response to children in families hit by natural calamities and war, as well as Children and teens spiritual and psychosocial support.

Other areas targeted are Nutrition for children and breastfeeding mothers, Relief for children living with disabilities, and Skilling children living with disabilities and their caretakers. Health care for orphaned and vulnerable children as well as Child protection and safeguarding are also to be catered for.

According to Rosemary, the Coordinator of the Program, those interested in supporting this cause can contact Caritas Uganda at the Uganda Catholic Secretariat in Nsambya.

Fundraising strategies include direct bank standing orders, organizing a run and selling kits countrywide as well as organizing a dinner. Emergency appeals will also be made whenever national or regional disasters strike.

Keeping the young in school is a crucial battle for Uganda’s future. Photo by Valerian Kkonde/ACCPU

During the Lenten Season, bags will be sent out countrywide so that people can make their Lenten savings from Ash- Wednesday to Palm Sunday. Individuals who may want to make direct sponsorship for orphaned children and those without a family able to support them in their education are also welcome. Direct sponsorship requires recommendation by the LC1, Catechists and Parish Priests. For those at university level, the Bishop’s recommendation will have to be added.

With increasing levels of poverty and rampant disasters, Caritas Uganda’s drive to bring hope and dignity to the less privileged children should be given the necessary support. It is a crucial battle for Uganda’s future. Through such support to the vulnerable we can all look to a future where sustainable peace and development are assured.

 

 

Pope Leo XIV tells the World that Defeating Hunger is the Path to Peace

 By Linda Bordoni

Pope Leo XIV visits the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome to mark World Food Day and the 80th anniversary of the organization’s founding. In his address he reaffirms the Holy See’s closeness to the institution and calls for a shared global commitment to end hunger and malnutrition.

Sandwiched between the Caracalla Baths, the Aventine Hill and the Circus Maximus and the high Roman ideals they represent, the FAO headquarters in Rome is a microcosm that represents the world. Its mission to defeat hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition in a sustainable way, upholding the dignity of every human being, resonates in a world where conflict, the climate crisis, forced migration and a widening gap between the rich and poor, cast doubt on the goodwill of the international community to place the human person above profit in the name of justice and peace.

That’s what Pope Leo XIV did on Thursday morning when he addressed a star-studded audience of UN and world leaders and goodwill ambassadors gathered at FAO to mark World Food Day and the organisation’s 80th anniversary.

 “We cannot be content with proclaiming values; we must embody them,” he said, calling for a renewed ethical foundation: “Slogans do not lift people from misery. We must place the human person above profit and guarantee food security, access to resources, and sustainable rural development.”

His visit, in the footsteps of all his predecessors starting with Pope Paul VI in 1970, provided him with the occasion to renew the Holy See’s long-standing support for the UN agency and to urge the international community to redouble its efforts to eradicate hunger, malnutrition, and food insecurity — evils he described as “a moral wound that afflicts the whole human family.”

Pope Leo XIV at FAO   (@VaticanMedia)

“Whoever suffers from hunger is my brother”

Choosing to speak both in Spanish and in English, the Pope said that the fight against hunger “is not only a political or economic task but a profoundly human and moral duty.”

“Whoever suffers from hunger is not a stranger,” he said. “He is my brother, and I must help him without delay.”

He recalled that eighty years after the FAO’s creation, millions of people still lack adequate food and nutrition.

“Ending these evils,” he said, “requires the contribution of all: governments, institutions, civil society, and every individual person.”

A collective moral failure

Citing current data that show over 673 million people go to bed hungry and 2.3 billion lack a nutritious diet, the Pope said these are not abstract numbers but “broken lives and mothers unable to feed their children.”

He denounced “an economy without a soul” and a system of resource distribution that leaves vast populations in misery, calling the persistence of hunger in an age of abundance “a collective moral failure and a historical fault.”

“Food must never be a weapon”

Pope Leo expressed deep concern that food is once again being used as a weapon of war, calling this a “cruel strategy that denies men, women, and children their most basic right — the right to life.”

Recalling the UN Security Council’s past condemnation of starvation as a war crime, he lamented that “this consensus seems to have faded.” The silence of those dying of hunger, he said, “cries out in the conscience of humanity,” urging all nations to act decisively.

“Hunger is not humanity’s destiny but its downfall,” the Pope said. “It is not just a problem to be solved; it is a cry that rises to heaven.”

Pope Leo with FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu   (@Vatican Media)

An ethical vision of politics

The Pope did not neglect to reaffirm a concept that was dear to his predecessor, Pope Francis, who never tired of pointing out that to throw food away means to throw people away.

He too condemned the waste of food while others starve, and urged world leaders to end “outrageous paradoxes” and to “awaken from the lethargy that dulls our compassion.”

“Water is life, water is food”

Referring to this year’s World Food Day theme, the Pope said the message — “Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind” — calls all people to act together.

“At a time marked by division and indifference, unity through cooperation is not just an ideal but a duty,” he said. “Only by joining hands can we build a future in which food security is a right, not a privilege.”

He paid special tribute to women, whom he described as “the silent architects of survival, the first to sow hope and the careful stewards of creation.” Recognizing their contribution, he said, is “not only a matter of justice, but a guarantee of a more humane and lasting food system.”

Renewing multilateral cooperation

Pope Leo reaffirmed the importance of multilateralism and dialogue among nations, urging that the voices of the poor be heard directly. “We must build a vision that allows every actor in the international community to respond effectively to the genuine needs of those we are called to serve,” he said.

He also made a heartfelt appeal for the many peoples suffering hunger and violence in Ukraine, Gaza, Haiti, Afghanistan, Mali, the Central African Republic, Yemen, and South Sudan, insisting that “the international community cannot look the other way.”

“Give them something to eat”

Ending his address, the Holy Father quoted Jesus’ words to His disciples, “Give them something to eat” (Mk 6:37).  This Gospel command, he added, “remains a pressing challenge for the international community.”

“Do not tire of asking God,” he concluded, “for the courage and the energy to work for a justice that will yield lasting and beneficial results. You can always count on the solidarity of the Holy See and of the entire Church, which stands ready to serve the poorest and most disadvantaged throughout the world.”

Pope Leo signs book of honour at FAO   (@Vatican Media)

 

Catholic priest calls for ‘forgiveness’ hoping ceasefire really will end war in Gaza

 Maria Lozano, Nathalie Raffray  

HOLY LAND -   14th October 2025                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Father Gabriel Romanelli during the mass at Holy Family Church in Gaza (Image: © Holy Family Church Gaza)

A PARISH priest who defied evacuation demands to leave Gaza City has called on his flock to “forgive all those who have failed”, as he hopes the ceasefire will bring an end to this “atrocious war”.

A ceasefire in Gaza took effect on Friday (10th October) after Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of the 20-point peace plan brokered by Donald Trump, with the next phases still to be negotiated.

In his Sunday address in the Holy Family Catholic Church, Gaza City, Father Gabriel Romanelli said: “This ceasefire, God willing, will become the end of this atrocious war.”

He added: “The long-awaited day has come to begin the implementation of the peace process or peace agreement… May God, in his goodness, grant the Holy Land – and particularly this part of the Holy Land, which is Palestine, Israel – that we may begin to live in peace, in justice, in reconciliation.

Fr Romanelli expressed his profound gratitude and hope following the first Sunday without bombing.

During the Mass, the priest invited parishioners to give thanks to God for their enduring faith and to participate in an act of reconciliation and forgiveness, inspired by the teachings of Pope Saint John Paul II. 

He said: “To forgive all those who, voluntarily or involuntarily, have failed, and ask forgiveness for our own shortcomings”.

At least 57 members of the Christian community have died during the war, including those who died while sheltering in the Catholic compound and the neighbouring Orthodox parish. 

Fr Romanelli e said: “War destroys everything, but we also experienced good things: solidarity and generosity, even in the most adverse conditions.” 

Invoking the words of Fr Werenfried van Straaten, founder of Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need Fr Romanelli said: “Human beings are much better than we think.”

The priest expressed gratitude for the constant support of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, led by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, as well as the prayers and support of Popes Francis and Leo XIV.

He stressed the importance praying and working so peace could take root for the region.

Fr Romanelli concluded: “Let us hope that it will truly be a just and lasting peace for all the inhabitants of the Holy Land.”

                

Catholic Church in Africa Urges World Leaders, Institutions to Urgently Commit to Protect Our Common Home

 by Valerian Kkonde

ACCPU

 

Catholic Communicators at the Kigungu site  on the shores of L. Victoria where the first Catholic missionaries in Uganda- Fr. Lourdel Mapeera and Bro. Amans first set foot on 17th February 1879. The Church's voice plays an important role in the response to the impact of climate change.

This year, for the month of September, the Holy Father Pope Leo XIV is in a special way calling upon the faithful and all humanity to try and go an extra mile to experience the interdependence with all creatures through the inspiration of St. Francis. The Pope further reminds the people that all creatures are loved by God and are worthy of love and respect.

In the same month, the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) has called upon world leaders and global institutions to consider addressing the climate crisis as a priority, with the urgency and commitment it deserves. SECAM made this global appeal during the Second Africa Climate Summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on September 7, 2025.

The global appeal comes at a time when the world is gearing up to the 30th Conference Of the Parties (COP30) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to be hosted by Brazil in Belem from 10-21 November 2025. Expectations are that the Conference will accelerate the implementation of climate agreements, most especially the Paris Agreement.

COP30 is further expected to focus on the areas of transitioning to renewable energy, forest and biodiversity protection, climate finance, and building resilience to climate change impacts. Brazil, as a country, is expected to highlight the crucial role of nature, especially the Amazon, in achieving climate goals.

More on the global stage, the UN is increasingly seen as an institution that has failed to unite member states to work for peace and development, in respect to Israel’s genocide in Palestine and other conflicts, turning the world into a wounded and weary place.

Endemic in society today are the structural sins which we do not address.

“We must move beyond the mentality of appearing to be concerned but failing to bring about substantial change. We are still not facing the issues squarely, and the commitments made are weak and hardly fulfilled.

We cannot continue to make excuses; what is needed is courage and determination to move away decisively from fossil fuels, to embrace renewable sources of energy, and to make genuine lifestyle changes for the sake of our common home,” observes SECAM.

As a continent, Africa is ravaged by wars, conflicts and poverty. Africa is enormously endowed with natural resources but unfortunately, these are being plundered by the so-called developed countries. In a way, all these are the result of the good governance crisis, and lack of integrity, that continue to bedevil the continent. The would-be leaders many times become agents for multinational companies and plunder national resources in the name of foreign investors.

L. Victoria the world's second largest fresh water lake is an extraordinary resource shared among Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. Rusting metal and the water hyacinth are some of the threats it faces. Photo by Valerian Kkonde/ ACCPU

National resources have in effect become the property of Africa’s strongmen, leaving majority nationals wallowing in abject poverty. In Africa, poverty and environmental degradation go hand in hand, and the same can be said of poverty and bad governance.

The voice of the Church plays a crucial role in addressing the devastating impacts of climate change. This is a voice driven by the common good and not power, profits and extortion.

“The Church calls on wealthy nations to repay their ecological debt through transparent, accessible, and no-indebting climate finance. Loss and Damage and Adaptation Funds must be swiftly operationalized, reaching vulnerable communities directly and fostering resilience rather than dependency.”

Currently, many young Senegalese are desperately migrating to Europe in search of greener pastures. Fishing, which is the backbone of their economy, is being plundered by powerful European fishing companies. While many continue to perish in the seas as they ply the Mediterranean in dangerously loaded boats to land on the shores of Europe, and even endure dehumanising treatment, many more keep undertaking the treacherous journeys to flee from the poverty and other injustices.

For Uganda, endowed with the marvels of Lake Victoria- the world’s second largest fresh water lake- many local fishing communities are destabilised by government’s pampering of foreigners. Many Ugandans are finding it too expensive to buy fish; they now settle for the scattered flesh left on the bones grudgingly and sarcastically called “fillets.”

Many fishermen have lost their lives while others have been permanently crippled by government’s zeal to enforce oppressive and dehumanising laws that ensure that the benefits of L. Victoria and other water bodies serve the interests of the foreigners who help keep them in power.

As the Chinese continue to mine sand from L. Victoria and grow rice in Lwera, neighbouring communities are devastated by floods to the extent of being forced from their properties. Schools and health facilities have turned into small lakes and the Katonga bridge was destroyed forcing traffic to far away alternative routes. Markets and other economic activities had to close, forcing residents to uncertain lifestyles.

“As Catholic communities in Africa, we ask the leaders of nations and institutions to recognise their moral duty and commit to urgent and ambitious action to protect our common home and the most vulnerable. Delay and half-measures only deepen the suffering of our people and jeopardise future generations.”

Irresponsible garbage disposal at Luzira Pier is another of the many threats to Lake Victoria. From such sites methane gas which is a key contributor to climate change is produced. Photo by Valerian Kkonde/ ACCPU

SECAM maintains that African nations must be compensated for the untold suffering they are forced to endure, leading to health, social and environmental hazards despite contributing least to global emissions.

“This is a matter of justice and solidarity with the poorest and most affected communities. Adaptation efforts must safeguard food security, water systems, and livelihoods, prioritizing the poor and marginalised.”

For its part, SECAM promises to collaborate in educating, mobilising and accompanying affected populations. They however urge the developed countries to “recognise and pay their ecological debt to the Global South, without continuing to indebt our nations through loans disguised as climate aid.”

SECAM has also called upon the perpetrators of this environmental crisis to stop making excuses, but to boldly come out and move away from fossil fuels.

“The future is this renewable energy, namely solar panel. It is crucial to invest in clean energy and upgrade infrastructure to address Africa’s energy poverty,” SECAM urges the leaders.

Justice and respect for one another, especially the developing countries, will play an important role in ensuring sustainable use of the resources. The rich and the poor alike, have a duty to care for and respect creation in a manner that recognises our interdependence.

The calmness of Madagascar, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, was on September 25, 2025 treated to a rude awakening as many young people took to the streets to protest over frequent water shortages and power outages. They demanded for respect for human rights and a dignified lifestyle. This later led to a military coup, gravely affecting every aspect of life!

Madagascar is famed for its vast natural resources including rich mineral deposits, along with significant agricultural potential and favourable climate. The island nation is also exceptionally rich in unique biodiversity, encompassing diverse ecosystems and species found nowhere else on Earth.

But the World Bank estimates indicate that over 70% of its over 30 million population is living below the poverty line.

Bruno Rajaspera, Country Director- Africa, Madagascar- captures well the Island nation’s vulnerability to climate change: “Madagascar’s natural resources are currently under serious threat, and we need to act quickly to reverse the trend of degradation that is exacerbating poverty. Let’s act together to safeguard this natural heritage by mobilising resources and inviting key stakeholders to join our efforts to combat environmental pressures and build a sustainable economy based on the management and restoration of Madagascar’s landscapes and seascapes.”

In Ghana’s capital Accra, Africa witnesses one of the biggest and most dangerous industrial dumping sites on the continent. At Agbogbloshie is the dumping site of Europe’s electronic- waste. At least 40,000 people are estimated to live in this area.

Old televisions, computers and refrigerators are set on fire here, giving off toxic fumes in an area covering 16 square kilometers. These emissions pollute the soil and the water. More so, they leave traces of plastic in the environment.  No wonder it is referred to as the “Toxic city.”

The developing countries lack the infrastructure to sort and recycle the waste. The result is dumping, and then burning of the waste, further complicating the situation for the innocent victims. Poverty and limping health systems turn everything into a crisis: environmental, health, financial, cultural and educational. Every aspect of life is gravely threatened.

 Will the UN regulate and prohibit Europe from exporting plastic waste to poor countries like Ghana? Why do these countries generating these mountains of waste not leave them in their own countries? Who will ensure that the perpetrators of the environmental crisis fulfil their obligation to make good of their promises to pay for these crimes?

Papyrus play a crucial role in filtering all the water from the land before it joins the main lake. Rampart environmental destruction and dangerous waste disposals have destroyed these natural safeguards. Photo by Valerian Kkonde/ ACCPU

SECAM further commits to “establish an Ecclesial Observatory on Climate Justice to monitor implementation of climate pledges and partner with ethical actors to build a green and resilient Africa.”

The Catholic Church in Africa unequivocally advocates for a transformation that puts the care of life at the centre, the sovereignty of indigenous and rural peoples over their territories, and the active defence of the rights of women, climate migrants and new generations.

It is in that regard that the Catholic Church in Africa warns and calls upon humanity to be cognizant of the fact that the injustices, excuses, greed, procrastinations, denials and half-measures all end up devastating our common home.

“The earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor.”

 

Enormous Challenges ahead of Search for International Climate Justice

 by Valerian Kkonde

ACCPU

As the world struggles to create a far safer, cleaner and more equitable world

 

Irresponsible garbage disposal is a major environment destruction practice in Uganda. Even the smoke from the burning of plastic is a major health hazard. Photo by Valerian Kkonde/ ACCPU

That scientists continue to refer to global warming as a “super-wicked” problem, is proof that humanity is at a very critical stage of threatening her existence. This is so because humanity is failing to come up with concrete measures to address this threat.

It is not that people lack knowledge of what needs to be done; rather it is the political will that is lacking.

Nations, world leaders, companies, observers and well-wishers gather every year in search of a solution to human activities that are causing devastation to mother earth. It is at the Conference Of Parties (COP) that the world comes together in admission that concerted effort is needed to address the wreckage of extreme weather leaving many communities in a state of permanent crisis.

The 28^th Conference Of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) was hosted by the United Arab Emirates at the Expo City Dubai. This was last year, 2023, from November 30 to December 13. The Convention brings together the 198 Parties- 197 nations plus the European Union- that have signed on to the Framework Convention.

As Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change gather every year, extreme weather conditions continue to manifest themselves across every region of the world. With lives being overturned, the seemingly lack of improvement has led many to doubt the relevance of these high-level meetings. For many victims, they are mere “talk shows for the powerful.”

It is not only human beings that are destroyed in Palestine. Animals and plants are also under destruction and this makes life unbearable. 

“We participate in this Summit looking really to try to double down on the commitments that have previously been made to make sure that governments live up to those commitments and commit  the resources necessary,” observes Alistair Dutton, Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis.

Caritas is the Commission of the Roman Catholic Church overseeing relief and development. The Commission is present in every diocese of the Church and has a network that reaches the smallest structure of society worldwide.  

Climate change impacts include warming temperatures, changes in precipitation, increases in the frequency or intensity of some extreme weather events, and rising sea levels. These impacts threaten our health by affecting the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the weather we experience.

Injustices include the use of public funds to rectify environmental destructions while the perpetrators are left to continue business as usual. Photo by Valerian Kkonde/ ACCPU 

The quality of source water is threatened through increased runoff of pollutants and sediment, decreased water availability from drought and saltwater intrusion, as well as adversely affecting overall efforts to maintain water quality.

In Uganda, heavy downpours and prolonged hostile dry-spells are on the increase due to climate change.

In 2008 National Water and Sewerage Corporation was searching for US $ 3 million to extend its water pipes 3 km deep into Lake Victoria. The aim being to bypass the intense algal bloom in the Inner Murchison Bay. This is the main water source for the capital Kampala’s water supply.

Algae are green microscopic plants that live in the surface waters of the lakes. They are usually visible to the human eye when there is a lot of sunshine. These catalyze their growth into huge masses. As they decompose on the shores, they give off a very pungent smell and degrade the water quality. This is the consequence of poor waste disposal systems, compounding health, environmental and financial problems. To treat the algae-contaminated water, National Water had to part with 11 billion shillings.

By cutting forests, CO2 emissions are boosted and habitants destroyed. Birds and animals are forced to migrate to areas which do not favour their existence. Photo by Valerian Kkonde/ACCPU

By all indication, the situation is getting worse every other day. Forest cover is fast diminishing, wetlands and other water bodies are threatened and as a result, seasons have become very unpredictable and hostile. Species of fauna and flora are becoming extinct. The impression is that there are no laws and the political will to hold government and other powerful actors to account.

According to Aguti Betty Rose, Caritas Uganda is optimistic that by engaging in awareness, advocacy for policy and legislative agenda, Ugandans and other people the world over, will finally realise the importance and need to adopt to the changing climate conditions.

“It is important that people avoid wastage in the first place. It is of no value to have more than one car in a family. People also need to migrate to sustainable energy.”

“The Pope is the most eminent advocate, the most consistent defender of true civilisation. By civilisation we mean the fusion of the religious, moral, philosophical, scientific, aesthetic, political and social elements. Centuries of history prove this.”_ Fr. James Alberione

Betty Rose is the Policy and Advocacy Specialist at Caritas Uganda. She is also the National Coordinator Uganda Farmers Common Voice Platform.

COP 28 is famed for marking the conclusion of the first global stock-take of the world’s efforts to address climate change under the Paris Agreement. With progress too slow across all areas of climate action- from reducing greenhouse gas emissions to strengthening resilience to a changing climate to getting financial and technological support to vulnerable nations- countries responded with a decision on how to accelerate action across all areas by 2023.

Governments were called upon to speed up the transition away from fossil fuels to renewables such as wind and solar power in their next round of climate commitments.

At COP 27 nations had agreed to set up a fund to support vulnerable nations and communities already experiencing adverse impacts of climate change. Discussions on operationalizing the new funding arrangements for Loss and Damage took place at COP 28.

Wetlands play a crucial role in the interdependence of all creatures. This requires sustainable use and protection. Photo by Valerian Kkonde/ ACCPU

Establishment of the Fund for Loss and Damage with commitments totaling US $ 700 million symbolizes global solidarity, reflecting both the urgency of the climate emergency and a step forward in international climate justice. Uganda was chosen as one of the first seven developing countries to benefit from this fund amounting to US $ 400 million.

This was also the first time that the UNFCCC resulted in unprecedented recognition and momentum for linking efforts to address the climate and biodiversity crises. Alongside pollution, these make up the triple planetary crisis- the three, main interlinked environmental issues facing humanity.

 The COP 28 Action Agenda was centered on fast-tracking a just and orderly energy transition, fixing climate finance, focusing on people, nature, lives and livelihoods, and fostering inclusivity.

Disappointments ranged from failure to deliver for low- and middle income countries to not securing the assurances that countries with the greatest historical responsibility for climate change will go further, faster and will generate the finance needed for a global just transition.

Not only was the policy of “transition away” changed from the original, stronger-worded policy of “phasing out” fossil fuels, but also the decision did not elaborate on any time framework for the transition away from the fossil fuels and contain any mechanism which will hold governments accountable to this.

Transitioning to electric vehicles is one of the ways sought to reduce on greenhouse emissions. Photo by Valerian Kkonde/ ACCPU 

One of the main voices on climate change is Pope Francis and his messages are consistent. In his encyclical- Laudato Si- he calls on humanity to take action on climate change, stressing that the problem is great.

That Pope Francis published Laudate Deum just before the Summit is further proof that he cares about the climate change issue and its consequences for our common home and its inhabitants. He had to cancel his scheduled presence at the Summit for health reasons.

“Pope Francis’ message to world leaders and key players is to the point. We have to act now for the good of humanity, for the good of the planet, to care for current and future generations,” says Dutton.

United States of America, China and India, some of the greatest polluters of mother earth, made optimistic moves and commitments at the COP 28 although their actions back home and internationally are devoid of walking the talk.

In Uganda China has become a nuisance and a disgrace, to say the least, when it comes to environmental degradation. They are constructing industries in wetlands and releasing effluents in our fresh water bodies. Between the capital Kampala and Lugazi municipality; and between the capital Kampala and Luweero town, one is treated to a deplorable sight of systematic environmental degradation. Southwards, the stretch between the capital Kampala and Masaka is more proof that at times the commitments at COP pass for talk-shows for the powerful.

One-time-use plastics require a lot of responsibility on the part of the public. Often times it is not the case, leading to indiscriminate disposal which causes environmental and health hazards. Photo by Valerian Kkonde/ ACCPU

The world’s second largest fresh water lake- Lake Victoria- is deteriorating at a supersonic speed due to the Chinese sand- mining and rice-growing, especially in Lwera.

Uganda too was ably represented by the Prime Minister Nabbanja Robinah and in her eight point national statement assured the participants that Uganda can be counted on as a partner to create a far safer, cleaner and more equitable world. 

“Government of Uganda recognizes and welcomes Just Transitions that is orderly and phased energy transition that ensures the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy that minimizes negative consequences on workers, communities, ecosystems and national economies for enhanced energy access and Sustainable Development.”

Wetlands continue to be destroyed in the name of development. Worse still, farmers apply dangerous pesticides to their crops causing environmental and human destruction. Photo by Valerian Kkonde/ ACCPU  

Major environmental crimes in Uganda have powerful political fathers and that explains why they continue unpunished and with impunity.

“If the current state of doing things is not changed, we are headed for doom,” observes Betty Rose.

Walking the talk of climate change remains a sensitive issue that countries like America and China, some of the major culprits, guard against. But for further progress, this problem requires significant efforts at the domestic level and international climate talks.

Editor- This article was first published in Leadership Magazine 2024.