RUBAGA CATHEDRAL TRAVEL GUIDE, UGANDA

LOCATION OF RUBAGA CATHEDRAL, UGANDA

Rubaga Cathedral, also known as St. Mary’s Cathedral Rubaga, is located on Lubaga Hill in the Lubaga Division of Kampala, Uganda. It’s situated approximately 3 kilometers West of Kampala’s central business district. The cathedral is a significant landmark and the home church of the Archbishop of Kampala.

SOME HISTORY OF RUBAGA CATHEDRAL, UGANDA

Rubaga Cathedral, also known as Saint Mary’s Cathedral Rubaga, is a significant landmark in Kampala, Uganda. It serves as the parent cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kampala, the oldest Roman Catholic diocese in Uganda.

EARLY HISTORY OF RUBAGA CATHEDRAL, UGANDA

The site of Rubaga Cathedral has a rich history. Originally, it was the location of a palace belonging to Kabaka Mutesa I, the 30th Kabaka of Buganda, who reigned from 1856 to 1884. After a fire destroyed the palace, it was abandoned. In 1889, Kabaka Mwanga II, Mutesa I’s son, donated the land to the French Catholic missionaries known as the White Fathers.

CONSTRUCTION OF RUBAGA CATHEDRAL, UGANDA

The construction of the cathedral began in 1914 and was completed in 1925. The cathedral was consecrated on December 31, 1925. The building process was a community effort, with local Catholics contributing labor and materials. The design and construction were overseen by Brother Cyprian, who also built a smaller test church at Kisubi to train local craftsmen.

ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES OF RUBAGA CATHEDRAL, UGANDA

Rubaga Cathedral is notable for its twin towers and its capacity to accommodate around 5,000 worshippers. The cathedral is 248 feet long and 63 feet wide, with a transept measuring 152 feet. The height from the floor to the ceiling is 50 feet. Approximately 2.5 million bricks were used in its construction.

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS AT RUBAGA CATHEDRAL, UGANDA

The cathedral has hosted several significant events, including visits from three Popes: Pope Paul VI in 1969, Pope John Paul II in 1993, and Pope Francis in 2015. It was also the site where Pope Paul VI closed the African Bishops Synod in 1969.

MEMORIALS AND BURIALS AT RUBAGA CATHEDRAL, UGANDA

Inside the cathedral, the remains of Archbishop Joseph Kiwanka, the first African Catholic Bishop and the first African Archbishop of Kampala Diocese, are interred. The cathedral also features memorials to the Uganda Martyrs, with stained-glass windows depicting the 22 Catholic martyrs who were killed by Kabaka Mwanga II in the late 19th century.

Rubaga Cathedral stands as a testament to the growth and resilience of the Catholic Church in Uganda, symbolizing both historical and spiritual significance for the local community and beyond.