Our Lady of Sorrows Cathedral – Kitovu is the seat of the Bishop of Masaka Diocese. It is recognized as the centre of Catholic life in this Diocese and recognized by the members of “WORLD MONUMENT WATCH” as a WORLD MONUMENT.

BRIEF HISTORY OF KITOVU CATHEDRAL

The Catholic Chief Nyansio Mukudde donated the land on Kitovu hill, no one at the time knew that this land donated a couple of years later would become so special and important in the life of the Catholic Church in Buddu county of Buganda. On this hill a parish was erected in 1909 by the Most Rev. Henry Streicher and entrusted its patronage to Our Lady of Sorrows. In 1940 the Parish Church was elevated to a Roman Catholic Cathedral of initially Vicariate of Masaka (Vicariate Masankensis) and later of Masaka Diocese.

At such a level Kitovu Cathedral Church made a track record of being the Cathedral of the first African Bishop south of the Sahara in modern times and at the beginning of the 21^st century it was recognised as a world monument; thanks to the efforts of Fr. Peter K. Bakka.

The construction of the church was begun in 1924, completed in 1927 and solemnly blessed and entered on 12^th February 1929 under the supervision of Br. Martin and Br. Bonaventure who belonged to the Missionaries of Africa. Constant renovations and maintenance have been made on the cathedral church since then; most remarkable were in 1959 when the Parish was celebrating her Golden Jubilee, Fr. Augustine Mukasa then Parish Priest replaced the iron sheets with tiles and also replaced the drums with towers carrying bells..

The episcopate of Bishop John Kaggwa brought another major renovation which was completed in 2001. On the 25^th November, 2001 on the solemnity of Christ the King which is also the diocesan day the Cathedral Church was consecrated and dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows by Rt. Rev. John Baptist Kaggwa.

The Cathedral has a sitting capacity of 1500 people.

For more information about the Cathedral:

Cathedral Administrator
Fr. Rev. Fr. Andrew Kyamufumba
P. O. Box 70 Masaka
Tel: 0751 405277
Email: