BEGINNINGS, GROWTH AND CONSTANT DEVELOPMENT
Masaka Diocese started as part of a huge Vicariate, then became a Pro – Vicariate, then Vicariate and finally a Diocese. The brief history below is meant to show the beginning, growth and development of this famous and historical Diocese that emerged as singular in its own right in African Church History of the second and third missionary movements. Singular because it was the only Diocese that emerged as such in the whole period from 1482 to 1939 when a Vicariate led by a black Bishop eventually became a Diocese under an indigenous Bishop on 25th March 1953.
REMOTE BEGINNINGS
MASAKA DIOCESE
This is one of the original Dioceses in the country that has not yet been divided. Masaka Diocese came into being with the Apostolic Constitution Quemadmodum ad Nos of Pope Pius XII, on 25th March 1953. Bishop Joseph Kiwanuka was transferred from the titular see of Thibica to Masaka Diocese. He was made the Archbishop of Rubaga in 1961 and was succeeded by Bishop Adrian Kivumbi Ddungu.
Bishop Ddungu was appointed Bishop of Masaka on 11th November 1961 and was ordained Bishop on 18th March 1962 at Bukalasa Minor Seminary by His Grace Msgr. Joseph Kiwanuka assisted by Bishop Vincent Billington M.H.M, Bishop of Kampala Diocese and Bishop Vincent Joseph McCauley C.S.C, Bishop of Fort Portal Diocese. He retired on 10th January 1998 and was succeeded by Bishop John Baptist Kaggwa.
Bishop John Baptist Kaggwa was appointed Co-adjutor Bishop of Masaka on 19th December 1994 and ordained on 24th June 1995 at Kitovu Cathedral by Bishop Adrian Kivumbi Ddungu assisted by Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala, Archbishop of Kampala and Bishop Paul Lokiru Kalanda, Bishop of Fort Portal Diocese. He took over the governance of the Diocese on 10th January 1998. Bishop John Baptist Kaggwa retired on 16th March 2019.
On 16th March 2019 Bishop Serverus Jjumba was appointed Bishop of Masaka Diocese. He was ordained Bishop on 6th July, 2019 at Kitovu Sports Arena by Bishop John Baptist Kaggwa assisted by Bishop Joseph Antony Zziwa, Bishop of Kiyinda Mityana Diocese, Bishop Lambert Bainomugisha, Auxilliary Bishop of Mbarara Archdiocese, Archbishop Luigi Bianco, Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda and Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese.