Pope Francis will not be coming to Uganda this year. This is according to the Uganda Episcopal Conference Secretary-General Msgr John Kauta.
The Roman Catholic Church, through President Museveni, had invited the Holy Father for the golden jubilee celebration of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM). SECAM is an assembly of Africa bishops.
According to a press release issued by the Uganda Catholic Secretariat today Thursday 21st February, the Office of the President of Uganda communicated to the Uganda Episcopal Conference that the Holy Father will not be able to attend the SECAM Symposium.
The SECAM Golden Jubilee celebrations was launched on 29th July 2018 at Lubaga Cathedra in Kampala.
According to the statement signed by John B. Kauta,the Secretary General of Uganda Episcopal Conference, the SECAM golden Jubilee celebration will proceed as scheduled on 23rd July 2019 at Lubaga Cathedral with over 400 bishops from all the Episcopal Conferences in Africa and Madagascar in attendance.
The theme for the celebration is “Church, Family of God isn Africa, Celebrate your Jubilee! Proclaim, Meet and Welcome Christ your Saviour.”
SECAM is a fruit of the efforts of African Bishops who during the second Vatican Council (1962-1965) resolved to build a continental structure to unite the church in Africa and promote collaboration in pastoral ministry. The Association was officially launched on 29th July, 1969 at Lubaga Cathedral by Saint Pope Paul VI.
Expectations of Pope’s visit were high given that he has two scheduled visits to Africa this year.
He is expected to visit Morocco in March and Madagascar later. The dates for Madagascar visits have not been scheduled.
It was expected that dates for his visit to Madagascar would be fixed around the dates when he had been invited to Uganda.
