The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Stephen Kazimba Mugalu has joined the rest of the Christians in Mukono diocese and Uganda at large to mourn the retired bishop Professor Michael Solomon Ndawula Ssenyimba.
Ssenyimba, 97, died at Mulago Hospital on Tuesday where he had been admitted nursing a number of health complications.
Kazimba says that Ssenyimba diligently served in a number of positions including being a Dean of Namirembe diocese before being elected as the second Bishop of Mukono diocese where he served between 1995-2002.
He replaced Bp. Livingstone Mpalanyi Nkoyoyo after his elevation as the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda. After his retirement, Bp. Ssenyimba was succeeded by Bp. Eria Paul Luzinda Kizito.
“We thank God for the life of Bp. Ssenyimba who got saved and has walked his journey of life uprightly. Everyone who knows him can testify that he has been a honest man of God,” he said.
Bp. Ssenyimba got a PHD in Botany and used it to promote science education mostly at Ndejje University where he served as a Vice Chancellor.
During his tenure as the bishop of Mukono diocese, Bp. Eria Paul Luzinda Kizito who served as his diocesan secretary for two and a half years says he was so strict and transparent in whatever he did.
Luzinda says that the deceased was also jolly and he loved to crack jokes with the people he worked with.
“Many people did not understand him at first following his way of doing things but after working with him for some time, they got used to his way of doing things and loved him,” he said.
He adds that Bp. Ssenyimba prioritized education for the children but also for the church servants he worked with as he encouraged many to upgrade not only in the church side but also in the academic side.
Rev. Canon Edward Kironde Balamaze, the archdeacon of Seeta Archdeaconry says that though he wanted to join church ministry as a ray reader immediately after sitting for his Senior Six, Bp. Ssenyimba advised him to first go to the college and study a teaching profession which he did.
“After teaching for a while, I joined a church ministry. I came out as a ray reader but he gave me an opportunity to join Uganda Martyrs Seminary Namugongo where I was upgraded to the level of a priest.”
“I cannot forget the time when he came to my parish in Kasoga, Buikwe district and picked me at the level of a ray reader to be his chaplain for that day. That gesture humbled me so much and raised my love for the ministry,” he said.
Archbishop Kazimba says that on Thursday at 2:00pm, Bp. Ssenyimba’s body will be taken to Namirembe Cathedral for a requiem service before heading to Mukono at St. Philip and Andrew’s Cathedral where they will hold a vigil.
The archbishop says that on Friday at 10:00am, the burial service will start. Bp. Ssenyimba is going to be buried at Mukono Cathedral close to where his wife, Agatha Ssenyimba was buried.
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