Bukalasa Seminary: 125 Years Grooming ‘Priests’

 An insight of Bukalasa excellent service.

To start up a seminary in Africa and training indigenous priests was a dream of many missionaries who thought that it could be more relevant if a Blackman preached the gospel to fellow Africans. This is how the Holy Family seminary started as CHRISTOPHER KISEKKA write. 

Off Mbarara by- pass locally known as ‘Kyakumpi’ literally translated as short-cut on Kampala-Masaka road there 

you branch to villa road which was certainly named after one of the oldest churches in Uganda at villa. You move 11 kilometres to reach Bukalasa minor seminary.

On the right hand as you approach the main gate, what grabs your attention is a cemetery where hundreds of priests from Masaka diocese are laid with a poster reading memento mori (remember you must die).

Reaching the main entrance, there is nothing more than breath-taking buildings, which are visibly old, standing amidst a cool atmosphere and a very neat environment.

Msgr. Henirco Kyabukasa, who has taught at the seminary for over 4 decades, shares that Bukalasa is the oldest institution of its level in East and Central Africa.

“Bukalasa is undisputedly the oldest among its kind only followed by The Overtoun Institute (livingstonia)in Malawi, founded in 1895 by the free church of Scotland mission ” Msgr. Kyabukasa who is also a sibling to Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala joyfully told this writer.

The historian puts it that to start up a seminary in Africa and train indigenous priests stemmed from the missionaries’ dream who believed that it was more relevant if a Blackman preached the gospel to fellow Africans.

“To get one indigenous priest is for me more important than convert ten thousand people,” Kyabukasa quoted Bishop Stretcher who is locally eminently known as sitensela, who played a central role in the establishment and nurturing of the seminary  

This task, however, was not such a simple one  not until Pope Leo XIII was moved by the deep faith of the Uganda Martyrs who were executed between 31 January 1885 and 27 January 1887 thus ordering Bishop Jean-Joseph Hirth, the then Vicar Apostolic of Northern Nyanza to start a seminary as Kyabukasa narrates.

  

He says that Bishop Hirth implemented the order through Fr. Stretcher, his trusted friend who even later succeeded him and Fr. Marcou, the first rector of the seminary.

Kyabukasa adds “The Seminary which was seen as nearly an impossible task was ‘virtuously’ established in 1893 by the White Fathers to train priests but it also pioneered modern secondary education in Uganda, East Africa, and central Africa as well.”

The rector

Tough ‘rocky’ foundation

Rev Fr Francis Mugerwa, the current rector says it was not rosy to establish the Holy Family Seminary as it is formally called. It meant a number of challenges of which some were expected and others just happened.

In his book, a history of African priests, the late Fr John Mary Waliggo noted that the seminary was to be instigated at Lubaga in 1891. However, during the 1892 religious wars, one of the teachers at the seminary was killed and the young seminarians were scatted and many missionaries went into exile.

The late Waliggo noted that while in  Kiziba, Tanganyika (present day Tanzania) were Bishop Hirth had exiled, he decided to launch a new campaign for opening the seminary at villa Maria.

“It is put that the place selected for the seminary was naturally villa Maria, the heart of Buddu mission (which later became Masaka Catholic Diocese) where people had welcomed and embraced the religion,” says Fr Mugerwa.

He adds that Bishop Hirth requested priests to send him boys obtained from chiefs who showed signs of being very intelligent and pious for the seminary.

According to him, it took about thirteen years for the seminary finally settled down at Bukalasa village as it kept on moving from place to place.

Towards the end of 1893, Rev Mugerwa narrates that the seminary was temporarily moved to Lubaga for two years following the great famine and terrible plague which hit Buddu.

The rector says it was again shifted to Kisubi, in 1895 before being finally resettled at Bukalasa, in 1903, where the Church had acquired a big piece of land, as of the 1900 Buganda Agreement.

Legacy in Academics and co- circular activities

Bukalasa seminary has over a period of time distinguished it’s self academically by posting good results both at O-Level and A-level and has been ranked among the top 100 all-time best schools in the country.

Besides academics, the seminarians are involved into different activities like sports, drama and Music (which is paramount in the Catholic Church) and all these are taught at the professional level.

Rev Fr Augstine Kimbowa one of the music directors at the seminary who is also a teacher of Latin and English languages  reveals that for the record, the first brass ensemble in Uganda was introduced by the White Fathers at the inception of Bukalasa Seminary.

“We have been with the best and one of the highly recognized bands in the region for years,” Fr Kimbowa said moving close to one of the music classes. He added that the band played at many functions one being the Christmas mas at Lubaga and during visits of prominent leaders in Masaka region.

Fr Kimbowa, says the original brass instruments including the drums, trumpets and the French-horn all can be clearly seen as they are well preserved at the seminary’s music store.

Discipline

The historical seminary is not only known for academics and co circular activities but also largely recognised for instilling discipline in its students.

Attesting to this is Mr Francis Mujuni resident of Kaliro in Kalungu district. He says “I applaud it for nurturing the individuals with a number of life skill values like discipline, respect, time management among others.”

Fr Kimbowa says discipline a key factor in the life of any person and that is why it is highly considered at the seminary.

Old boys’ recounts

Fracis Katabazi, the Chairperson Bukalasa Old Boys Association recounts the days at the seminary where he spent only two years and three days. Katabazi says he can forget the little time he spent at Bukalasa in his whole life.

“Life at the seminary was far different from what we had thought but with time one finds it the best, I had not been in an area with such an environment everything done on time and with principals,” Mr Katabazi said.

Mr Katabazi who attended the seminary in 1990 said that besides the academics a lot of things were taught to him which are even still pillars of his life and have helped him excel.

Rev Kimbowa, also an old boy, says none of the thousands that have passed through Bukalasa can forget the memories of the seminary life.

However, he says everything done by the seminarians must be on the principals, which is a fundamental aspect to the success of those who passed by the seminary.

“While at Bukalasa, you must always make sure that you are doing the right thing at a right time. If you are found reading during sports time, you are chased as per the rules,” he added.

The writer with Rev. Kimbowa at the seminary

Not all admitted becomes priests

Bukalasa  has trained many priests, including the very first African priests, Basil Lumu and Victor Mukasa, the first black bishop in modern times, Dr Joseph Kiwanuka, the first Ugandan cardinal, his Eminence Cardinal Emmanuel Nsubuga as well as cardinal Emmanual Wamala.

A number of bishops have also passed in the hands of bukalasa including Bishop Adrain Kivumbi Ddungu, Bishop Kalanda, and Bishop Ssentongo among others.

However, the rector reveals that only five percent of the students admitted each year make it to the priesthood.

“To those who fail to go by the rules of the seminary are sent off as per rules and ways of the seminary but even some others voluntary get out.” He said adding “Those who are shown the gate before the sixth year also become successful in life,”

He adds that Bukalasa has brought a number of brain powers who are more sounding than the seminary where they went and these including the first African priests, cardinal Emmanuel Wamala, Mr. Joseph Mary Mubiru (the first governor of bank of Uganda), the late Mathias Nsubuga, Henry Kintu  (Masaka District Police Commander) among others.

Bishops appeal

The Masaka Diocesan Bishop John Baptist Kaggwa calls the faithful to support the old mother (Bukalasa seminary) flourish to the required glory.

“Our mother is now aged and tired. This calls for all Catholics to support her in all required capacities for she is part of our heritage,” Bishop Kaggwa appealed to the faithful.