Retired Anglican Bishop Samuel Balagadde Ssekadde who passed away early this week will be buried at St Paul’s cathedral Namirembe tomorrow afternoon according to a funeral program released by Namirembe Diocesan Bishop Moses Banja.
This evening the body will be taken to St. Paul Cathedral, Namirembe, where a holy communion funeral service will take place at 7:00 pm, followed by a vigil throughout the night.
Ssekadde will be interred at Namirembe Cemetery on Thursday, after a funeral service.
Bishop Banja explained that once a bishop “marries” the church, he effectively becomes its own, and even after his death, he is buried at the cathedral where they served. He added that their spouses can also be buried in the same location if requested.
The life and times of Bishop Emeritus Samuel Balagadde Ssekadde?
Bishop Ssekadde was born on January 31, 1944, to Michael and Terefina Kyobe in Kitekannya village, located in Luweero district.
He grew up in a devout Christian family that instilled in him strong values and faith. His educational journey began at Semuto Preparatory School, followed by Ndejje Secondary School and Lubiri Secondary School. He continued his studies at Iganga Teachers College and later earned a BA in Social Work and Social Administration from Makerere University.
He furthered his education with an MA in Development Administration from Birmingham University. At the age of 24, in 1968, Bishop Ssekadde felt a calling to the Christian ministry. He received pastoral training at Bishop Tucker Theological College in Mukono and the Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation in Zambia.
He married Allen Ssekadde, and together they raised a family that includes both biological and adopted children, along with several grandchildren.
In 1994, he was consecrated as the fourth Bishop of Namirembe, succeeding Bishop Misaeri Kitemaggwa Kauma. During his tenure, he spearheaded initiatives in education, health, and community development. He retired in 2009 and was succeeded by Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira, who also recently retired, handing over the mantle to the current bishop, Moses Banja.
Although he was known for his charisma, as his stewardship of the diocese was winding down, Bishop Sekadde faced accusations of illegally selling some church property. Upon his retirement, which came a few months earlier than expected, he sought to mend bridges and asked the faithful to forgive him for any shortcomings during his tenure.
After retiring, he didn’t simply return home to rest; he continued to serve the Church he was passionate about. Over time, he assisted the sitting bishops with various pastoral activities within Namirembe and beyond.
