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THE FIRST FIVE CATHOLIC MISSIONARIES TO UGANDA

BISHOP LEON LIVINHAC (1846-1922)

On the First Five Catholic Missionaries to Uganda, Bishop Leon Livinhac (1846-1922) was the first missionary bishop and he was born on 13^th July 1846. He joined the major seminary of Rodez in 1867 and while there his name appeared at the top regularly. He then left the major seminary to join the white fathers when he was already ordained as a deacon.

In February 1873 Livinhac applied to Archbishop Charles Lavigerie, the founder and head of the Society of the Missionaries of Africa. He began his novitiate at the White Fathers house at Maison Carrée, near Algiers, in April 1873. Archbishop Lavigerie ordained him as a priest of the White Fathers on 12 October 1873. Although he had not completed his novitiate, he was immediately appointed vice-rector, bursar and professor of dogmatic theology of the White Fathers’ major seminary, the scholasticate.

On 7 April 1874 he took his oath as a missionary, and on 12 October 1874 was elected as a member of the society’s General Council. At that time there were 43 fathers and 9 brothers in the society. His first missionary appointment was in February 1875 in Kabylie, to the east of Algiers. The missionaries had to act with great care, since the French colonial authorities were deeply suspicious of proselytizing activity that could disturb the peace. In August 1875 he was recalled to become rector of the scholasticate.

In March 1878 Livinhac was made leader of the first Catholic missionary expedition to equatorial Africa. The group of ten missionaries left Algiers on 21 April 1878 and reached Uganda on 17 February 1879. They were based on the shore of Lake Victoria, but traveled widely in the region by foot or by dugout canoe.

On arrival at kyettale with Fr. Girault and Barbot, Fr. Livinhac fell sick of fever and he was rested under the tree, “Banda”. Fr. Girault and Barbot later join him on 23^rd June 1879 in kisubi where they spent a night and then in the morning continued to Nabulagala-Lubya. After their reunion, they started a novena in honor of our lady which ended on 2^nd July.

Fr. Livinhac and his colleagues were received with his counterparts in a very ceremonial audience at Muteesa‘s court. The Bishop offered gifts as it was a custom during that time in Buganda region.On 13^th July 1879, Fr. Livinhac and Fr. Lourdel were summoned to kabakas court and he wanted them to request France to give Uganda a protectorate. Fr. Livinhac responded negatively to his request and he told him that they are here to spread the word of God and not the political matters. This angered the kabaka and his relationship with the missionaries become almost hostile.

Fr. Livinhac was good at learning languages and this made him learn Luganda. He as well prepared a companion book to the grammar, a dictionary of over 7000 words. However, this was lost in a ship-wreck between Marseilles and Tunis. The missionaries left for exile in 1883 and that’s where the news of Fr. Livinhac appointment as an apostolic vicar. He was then called back to Algiers to be ordained Bishop by cardinal Lavigerie on 14^th September 1884. After his appointment he returned to his place of appointment where he served to the best of his ability an exemplary leader.

BRO.AMANS(DELMAS) 1852-1895

Brother Amans Delmas, also known as Delmas Amans, was a French Catholic missionary who played a significant role in the early evangelization efforts in Uganda. Born in France on 3^rd 1852, Brother Amans joined the Society of Missionaries of Africa, also known as the White Fathers at the age of 24 to dedicate his life to missionary work.

On 17^th February Bro. Amans came with Fr. Simon Lourdel and reached Kigungu at Entebbe. Despite facing numerous challenges, including cultural barriers and political tensions within the Buganda Kingdom, Brother Amans remained steadfast in his commitment to the mission. He worked tirelessly alongside the other missionaries, sharing the message of Christianity and providing support to the newly established Christian communities.

In 1892, Bro.Amans extended his services at Kashozi and then appointed to villa Maria. At kooki he went with Fr. Gaudibert to open new mission on 8^th October 1894. His health detoriated and on 20^th October 1894, he left Uganda to return to Europe. On his arrival at Zanzibar on 18^th January 1895 very ill. Tragically, Brother Amans’ life was cut short at the young age of 43 when he succumbed to illness the next day on 19^thJanuary at Bagamoyo. His death was a loss to the missionary community, but his legacy lived on through the work he had accomplished during his time in Uganda.

FR. LEON BARBOT (1846-1882)

Fr. Barbot was born at Ste Maria-Laumont, the diocese of Bayeux in France on 1^st December, 1846. He studied from seminary and ordained a diocesan sub-Deacon on 24^th December 1872 and then joined the white fathers on 2^nd January 1873. He made his commitments as a white father on 25^th January.

Fr. Barbots first appointment was at Arifs, in kabylia and became superior of the mission in 1874. He further went to prepare a new foundation at Beni-Ismail which was opened in September 1876. He left Beni-Islam in 1878 and joined fellow white fathers to come and spread the gospel.

Fr. Barbot remained at Kageye with other missionaries when Fr. Lourdel and Bro. Amans came to Uganda to seek permission from kabaka Muteesa I. Fr. Barbot was given the work of building the first house for the missionaries when they settled in their mission. On 5^th September Fr. Barbot occupied his room as well as Fr. Lourdel and Bro.Amans on 6^th. The roof was completed on 20^th but Fr. Livinhac preferred to remain in his hut so as his room can be used as a chapel. Although the first bell had already been installed on 27^th November, the new chapel wasn’t ready yet.

Holy mass was then celebrated for the first time in the new house on 27^th September on a new altar made by Fr. Barbot and Girault to replace the rough table they used. After two years the priest died in 1882 in Zanzibar due to poor health.

FR. LUDOVIC GIRAULT (1853-1941)

Fr. Girault was born on 10^th September 1853 at St. Aubin de Luigne in France. At his young age, he never wanted to be a priest but he wanted to follow the vocation of his grandfather who was a military man. The idea of being a priest came later when he was guided by his spiritual advisor who observed the signs of priesthood in him.

Fr. Girault was ordained on 25^th December 1876 after his studies in theological college of Angers. He took the missionary oath to become white father on 2^nd February 1877 and later he was chosen by Msgr. Lavigerie as his secretary for a few weeks. Fr. Girault could narrate the difficulties met by the caravan between Bagamoyo and Rubaga. He even wrote a letter while the missionaries were at kageye waiting for Fr. Lourdel and Bro. Amans information from kabakas court.

Fr. Ludovic Girault on 17^th June 1879 reached Entebbe with his companions and reached Muteesa‘s capital on 24^th June. He was able to attend the Beatification of the Uganda martyrs in Rome. Among them he had baptized Mathias Mulumba, Luka Baanabakintu and Ponsiano nnondwe at Lubaga.

FR. SIMEON LOURDEL -MAPEERA (1853 -1892)

Mapeera was born on 20^th December 1853 at Dury France and he came from a Christian family and this made him to want to be a missionary from childhood. He joined the minor seminary of Arras in October 1861.

Due to his conduct of not submitting to the rules of the seminary, he was asked to leave after 5 years. He then went to complete his studies in college at St. Omer and Montreuil. While there he became serious and re-applied to join the white fathers where he showed maturity to be a novice at Algiers. He then took his missionary Oath on the 2^nd February 1875 and then started theological studies ad as well studied Arabic during his seminary training.

Lourdel’s journey to Nyanza province with his fellow missionaries wasn’t easy. When they reached kageye, he volunteered at once to go to Muteesa‘s court with the intention of exploring the situation in Buganda. When they withdrew from Buganda due to insecurity on 8^th nov 1882, Lourdel went to start an orphanage center in Tabora. After that he fell sick that he went to Bukumbi in the mission to find Fr. Livinhac who decided to send him back to Europe. He had to leave for Tabora on 20^th July 1883. Due to his illness, he was offered a walking stick which currently is kept at Lubaga

A few weeks in Tabora, Lourdel health improved and he was able to resume work as usual. He was appointed in the Ukene region where he arrived in April 1884. When kabaka Mwanga ascended to the throne, he called the missionaries back as well as Lourdel. It was that time when Lourdel opened a mission at Nyegezi with Bro. Amans. He soon returned to Uganda in October 1889 to re-open a mission at Rubaga in February.

On 8^th may he got struck by fever which seemed to be worse and on the next day he told his confreres that he was prepared for death. Mass was celebrated in his hut where he received holy communion. He constantly prayed to God and to our lady as well requested to be laid on ground saying he was not worth dying on a caravan bed. In the evening, he received the sacrament of the anointing of the sick at his own request.

On Monday morning of 12^th may 1890, Mapeera died in the presence of kabaka Mwanga and he was buried close to the chapel. But when the mission was moved to the top of Lubaga hill on 2^nd November 1901. The remains of Mapeera and Fr. Denoit were transferred to the chapel built by Christians in the cemetery situated behind the present Lubaga cathedral. The ceremony was presided over by Bishop Henry Streicher assisted by twelve missionaries at a Requiem mass.