Rev Fr Deogratius Kiibi Kateregga believes Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, the Archbishop of Kampala archdiocese, had good intentions by transferring him from Lubaga Cathedral to Mpigi as Parish Priest.
The 33-year-old priest, who rose to fame after his homily at the late Mozwey Radio’s funeral, had been around Lubaga Cathedral for some years.
Following his transfer in August, a good number of social media users came up with all sorts of allegations; with some saying that the celebrity priest was perceived as a threat by a section of top clerics at the cathedral thus influencing his transfer.
However, during an interview with The Observer newspaper this week, Fr Kiibi revealed he does not care how people perceived his transfer but all he knows that the Archbishop had a good reason to do so.
“I’m not sure about that and it is hard to read the hearts of people but, of course, when you become a threat, you become a target but you can never know who’s targeting you. Anyone can interpret change differently. I know the archbishop had good intentions by posting me here; so, I don’t care how other people interpret it,” he told the local newspaper.
He also noted that although no priest wants to be transferred, the move is always indispensable.
“Our training prepares us to accept change and take it positively, although humanly speaking, it is hard to take.”
Kiibi further said that his being posted to Mpigi, is an opportunity for him to unpack his abilities.
“I’m very thankful to the archbishop who saw it fit for me to serve in Mpigi. I’m ready to work with these people to save their souls, as the church teaches. There is no priest who has celebrated the silver jubilee without ever being transferred.”
Fr Kiibi’s fact file:
Fr Kiibi was born on July 8, 1986 to a family of nine children – three girls and six boys.
His parents are Dr Augustine Kateregga, a doctor at Kaliisizo hospital and Teddy Nabayunga a nurse, who live in Kyotera district.
Fr Kiibi attended Bukinda Seminary in Kabale, Kisubi Seminary in Entebbe, Katigondo National Major Seminary in Masaka and Ggaba National Major Seminary before joining Pontifical Urban University, Rome in Italy. He also has a master’s degree in Journalism and Communication from Makerere University.
Kateregga was ordained priest by Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga in 2014. He worked in Ggoli parish in Mpigi district before he was transferred to Lubaga parish in 2015. In Ggoli, he headed the youth chaplaincy of the Ggoli Catholic Parish.
At Lubaga, Fr Kiibi was appointed information coordinator for the archdiocese, a position that influenced his going back to school to acquire a master’s degree in Journalism and Communication.
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