MAKERERE: The St. Augustine Chapel at Makerere University has today celebrated 85 years of existence, marking a long history of faith, service, and spiritual guidance within Uganda’s oldest university.
The event held at Makerere Freedom Square, brought together students, alumni, and clergy. It begun with a major thanksgiving mass led by the Archbishop of Kampala Diocese Paul Ssemogerere as main celebrant.
The celebrations ran under the theme: “Our hearts are restless until they rest in you, Oh Lord.”
The Chief Guest Vice President Jessica Alupo, said for eighty-five years, this sacred place has stood not merely as a building of worship, but as a spiritual home for generations of students, staff, and alumni.
“Within these walls, countless young men and women have encountered God, discovered purpose, formed lifelong friendships, and received the moral and spiritual grounding that has shaped their journeys in the world,” Alupo said.
She highlighted that since its founding in 1941, St. Augustine Chapel has faithfully enhanced the academic life of Makerere University. “It has been a place where intellect meets faith, where questions meet prayer, and where the pursuit of knowledge is guided by the light of the Gospel,” Alupo an Alumnus of Makerere university said.
She added, “We celebrate today not only the passage of time, but the legacy of lives transformed. We remember with gratitude the chaplains, priests, religious, and lay leaders whose dedication nurtured this community. We honor the alumni who carry the values formed here into society”.
The vice President commended the present leadership of St. Augustine Makerere community for preserving and strengthening this noble heritage.
“This chapel has witnessed history. It has stood through seasons of change in our nation and our university. It has provided comfort in times of uncertainty, guidance in moments of decision, and hope in periods of challenge. Its endurance is a testimony to the power of faith lived in community,” she said.
The vice President told the congregation that as we mark this milestone, let them be reminded of the words of St. Augustine “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” she said these words have found living expression here for 85 years.
She reminded the students present at the celebrations that this chapel is their inheritance. “May you not only pass through it, but be shaped by it. May you allow this place to form your conscience, deepen your compassion, and strengthen your commitment to serve humanity,” she said.
Alupo however told the alumni, that their presence was a living testimony that what happens at Makerere endures far beyond graduation.
Meanwhile to the clergy and leadership, she said their stewardship ensures that this flame of faith continues to burn brightly for future generations.
“As we look to the future, may St. Augustine Chapel continue to be: a beacon of faith in the academic community; a sanctuary of prayer and reflection; a center for moral and spiritual formation; and a bridge between faith and scholarship,” the vice President said.
She said Eighty-five years is a remarkable journey, yet, in many ways, this is only the beginning. “The next generations of Makerere students will need this chapel even more as a compass in a complex world, as a refuge in a noisy age, and as a reminder that true education forms both the mind and the soul,” Alupo noted.
On this joyous occasion, Archbishop Ssemogerere congratulated the entire St. Augustine Chapel community for this milestone and asked God to bless the work that has been done here and that is yet to come.
St. Augustine Chapel, which traces its origins back to 1929, was constructed by the White Fathers and has since served thousands of Catholic faithful at Makerere University, both students and non-students.
Over the years, the chaplaincy has been guided by notable leaders, including Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala, the first native chaplain, Monsignor Lawrence Kanyike, and the current chaplain, Father Josephat Ddungu.
The Chaplain Father Josephat Ddungu said the 85-year milestone of St. Augustine reflects decades of spiritual growth, leadership, and service to the university community.
