Bugonga Catholic Church was built by white fathers in 1902 after the introduction of catholic faith by Brother Amans and Father Mon Maple on 17th February 1875. This is the oldest catholic church in Entebbe.

prayer times at Bugonga Catholic Curch

Father Lourdel, baptized Simeon, was originally from the diocese of Arras in the north of France. It awakened in him the desire to become a missionary; there was a plan to evangelize Africa launched by at Algiers by Archbishop Laverigerie in 1868. After going through a series with the missionaries of Africa Lourdel was ordained a priest on Easter Monday 2 April 1877.

He was appointed on the first caravan heading to equatorial Africa destined to evangelize the Lake Victoria region. He and Brother Amans Delmas were the first to arrive in Buganda on February 17, 1879 after a journey lasting 10 months. They landed at the now historical site of Kigungu in Entebbe Municipality.

Their caravan left Marseilles on April 17, 1878. From then until his death Father Lourdel evangelized the Baganda with the view of founding a Catholic kingdom them.

In Buganda father Lourdel was called “Mapeera” the local pronunciation of the French ‘mon pere’.

The remains of Father Lourdel Mapeera and other pioneer Catholic Missionaries were reburied at St.John the BaptistCatholic Church Mapeera Nabulagala in Rubaga Division, Kampala, on Sunday 6 March 2011. Source: www.africamission.org