Metropolitan Leronymos elected new Archbishop of Orthodox Church of Kampala

Metropolitan Leronymos (Muzeeyi) of Mwanza has been elected as the new Archbishop of the Holy Metropolis of Kampala, the Orthodox Church of Uganda has confirmed.

Leronymos replaces His Eminence Archbishop Makarios Tillyrides of Nairobi who has been serving as the caretaker of the Orthodox Church of Uganda since September 2021.

The post for the holy father of the Orthodox church fell vacant in September last year, following the demise of then Archbishop, Metropolitan Lwanga who died of prostate cancer on September 5, at the age of 76.

The Orthodox Church, on Wednesday, confirmed that it had elected its new leader.

“Metropolitan Leronymos of Mwanza has been elected new Archbishop of Holy Metropolis of Kampala,” the church said.

Metropolitan Leronymos takes over the reins from Late Metropolitan Lwanga who is widely remembered for being courageous and outspoken as he openly criticised the government over ‘injustices’.

At the helm of the Orthodox Church, the late Lwanga built a remarkable legacy, having overseen establishment of over twenty medical facilities and a hospital among other achievements.

He also established Orthodox Mother’s Union to address issues of spiritual and social development of women and their children and to fight against poverty, hunger and illiteracy.