The St. Augustine Chapel at Makerere University has marked 85 years of existence, celebrating a long legacy of faith, service, and spiritual guidance within Uganda’s oldest university.
The celebrations, held at Makerere Freedom Square, brought together students, alumni, clergy, and guests for a thanksgiving Mass led by the Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese, Paul Ssemogerere, as chief celebrant.
The event was held under the theme: “Our hearts are restless until they rest in you, O Lord.”
The Chief Guest, Vice President Jessica Alupo, said the chapel has for 85 years served as more than a place of worship, describing it as a spiritual home for generations of students, staff, and alumni.
“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,” Alupo said.
She noted that since its establishment in 1941, St. Augustine Chapel has complemented academic life at Makerere University by integrating faith with intellectual growth.
“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,” she said.
Alupo further highlighted the legacy of transformation the chapel has fostered over the decades.
“We celebrate today not only the passage of time, but the legacy of lives transformed,” she said, adding that chaplains, clergy, and lay leaders have played a key role in nurturing the community.
She commended the current leadership for preserving the chapel’s heritage and urged students to allow the chapel to shape their moral and spiritual outlook.
“May you not only pass through it, but be shaped by it,” she said. “May you allow this place to form your conscience, deepen your compassion, and strengthen your commitment to serve humanity.”
Alupo also described alumni as a living testimony of the chapel’s enduring impact, noting that their values continue to influence society beyond graduation.
She called on clergy and administrators to safeguard the chapel’s mission, saying their stewardship ensures that the “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, a sanctuary of prayer and reflection, and a bridge between faith and scholarship,” she said.
Archbishop Ssemogerere congratulated the chapel community on the milestone and prayed for continued blessings on its mission.
St. Augustine Chapel traces its origins back to 1929 and was constructed by the White Fathers. It has since served thousands of Catholic faithful at Makerere University, including students and staff.
Over the years, it has been guided by notable clergy, including Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala, Monsignor Lawrence Kanyike, and the current chaplain, Josephat Ddungu.
Father Ddungu noted that the 85-year milestone reflects decades of spiritual growth, leadership, and service to the university community.
The celebrations come at a time when the chapel community is raising Shs2 billion to support the expansion of the student centre, aimed at improving facilities for worship, fellowship, and student engagement.
