The Catholic Church in Uganda is mourning the death of Msgr. Expedito Magembe, a beloved priest, music composer, and visionary behind the popular Bukalango Center. He passed away on May 9, 2025, after a long illness.
Msgr. Magembe was a key figure in Uganda’s Catholic Charismatic Renewal movement, known for his powerful preaching, healing ministry, and deep commitment to renewing the Church. His death has left a big gap in the lives of thousands who were inspired and transformed by his faith and leadership.
Born in Uganda and ordained as a priest in the Archdiocese of Kampala, Msgr. Magembe’s ministry reached far beyond parish boundaries. Many described him as a priest with a “special touch of the Holy Spirit,” blending traditional Catholic worship with the energetic style of the Charismatic movement. As the Charismatic Renewal spread from the U.S. to Africa in the 1960s, Magembe embraced it as a way to keep Catholics spiritually alive and engaged—especially in the face of the growing popularity of Pentecostal churches.
He founded Mt. Sion Prayer Centre Bukalango, located in Wakiso District, as a spiritual retreat where people could experience healing, deliverance, and renewal. The center became a major destination for worshippers from all over Uganda and beyond. Magembe even dreamed of building a mega-church that could hold over 50,000 people—a sign of his big vision and unshakable belief in the power of communal prayer.
His lively and Spirit-filled Masses helped many Catholics regain confidence in their Church, showing that the Catholic faith could be just as vibrant and miraculous as other Christian denominations.
However, his ministry was not without challenges. His Pentecostal-style approach sometimes clashed with Church leaders. In 2018, Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga reportedly froze Bukalango’s accounts over concerns about financial transparency, affecting a 3 billion shilling project for the mega-church. Magembe also faced accusations in 2016 related to a plot against another charismatic priest, Fr. Jacinto Ambrose Kibuuka—though he was never formally charged.
Despite these issues, Magembe stayed focused on his mission. He mentored many, including John Bosco Mukajanga, a lay preacher who worked closely with him until Mukajanga’s sudden death in 2016. In 2017, during a New Year’s Eve Mass, Magembe led prayers in his memory—highlighting his strong sense of community and pastoral care.
He also used modern media to spread his message. Through Bukalango TV, he reached a wide audience with teachings and worship services, always keeping his message grounded in Catholic values while embracing new ways of evangelizing.
Msgr. Magembe’s personal warmth and charisma were part of what made him so beloved. People felt comforted and uplifted in his presence. He regularly prayed for the sick, offered spiritual counseling, and made his services welcoming and inclusive.
In January 2025, false rumors of his death spread on social media, which were quickly denied by the Archdiocese of Kampala. Just four months later, the sad news have become true. His death has left many in shock, with tributes pouring in from all over the country.
His legacy lives on through the Mt. Sion Prayer Centre, Bukalango TV, and the many lives he touched with his faith, compassion, and leadership. Msgr. Magembe believed that the Holy Spirit is alive and active in the Catholic Church—and his life was a living example of that belief.
As the Church mourns his loss, the faithful are encouraged to carry forward his message: The Holy Spirit still works today, and the Catholic Church remains a place of healing, miracles, and renewal.
