Christopher Senyonjo
| Christopher Senyonjo | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of West Buganda | |
Prohibited by the Church of Uganda from wearing the robes of a bishop, Senyonjo often wears the purple shirt and clerical collar of the office.
|
|
| Church | Church of Uganda |
| Diocese | West Buganda |
| Installed | 1974 |
| Term ended | 1998 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 8, 1931 (age 85) |
| Nationality | Ugandan |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Alma mater |
|
Christopher Senyonjo (also Ssenyonjo; born December 8, 1931) is a clergyman and campaigner for LGBT rights in Uganda. He was elevated to bishop in the Church of Uganda in 1974 and retired in 1998. In 2001, he was barred from performing services. Whilst it is widely claimed that this is because of his stance on gay rights, the church claims that it was because of his participation in the consecration of a man to be a bishop of a church with which the Church of Uganda is not in communion. He has since worked with the Charismatic Church of Uganda and the progressive Episcopal Church of the United States, and founded Integrity Uganda and the Saint Paul's Reconciliation and Equality Centre in Kampala. In 2006 the Church of Uganda declared him "no longer a bishop" and revoked all remaining privileges for his involvement with the Charismatic denomination. For his stance Senyonjo has received several honours including the Clinton Global Citizen Award, and has been invited to participate in documentaries and international speaking tours.
According to a biography in The Observer of Uganda, Senyonjo was born to Maria Mukulu Abul'awawe and Erika Kapere on December 8, 1931, and was raised in the Mubende district (now Kiboga) of Singo sub-county.
A good student, he attended Sinde Primary School until the age of 10, transferring to Bukomero Primary School, residing with paternal uncle Douglas Kyeyune and wife Miriam. An anecdote describes him walking 16 km to Nalukolongo for a kilogram of meat, which Miriam craved during her pregnancy, when the local trading centre did not have any.
His father died in 1944, and Senyonjo went to live with his aunt in Kitii, near Kasangati. He continued to do well at Wampewo Primary School and after P.6 he attended King's College Budo in 1947. On holidays he sold pancakes for his aunt, leading to him being jailed for a night at the age of 13 by an officer who thought he must have stolen money from a locked donation box. He described being without blanket or shoes in a cell with people who were dirty and infected with lice.
...
Wikipedia