Background

       In September 1976, as the church of the Province of Uganda was preparing for Centenary celebrations, some christians from Kawaala grew weary of the journey to St Andrew’s Church Kasubi. They went to Mr.Dithan Mayanja Mugema(Omutaka) who allowed them to worship God from his nursery school. Some of these christians were Mr. G. Mbogo, Mr. Paul Gajuule, Mr. Christopher Makanga, Mr. Dithan Mayanja Mugema, Mr. Ssaalongo Munyagenda, Mr. Elieza Ssendikaddiwa, Mr. Kizito Mubanda, Mrs. Keziya Kalibbala, Mrs. Deborah Kimeze, Mrs. Bbiira Kabenge, Mrs. Mary Jjaggwe, Mrs. Zerida Nalule, Mrs. Beesi Nakandi, Mr. Reuben Jjuuko, Mr. Lubwama, Mr. Jusper Mutumba, Mr.Sserunjogi and more.

        During that time, a committee was selected to oversee the church operations with Mr. G Mbogo as the Chairman,  Mr. Kizito Mubanda as Vice Chairman, Mrs. Mary Luswaata as the treasurer and Mr. Ssendi as the Deputy Treasurer. Others committee members included  Mr. Ssaalongo Munyagenda, Mrs. Bbiira Kabenge, Mrs.Cate Kawunde, Mrs. L Kiggwe, Mrs. Ruth Lubwama, Mr. Dithan mayamja Mugema,  Mr. Christopher Makanga and Mrs. Kalibbala.

         Many church clergy from St.Andrew’s Kasubi were against the idea of starting another church in Kawaala and some were even heard complaining publicly.On September 26th, 1976,there was a baptism service held in the home of Prince Luswaata led by Rev. Israel Sserwadda and from then all church gatherings and services were held in Prince Luswaata’s home. The second and third churches were built  on the current church site but were consequently broken inorder to build better standard churches as time went by. The current old church is the fourth in the series of the old churches.

Naming the Church

      Several meetings were held the first of which being on 6th March 1977,and in another held on 9th October 1977, the aim was to find a name for the new church. Three names , St Paul. St Francis and St Peter were proposed and St Francis was chosen in the end. As the norm is, the matter was forwarded to St. Andrews in Kasubi as this new church could not  make such independent decisions on such a major issue. On 27th February 1982,the church committee in Kasubi sat and decided that the new church in Kawaala be called St.Peter.

Growth and Expansion

     The church started expanding and growing thereon not only in terms of leadership but also buildings and projects. Church denominations like Mothers’ Union, CWF, Fathers’ Union, Youth groups and the Choir grew stronger in Kawaala and Kasubi as a parish. The christians liked the new church as it became evident in their participation in church activities, gathering and Sunday congregations, offerings adn charitable work .These were driven by a spirit of unity  and friendship exhibited by the Anglican christians , something that came to be known as the “Kawaala Spirit”.  During this period as they were building their church(the old church currently),they decided to build houses for the church clergy. On Easter Sunday,26th March 1978, they organised a fund raising that yielded shs. 4123 to finish the church roof and floor. In all that, the christians had a vision to build an even better church.Through Unity, Love and Vision, they thought of building a new church they called “Galiba Matendo” meaning “It will be glorious”.

Building the New church

     In April !983, the  late Rt. Rev. Misaeri Kawuma, the then-care taker bishop of Namirembe Diocese dug the first outlay of the foundation of the new Church ( Galiba Matendo) and the plans to build were made in 1983 and 1984. The construction work set off in January 1985 but it was due to the liberation war in the country at the time and then also conversion of money to new units after the war. in the times thereafter, the christians prioritized building houses for the church clergy until January 1988 . In 1989, church construction resumed amidst confusion and disagreement among the christians over the cost of building materials as set in the original plan. By Jan 1991, major differences were noticeable among Christians and on 14th January !991 the church committee elections were held and the committee was tasked with restoration of unity among christians and further construction of the new church. 

     In 1992, The World Bank through Kampala City Council wanted to bring a development project in Kawaala. This project brought a massive difference in opinions among people even in the church as some were totally against it and this brought the construction work to a halt. The stand-off lasted until 1993 when a new church committee was elected. The new committee again had to restore unity among the people and also to bring the construction work back on track. A construction task force was put in place to mobilize for the the continuation of the church project. After that massive mobilization of resources followed to lift the church from the windows level where it had been stunted. Its to be remember that only a single builder(The late Mr Ssaalongo Eliphaz Ssennyonjo) had built this church from the foundation upto the wall plate level . Since then the successive church clergy and servants have worked tirelessly to bring the construction work to completion. The christians have been committed to this project and showed this when they raised over shs 30 million to buy the lease of on Church land in 2010 and fully hold a title.

Dream come true. Galiba Amatendo realised

       In 2002, Rev. Jonathan Kisawuzi decided to rename the church project to Matendo meaning Glory citing out that the old name induced procrastination among people to think that the new church was to be realised in the future. He suggested the name to remind christians that they had to build the church and finish it on time.  On September 10th,2006., the christians led by Rev.Samuel Ssenyanja began praying from the church even though it wasnt fully complete. The journey of this new church may not be well told by words, but all we say is “TO GOD BE THE GLORY”