
The main celebrations of the life and contributions of Metropolitan Theodoros Nankyama were held at St. Andonios – Monde parish yesterday, 17 January. Friday 17 January 2025 marked 28 years since the first ever Metropolitan of Kampala, Theodoros Nankyama reposed in the Lord. With the blessings and invitation of Metropolitan Jeronymos of Kampala, Bishop Constantine Mbonabingi of Juba & South Sudan was the principal celebrant.
Bishop Constantine concelebrated the solemn hierarchical Divine Liturgy with the host Metropolitan, Jeronymos. The bishops were joined by Priests Prodromos Lubega (Abbot of St. Paraskevi Monastery), John Kibuuka, Antonios Mutyaba, Antonios Ssempijja, Patrick Kakande, Daniel Kiwanuka and Hieromonk Paraskevianos. Honorary Metropolitan Innocentios was in attendance during the eucharistic service, and he partook of the holy gifts. During the eucharistic assembly, Mr. Theodore Kombe Lyazi received the rank of a Reader from Metropolitan Jeronymos.

Following the Divine Liturgy, Titular Metropolitan Innocentios Byakatonda of Sozusa joined the serving clergy for the memorial service.
In his remarks, Bishop Constantine recalled on the time when Metropolitan Theodoros fell asleep. He said, “When he was on his deathbed, I was in Nairobi. Patriarch Parthenios had instructed Metropolitan Makarios to get ready and travel to Uganda to preside over the burial of Bishop Nankyama. Much to everyone’s surprise, the Patriarch died before the ailing Metropolitan.” His Grace also noted that Metropolitan Theodoros was one of the three bishops who founded the Uganda Joint Christian Council in 1963.
The youth conference which has been going on since Tuesday 14 January at St. Andonios – Monde, was also concluded. The gathering of youths from parishes under Kampala Archdiocese was focused on the reality of spirituality in the Holy and Apostolic Church.
In his message to the youth, Metropolitan Jeronymos clarified on the purpose of the gathering saying, ”The youth have lately been disconnected from the holiness of the Church which they accepted at Baptism while denouncing Satan.” He added, ”Outsiders reproach the ekklesia because they cite no spiritual difference between the Baptized children of the Church and them.” ”The reason we call you here is to remind you about the holiness of your mother Church and how you should live holy lives as its children,” His Eminence concluded.
Commemoration of Metropolitan Theodoros elsewhere

In the Holy Diocese of Jinja & Eastern Uganda, Bishop Silvester Kisitu presided over the memorial service at Holy Resurrection Cathedral. This was after the Divine Liturgy that was served by the Vicar General, Rev. Fr. Chrysostomos Koolya and Hiero-deacon Moses Ssekubunga.
In his sermon, the Bishop of Jinja delved into the monastic humble life of our devout Father Anthony the Great. ”His level of ascetism enabled him to have his soul sanctified. The desert-dweller is thus referred to as the Father of Monasticism,” he said. The bishop then urged the non-ascetic Christians to strive to avoid immorality.
Metropolitan Theodoros revered so much saint Andonios that it was miraculous for him to fall asleep on the feast day of the devout Father. Bishop Silvester said that he was inspired by the Metropolitan and recalled that whenever he taught him and others, he would refer to St. Andonios repeatedly. ”He loved so much the ascetic father that he made him the patron saint of the church in his home village, Tweyanze. We don’t take it lightly that God called him on this day, but we thank God for it,” he concluded.

At St. Nicholas Cathedral Kampala where Metropolitan Theodoros is buried, Fr. Emmanuel Kiwanuka celebrated the Divine Liturgy and the memorial service thereafter.
Metropolitan Theodoros Nankyama was born Wilson Nankyama Ntabazi on 03 March 1924 to Julius Ssekaayi and Julian Nabbowa Bayiga in Tweyanze, Monde in Luweero district. He was a grandson of James Lutwama and Judith Muwanika Namubiru. He was baptized in a Protestant (Anglican) church in 1938 at Tweyanze.
In 1936, he had joined an Orthodox primary school at Monde. This was by the advice of his uncle the late Jonathan Vunna because at the school taught better the English language. In 1938, Nankyama had to attend his catechetical classes for baptism and confirmation in the Anglican Church. This made him miss lessons very often at the elementary school. The same year, Rev. Fr. Obadiah Basajjakitalo sent exams from Degeya and the best pupils were to be awarded scholarships to study at Degeya.
Nankyama was one of the pupils who got the scholarship despite missing lessons frequently when he was attending catechetical and confirmation classes as mentioned earlier.
While at Degeya, he was so close to Fr. Obadiah (colloquially known as Father O.K). Though he was still a Protestant, he was always the first person in church and the last to leave it. He learnt so much about the Orthodox Faith while close to Fr. Obadiah. Nankyama converted to Orthodoxy between 1940 and 1944.

In 1942, Fr. Obadiah sent Nankyama to Fr. Sparta in Kampala (Namungoona) for further studies. In 1945, by the recommendation of Fr. Sparta, Nankyama was sent to Egypt for further training with three other colleagues: Dimitrios Mumbaale, Elias Katumba and George Lubuulwa. He studied in Alexandria for nine years before he went to Athens, Greece to study Theology. His colleagues studied medicine in the University of Athens.
After graduating in Theology in 1959 and attempting to study Sociology in Germany and England between 1959-1961, he returned to Alexandria. On 21 May 1961, he was ordained a Deacon and Priest on 28 May 1961 by Metropolitan Nicholas of Irinoupolis (East Africa). Fr. Nankyama returned to Uganda on 14 July 1961 and in September of the same year, he was appointed headteacher of Chwa II Memorial College, Namungoona.
On 12 December 1972, Nankyama was elevated to the rank of Bishop of Navcratis by the Patriarchal Synod of Alexandria. Bishop Nankyama served the Church during the most difficult period of time characterized by poverty, civil wars in the country and conflicts within the church.
Many bear witness that Metropolitan Theodoros dedicated much of his time in teaching the children catechism and Church music. Bishop Silvester of Jinja says that Metropolitan Theodoros taught him and others how to live a compassionate, God-loving, and Christian life of justice. ”He frequently visited the parishes and communities strengthening as well as teaching them,” the Hierarch affirmed.
The Holy Synod of Alexandria promoted Bishop Nankyama to the rank of Metropolitan of Kampala and all Uganda in 1995. He therefore became the first Metropolitan of Kampala before he was replaced by the late Metropolitan Jonah Lwanga in 1997 after his repose in the Lord. Metropolitan Theodoros is buried at St. Nicholas Cathedral, Namungoona, Kampala. Eternal be his memory.
May his memory be eternal🙏🙏🙏