Fr Paul Kalenzi: From London Accountant to Jesuit Priest Serving Uganda's Refugees

Fr Paul Kalenzi grew up in Kangemi, a crowded Nairobi slum, after his family fled Uganda during Idi Amin’s regime. Their modest two-room home often sheltered other Ugandan exiles, fostering a sense of shared resilience and community that shaped his early years.

As a curious child, he devoured books, newspapers, and eventually the Bible, which sparked a quiet spiritual pull. He attended school in Uganda at Shimoni Demonstration School and St Mary’s College Kisubi, but his priestly aspirations were initially deferred by his father’s advice to gain worldly experience first.

Kalenzi excelled academically, earning an economics degree from the University of Manchester and qualifying as an accountant. He thrived at KPMG in London, enjoying a structured, high-achieving life. Yet, an inner restlessness persisted, leading him to burn his accounting books in a symbolic farewell.

At 27, he joined the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), embracing their blend of intellectual depth and worldly engagement. His formation took him to Arusha, Harare, Nairobi, Paris, Boston, and Chicago, blending philosophy, theology, and even fundraising—skills echoing his past career.

Ordained in 2016 at St Peter’s Church in Nsambya, Kampala, Fr Kalenzi now directs the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) in Uganda. He manages urgent needs in Kampala and West Nile settlements, providing food, shelter, education, vocational training, agriculture projects, and trauma counseling amid shrinking resources.

Reflecting on his path, he notes the irony: the accounting precision he once rejected now sustains refugee programs. A refugee himself as a boy, he now helps others navigate displacement, while nurturing a desire to write about his transformative journey.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)