Preparations are in high gear in Kabale town ahead of the episcopal ordination and installation of Monsignor Bonaventure Bosco Gubazire as the fifth bishop of Kabale Diocese on October 3.
Monsignor Gubazire was announced in July as the bishop-elect of Kabale Diocese by the charge d’affaires at the Apostolic Nunciature in Uganda, Rev Fr Georges Kwami Kouwonou, at Rushoroza Cathedral in Kabale town.
He succeeds Rt Rev Callistus Rubaramira, 76, who tendered his age-related resignation from the pastoral care of the Catholic Diocese of Kabale after serving for 23 years.
Bishop-elect Gubazire, a member of the Missionaries of Africa, was serving as rector of the St Martin of Tours Formation House in Ejisu, Ghana, before his appointment.
‘Preparations for the episcopal ordination and installation of our new Bishop are almost at the climax as most of the activities are already done. We are only finalizing and different subcommittees under the central organising committee are operating well. We are inviting each and every one of you to come and join us for this special event for our Kabale Diocese,’ the episcopal delegate of Kabale Diocese, Fr John Vianney Sunday, said during a press briefing in Kabale town on Thursday.
Fr Sunday said the organisers expect about 20,000 people to attend the ceremony, which will be held at the St Ignatius University grounds in Kabale town.
He said Bishop-elect Gubazire is the guest of honour and President Museveni has been invited as the chief guest.
The diocese will also use the occasion to recognise the contribution of Bishop Rubaramira, who led the diocese from 2003 until his retirement in July this year.
‘We shall always remember the out-going bishop of Kabale Diocese Rt Rev Callist Rubaramira for establishing financial sustainability programmes, especially the Bishop’s Annual Appeal Fund (BAAF) that led to the construction of commercial buildings that generate income for our diocese. We shall also remember him for spearheading the establishment of St Ignatius University and Radio Maria Kabale among other social developments in our diocese,’ Fr Sunday said.
Fr Balthazar Ndyomugabe, the Kabale Diocese coordinator for Peace and Justice and coordinator for interreligious and ecumenism in the Kigezi region, said Bishop Rubaramira would also be remembered for expanding the diocese’s parish network.
He said the bishop increased the number of parishes from 28 to 43 to bring church services closer to Christians.
Fr Ndyomugabe also credited Bishop Rubaramira with ordaining more than 200 priests, renovating the cathedral at the Rushoroza headquarters and strengthening small Christian communities at village level to promote spirituality and development.
Bishop-elect Gubazire will become the fifth bishop of Kabale Diocese since its establishment in 1966.
The diocese was initially led by Gervasius Placidus Nkalanga, who served as apostolic administrator from 1966 to 1969. He was succeeded by Barnabas R. Halem’Imana, who served from 1969 to 1994.
Robert Mary Gay, a member of the Missionaries of Africa, led the diocese from 1994 to 2003 before Bishop Rubaramira took over.
Kabale Diocese comprises six districts in southwestern Uganda: Kabale, Kisoro, Rubanda, Rukiga, Rukungiri and Kanungu.