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The announcement by the Apostolic Nunciature in Kampala that Pope Leo XIV appointed Monsignor Prof Bonaventure Bosco Gubazire as the next Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kabale marks a significant moment in the life of the Church in Southwestern Uganda.

Having studied philosophy one year ahead of Fr Gubazire during our formative years at the Philosophy Centre (PCJ) in Jinja, I received news of his appointment with profound personal joy.

Those years were marked by rigorous intellectual formation, spirited debate, and the forging of enduring friendships.

While our vocations eventually followed different trajectories, mine into the social sciences and his into priestly and ecclesial service, I have remained an attentive observer of a journey distinguished by intellectual discipline, personal integrity, and unwavering commitment to the Church.

That sense of admiration is accompanied by an equally profound awareness of the weight of responsibility that now rests upon his shoulders.

The episcopacy is a singular vocation within the life of the Church. It confers authority, yet it also demands sacrifice and often a certain solitude.

Prof Gubazire approaches this responsibility not as an external administrator but as one whose roots are deeply woven into the ecclesial and social fabric of Kigezi.

His father, Mzee Gubazire, has for decades been recognised as a respected lay leader within the Diocese of Kabale, while members of his family have distinguished themselves through service to both Church and society.

Such a heritage offers more than familiarity with local realities; it provides an intimate understanding of the aspirations, anxieties, and lived experiences of the people he is now called to shepherd.

For those who have had the privilege of knowing him personally, however, his most valuable asset lies neither in his family pedigree nor in his impressive academic attainments.

It rests in the quality of his character. Throughout his life, Fr Gubazire has embodied a quiet humility, a genuine concern for others, and a profound respect for human dignity.

His disposition reflects a conviction that leadership is fundamentally an act of service and that authority achieves its highest purpose when directed towards the flourishing of others.

His intellectual formation further enriches this profile. Having served as Rector of Saint Martin of Tours Formation House in Ejisu, Ghana, and pursued advanced studies in both Ireland and the Philippines, he brings to the episcopacy a breadth of scholarly experience grounded in philosophical reflection.

His academic interests in communitarian ethics and classical theism reveal a mind deeply attentive to the relationship between the individual, the community, and the transcendent.

Such a disposition should not be mistaken for indecision or institutional laxity. Every bishop is entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding the faith and preserving ecclesial discipline.

Fidelity to the teachings and traditions of the Church remains an indispensable aspect of episcopal ministry. Yet authentic leadership requires more than the application of rules.

It calls for the wisdom to understand the human realities beneath institutional challenges and the courage to address them through a synthesis of justice, charity, and pastoral prudence.

The most significant test of Bishop-elect Gubazire’s leadership may lie not merely in the administration of ecclesiastical discipline, but in his capacity to hold together justice, mercy, and pastoral responsibility within complex and often competing realities.

The episcopal installation will mark the beginning of a demanding yet promising chapter for the Diocese of Kabale.

Two men were killed by lightning in Kasese Municipality on Tuesday afternoon as a heavy downpour with strong winds hit Nyakatonzi Cell, Central Division, at around 3:30pm.

The victims were identified as Jeremiah Baluku, in his 60s, and Isaac Kihara, in his 40s. Police said Baluku was a night watchman at Kikade second-hand clothing stores, while Kihara worked as a dry cleaner at the same premises.

Rwenzori East Regional Police spokesperson ASP Elly Maate said the two had been operating from separate makeshift shelters but sought refuge together when the rain intensified.

‘Unfortunately, we have lost two great men, Baluku and Isaac Kihara, who have been killed by lightning in the rains that started at around 3:30 pm,’ ASP Maate said.

He said Baluku was believed to have hailed from Kamasasa in Karambi Sub-county, although police were still working to establish his exact place of origin.

He said the bodies had been taken to Kasese Municipal Health Centre III for postmortem examination and would later be handed over to the families for burial.

Maate urged residents and institutions to install lightning arresters on buildings as a precaution.

‘Ever since I was transferred to Rwenzori East, this is the first lightning incident we have recorded. We urge schools, hospitals, churches and other public institutions, as well as the general public, to prioritise installing lightning arresters on their buildings,’ he said.

An eyewitness, Morian Kabugho, said residents heard a loud sound shortly before discovering the two men lying unconscious.

‘We were inside the houses, and we heard a very loud and awkward sound coming from outside. On checking outside, we saw fire coming from the shelter under the back tree where Mzee Baluku sleeps,’ Kabugho said.

‘We immediately rushed there and saw the two men, Jeremiah and Isaac, down on the ground. The rain was too much, with heavy winds which you couldn’t even withstand. We are very shocked by this sudden death,’ she added.

Fred Bwambale, the former chairperson of Nyakatonzi Cell, said Baluku had lived in the area for more than 10 years.

‘Jeremiah has been living here for more than 10 years. This makeshift shelter has been his home. We have been living with him very peacefully for all these years, and we decided to hire him to watch over these Kikade stores,’ Bwambale said.

Sadayo Bwambale Kahuju, the Nyakatonzi Cell secretary, described the two as social and good-hearted people whose deaths had left a gap in the business community.

‘Whenever it rains, people should always seek shelter in safe houses. My fellow Ugandans should understand that the rainy season comes with challenges and we should always be cautious,’ Kahuju said.

The High Court in Mukono has formally allowed the withdrawal of an election petition challenging the victory of Kayunga District Woman Member of Parliament, Ms Harriet Nakwedde, bringing a prolonged legal dispute over the seat to an end.

The petition, filed by NRM-aligned candidate Ms Jackline Birungi Kobusingye, was withdrawn on Wednesday before presiding judge Justice Godfrey Himbaza.

Ms Birungi’s legal team informed the court that their client could no longer proceed with the petition following the sudden death of her father, Mr Moses Karangwa. Karangwa, a prominent businessman and former Kayunga District NRM chairperson, died in a road crash in May.

Addressing the court, Mr Isaac Nambijja, lead counsel for Ms Birungi, explained that his client was grappling with severe emotional distress and needed to step back from litigation to manage family affairs.

“My client is currently facing significant emotional challenges and needs to concentrate on attending to pressing family responsibilities following her father’s passing,” Mr Nambijja said.

The withdrawal concludes a multi-stage legal battle that began shortly after the official declaration of results. Dissatisfied with the outcome, Ms Birungi first applied for a vote recount at the Kayunga Chief Magistrate’s Court. After an unfavorable ruling, she sought a revision of the magistrate’s decision at the Mukono High Court before eventually dropping that application to file a full election petition challenging Ms Nakwedde’s victory.

In the January 15 parliamentary election, Ms Nakwedde, running on the National Unity Platform (NUP) ticket, was declared the winner with 20,753 votes. Independent candidate Ms Aidah Nantaba came second with 16,138 votes, while Ms Birungi finished third with 15,790 votes.

Reacting to the developments, Ms Nakwedde’s lawyer, Mr Andrew Wabwezi, revealed that his team had already prepared preliminary legal objections to dismiss the petition at an early stage.

‘We were fully prepared to expose the metrics of this race in open court, but our client has graciously consented to the withdrawal without costs,’ Mr Wabwezi said outside court. He added that the withdrawal serves as a vindication of Ms Nakwedde’s mandate, noting that the prolonged dispute had needlessly consumed time and resources that could have been directed toward constituent service.

Speaking to journalists outside the courtroom, a relieved Ms Nakwedde recounted the lengthy legal process she had endured since the election was concluded.

‘We began with the recount application in Kayunga. Being dissatisfied with what the magistrate pronounced, they came for a revision here and later brought an election petition, which has finally been concluded today,’ Ms Nakwedde said.

She thanked the NUP leadership and her supporters for standing by her throughout the legal battle. She also confirmed that she would not seek court costs from the petitioner.

‘I forgive her. I don’t need anything from her,’ Ms Nakwedde stated, adding that her focus is now entirely on her legislative duties. ‘I am here to serve you [the people of Kayunga], and I know I am going to serve you diligently.’

Justice Himbaza’s decision to grant the withdrawal leaves Ms Nakwedde securely in office as the elected Woman Member of Parliament for Kayunga District, as the substantive allegations raised in the petition will no longer be heard.

Central Region Member of Parliament for Older Persons, Mr James Kakooza, has asked the High Court in Wakiso to dismiss an election petition challenging his victory, arguing that it was not served within the time prescribed by law.

The preliminary objection was raised on Monday before Justice George Okello, with Mr Kakooza’s lawyer, Mr Apolo Katumba, arguing that the court has no jurisdiction to entertain the petition because the respondent was served outside the statutory seven-day period.

Mr Katumba told court that the law requires an election petition to be served on the respondents within seven days and that failure to comply with the requirement renders the petition a nullity.

He said the defence would rely on the Court of Appeal decision in Harriet Nakwedde Vs Andrew Muwonge Election Petition Appeal No.1 of 2022, made in 2024.

In that case, the appellate court stressed that the statutory timelines governing election petitions are mandatory and cannot be extended at the discretion of court.

Mr Katumba argued that courts have no residual or inherent power to enlarge a period fixed by statute in electoral disputes, making timely service a prerequisite for a petition to proceed.

The lawyer also raised an objection to a reply filed by the petitioner, Ms Mary Sendi, arguing that it introduced new matters that were not contained in the original petition.

He maintained that parties in election proceedings are expected to remain within the boundaries of their original pleadings and should not use subsequent filings to introduce fresh grounds of challenge.

The objections have placed the question of whether the petition can proceed at the centre of the preliminary proceedings before the High Court.

Justice Okello directed Mr Kakooza’s legal team to file and serve its written submissions, which he referred to as ‘skeleton arguments’, on Ms Sendi by today (September 23).

The petitioner was given until September 25 to file a rejoinder, if any.

The case was subsequently adjourned to September 29 for further hearing.

Each time Ms Teopista Kizza crosses River Sio by boat on her way to Kenya, she pays between Shs2,000 and Shs10,000, adding to the burden faced by residents who rely on the waterway to cross the Uganda-Kenya border.

Ms Kizza, a resident of Bunyide Village in Buhehe Sub-county, told Monitor on Tuesday that boat fares across River Sio vary with the seasons, rising to Shs10,000 during the rainy season when flooding affects both sides of the river.

During the dry season, the water level falls, shortening the crossing distance and reducing the fare to about Shs2,000.

‘We pay less for transport during the dry season than in the rainy season because the water level is usually lower,’ Ms Kizza said.

Ms Kizza, who was found crossing to Mulwada, said she sometimes travels to Kenya twice a day, spending between Shs8,000 and Shs40,000 on canoe transport for return trips.

Mr Juma Syabi, a canoe operator on River Sio, said he charges Shs2,000 per trip for passengers and goods transported across the river.

He said he started operating the canoe because there is no bridge across River Sio connecting the two countries, creating a livelihood opportunity for operators while leaving residents dependent on boats.

‘We have Samia communities on both sides of the border, so people often come to me for transport,’ Mr Syabi said.

For residents such as Mr Sande Mulefu of Mauko Village, however, the crossing is more than an inconvenience.

Mr Mulefu said transporting merchandise across River Sio or taking a sick person to Nangina in Kenya can be difficult because of the absence of a bridge.

He said boats have on several occasions capsized after being swept away by strong currents, while crocodiles have also posed a danger to people using the waterway.

‘We have lost many people in this area to crocodile attacks on canoes, and we believe a bridge should be built across the river,’ Mr Mulefu said.

New border crossing

The residents are among those expected to benefit from plans by Uganda and Kenya to establish a new border entry point at Mulwada in Busia District.

The planned crossing will include a bridge over River Sio linking communities in the two countries, alongside customs facilities.

The entry point is expected to connect Mulwada and Lumino in Busia, Uganda, with Sigalame in Busia County, Kenya.

The process of establishing the new entry point has started with the reaffirmation of the Uganda-Kenya boundary along a 50-kilometre stretch by officials from the two countries’ departments of surveys and mapping.

Mr Ibrahim Magemeso, the acting commissioner in the Department of Surveys and Mapping in Kampala, said on Tuesday that the border reaffirmation exercise is the first step before construction of the bridge and customs facilities.

‘We have started reaffirming the boundaries, and the next step will be to construct a bridge and establish customs facilities,’ Mr Magemeso said.

Eng Ireneous Barasa Nahadu, a resident of Majanji, said reaffirming the border was important before the two countries establish the new customs facility.

‘I think reaffirming the boundary between Kenya and Uganda is a step in the right direction towards realising our dream of operationalising the Mulwada entry border post,’ Eng Barasa said.

He said the project had been anticipated for years, noting that former Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki laid a foundation stone at Mulwada on the Kenyan side in 2007.

Historic trade link

Eng Barasa said the Mulwada crossing had historically served as an important link between the Samia communities on both sides of the border.

He said a footbridge constructed by Kenyan authorities in the early 1930s enabled Ugandan farmers to transport cotton to markets in Sigalame and Nangina in Kenya.

According to Eng Barasa, Asian traders established cotton stores and ginneries on the Kenyan side during the 1930s, attracting Samia farmers from Uganda who crossed the border to sell their cotton.

He said the communities also traded cattle and cattle products, while their Kenyan counterparts engaged in iron smelting using iron ore from the hills around Funyula and Nangina. They produced hoes, knives and pangas, which were sold to Ugandan traders.

Eng Barasa said the crossing was not only important for trade but also strengthened family and cultural ties between communities on either side of the border.

He said increased interaction led to marriages between Kenyan and Ugandan Samia families.

‘The Kenyan Samia at the time referred to Samia in Uganda as ‘Amadoola Ngombe,’ meaning an area where cattle could easily be obtained, because Ugandans paid up to 12 head of cattle as bride price for Kenyan women,’ Eng Barasa said.

He said the footbridge was destroyed in 1975 following remarks by then Ugandan president Idi Amin that he intended to claim Ugandan territory up to Lake Naivasha in Kenya.

‘Angered by Amin’s reckless statement, the Kenyans, led by Julie, demolished and burnt the bridge,’ Eng Barasa said.

He said the destruction disrupted cross-border trade in agricultural produce and iron tools while weakening social and cultural ties between the Samia communities.

Trade opportunities

John Charles Namayindi, the Busia District LC5 chairman, said the proposed border crossing would create new economic opportunities for residents.

‘We are going to see trade boom again across the border. We produce a lot of agricultural products, including maize, cassava and beans, so we shall exploit the ready market in Kenya,’ Mr Namayindi said.

Justice James Ogola, a retired Principal Judge and resident of Lumino, said the opening of the Mulwada border had been long-awaited.

He said the crossing would strengthen trade among the Samia communities, which were divided by the creation of the Uganda-Kenya border in 1926.

‘As Samia in Kenya and Uganda, we are one people. We trace the same origin, share similar cultural ties and have a common destiny,’ Justice Ogola said while addressing residents of Bunyide and Mauko in Buhehe.

He said the Kenyan side of Samia has deposits of iron ore, while the Ugandan side has gold deposits and significant agricultural potential, creating opportunities for increased cross-border trade.

Justice Ogola also said the Mulwada crossing would reduce the cost of doing business by shortening the journey to Kampala by about 34 kilometres compared with routes through the Busia and Malaba border posts.

He said the new border point could also help decongest Busia and Malaba, which are major crossings along the Northern Corridor and handle high volumes of traffic.

Justice Ogola said the crossing could provide an alternative trade route in the event of disruptions along existing routes.

He cited the 1998 El Niño rains, which left parts of Iganga submerged and disrupted the movement of fuel, contributing to shortages.

‘All these roads from Busia and Malaba, including the railway, converge in Iganga town. So any disruption affects the country’s supplies. That is why we believe the Mulwada route through Lumino, Namayingo, Mayuge and Musita offers an alternative route,’ Justice Ogola said.