Rt. Rev. Dr. Bonaventure Bosco Gubazire has officially taken charge of Kabale Catholic Diocese as its fifth bishop, succeeding Rt. Rev. Callist Rubaramira, who has retired after years of leading the Diocese.

Bishop Gubazire was installed during an Episcopal Ordination ceremony held at St. Ignatius University Kabale (IGUKA) in Kabale Municipality, bringing together Catholic faithful, clergy, political leaders and government officials from across Uganda.

The new bishop takes over a Diocese with a long-standing presence in the social and economic development of communities across the Kigezi region.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, represented at the ceremony by Finance Minister Henry Musasizi, congratulated Bishop Gubazire on his appointment, ordination and installation.

In a message delivered by Musasizi, Museveni pledged continued government cooperation with the new Bishop in addressing the social and economic needs of people served by Kabale Diocese.

The President also urged Bishop Gubazire to join government efforts aimed at fighting household poverty through wealth-creation programmes, including the Parish Development Model (PDM).

Museveni further commended Bishop Emeritus Callist Rubaramira for his service to Kabale Diocese and his contribution to the transformation of communities and the lives of Christians.

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa, who attended the ceremony, described the Church as an important partner in national development.

Tayebwa said the Church has played a significant role in transforming communities and improving people's livelihoods, noting that government should continue working with religious institutions in development initiatives.

He also praised Bishop Rubaramira for combining spiritual leadership with socio-economic development during his tenure.

Among the initiatives highlighted were the Bishop's Annual Appeal Fund (BAAF), investments in income-generating infrastructure and the establishment of St. Ignatius University Kabale.

Bishop Gubazire inherits the leadership of Kabale Diocese from Bishop Emeritus Rubaramira, whose tenure was marked by an emphasis on both pastoral ministry and community development.

His installation therefore marks both a change in leadership and the beginning of a new chapter for one of the Catholic Church's important dioceses in southwestern Uganda.

The new Bishop will oversee pastoral work among Catholics across Kabale, Rubanda, Rukiga, Kisoro, Kanungu and Rukungiri.

His responsibilities will include providing spiritual leadership while working with clergy, religious institutions and communities across the Diocese.

During the ceremony, Musasizi also handed over a brand-new Toyota Land Cruiser to Bishop Gubazire on behalf of President Museveni.

Musasizi described the vehicle as a symbol of government support and goodwill, while another account said it would facilitate the Bishop's pastoral work across the six districts served by Kabale Diocese.

The presentation was one of the notable moments at the installation ceremony, which otherwise centred on the new Bishop's assumption of leadership and the Church's continuing role in serving communities.

As Bishop Gubazire begins his episcopal ministry, attention will now turn to how he builds on the foundation established by his predecessor while responding to the spiritual, social and economic needs of Catholics in the Diocese.

His installation brings together two themes repeatedly emphasised during the ceremony: the Church's core mission of spiritual service and its wider contribution to the development of communities across Kigezi.