The Sixth North Kigezi bishop Rev. Onesimus Asiimwe, who has been consecrated at Emmanuel Cathedral, Kinyansano in Rukungiri district today, has promised to revive Church-founded schools in the diocese.

At a function presided over by Church of Uganda Archbishop Dr Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu today, March 12, 2023, Asiimwe said on top of his agenda as bishop of Kigezi is the revival of Church-founded schools.

He says he wants the schools to be revived so that they are able to compete at the same level with the top performing ones in the region and country.

Asiimwe also promised to ensure that the construction of Emmanuel Cathedral, Kinyansano is completed. The construction of the cathedral was started by Asiimwe's predecessor the Rt. Rev. Benon Magezi, who passed on in June 2021 due to COVID-19-related complications.

In a sermon delivered during the function, Church of Uganda Archbishop Emeritus Henry Luke Orombi said he purposely groomed Asiimwe because he knew Asiimwe would one time become a bishop. 

Some of the dignitaries that attended the function. Photo by Caleb Bahikaho

Among those attending the function are over 50 bishops from within and abroad are attending the function. Those from abroad included those from Rwanda and Australia. 

Other high profile diginateries at the function, include Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs Rebecca Kadaga, security minister Jim Muhwezi, information minister Chris Baryomunsi, state minister David Bahati.

Who is Asiimwe?

• According to the press release, Asiimwe was born on April 24, 1965, in Mparo, Rukiga district. 
• He was Born Again on January 8, 1988, after a night of heavy alcohol drinking when he heard the Lord say to him the next morning: "Onesimus, do you not know that your body is the Temple of God?"
• "In response to the voice, I threw away the cigarette dangling between my fingers and called on Jesus for salvation. The Holy Spirit convicted me to repent and to make a public confession of my newfound faith, which I did that very evening during our family prayer time and a couple of days later in our local church in Kihanga,” Asiimwe says.
• Asiimwe has a master's of divinity from the Uganda Christian University.
• Bachelor's degree in Education from Makerere University.
• Diploma in Education from the National Teachers College, Kabale
• He has attended numerous capacity-building trainings locally, as well as internationally.
• Rev. Asiimwe is the current chaplain of Makerere University's St Francis Chapel.
• Served as the Provincial youth and students co-ordinator where he helped develop the very influential PAYSCO (Provincial Annual Youth and Students Convention) programme.
• Served as the Chaplain to Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi.
• Co-ordinator of the Provincial Healing, Deliverance, and Intercessory Prayer Ministry.
• He is married to Florence and the Lord has blessed them with three children.