Museveni gifts Land Cruiser to new Kabale bishop

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President Yoweri Museveni has donated a brand-new Toyota Land Cruiser to the newly ordained Bishop of Kabale Catholic Diocese, Bonaventure Bosco Katusiime Gubazire.

The vehicle was handed over to Bishop Gubazire by finance minister Henry Musasizi, who represented President Museveni at the bishop's ordination and consecration on October 3, 2026, when Gubazire was installed as the fifth Bishop of Kabale Diocese.

The newly ordained Bishop of Kabale Catholic Diocese, Bonaventure Bosco Katusiime Gubazire, getting into the car that was gifted to him by President Yoweri Museveni. (Photo by Juliet Anna Lukwago)

The ceremony, held at the St Ignatius University Kabale playground, brought together thousands of Christians and other guests from the Kigezi region, other parts of Uganda and abroad.

Among those who attended were Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, Justice Dr Flavian Zeija and his wife, health minister Chris Baryomunsi, security minister Jim Muhwezi, industry state minister David Bahati, business people, politicians, MPs and religious leaders.

Musasizi said President Museveni donated the vehicle after considering it suitable for the mountainous terrain of the region.

He praised the Catholic Church for its good relationship with the Government and said the NRM government would continue supporting the Church through charitable projects.

(L-R) Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa and Minister for Finance, Henry Musasizi, chat with the newly ordained Bishop of Kabale Catholic Diocese, Bonaventure Bosco Katusiime Gubazire (MAF), as the retired Bishop of Kabale, Callistas Rubaramira, looks on. (Photo by Juliet Anna Lukwago)

He also encouraged religious leaders to continue mobilising Christians to participate actively in wealth creation and poverty eradication programmes.

President Museveni's message praised the retired Bishop of Kabale, Callistus Rubaramira, for his development work and service to the people of Kabale and the wider Kigezi region.

He said Rubaramira had contributed not only to the spiritual growth of Christians, but also to economic and social development.

The ceremony was officiated by the Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda, Archbishop Tomasz Grysa, alongside Archbishop Lambert Bainomugisha of Mbarara Archdiocese. It was Grysa's first visit to the diocese since taking up his service in Uganda.

Bishops from different dioceses in Uganda and abroad also attended the ceremony.

Gubazire succeeds Rubaramira, who served as Bishop of Kabale Diocese for 23 years and was the fourth bishop of the diocese.

Bishops recite prayers for Bishop Bonaventure Bosco Katusiime Gubazire in the process of ordaining him as the new bishop of Kabale Diocese. (Photo by Juliet Anna Lukwago)

In July, Pope Leo XIV accepted the resignation of Rubaramira, who was 75 and had reached the retirement age set out in Canon 401 of the Code of Canon Law, which requires bishops to offer their resignation to the pope at the age of 75.

Before his episcopal ordination, an official letter from the pope recognising Gubazire's appointment was issued.

Following his episcopal ordination, Bishop Gubazire officially received the instruments of office and historical items belonging to the Church.

Retired bishop

Addressing the congregation gathered to welcome the new bishop and thank him for his service, Rubaramira thanked Gubazire for accepting to lead the people of Kabale Diocese.

“I am retired as a bishop of Kabale Diocese, but I am still available to serve as a priest from Kabale Diocese,” Bishop Rubaramira said.

He encouraged the new Bishop, saying that “I know the work of the Bishop is not easy, but the Holy Spirit will be there to guide you.”

The newly ordained Bishop of Kabale Catholic Diocese, Bonaventure Bosco Katusiime Gubazire, with other bishops on Saturday, October 3, 2026. (Photo by Juliet Anna Lukwago)

Rubaramira urged Christians to work closely with his successor to promote the development of the Church and improve the welfare of Christians throughout the diocese.

Gubazire expressed gratitude for his predecessor's foundational work.

“Bishop Rubaramira ordained me in 2003, and today he laid hands on me again, ordaining me in episcopal duties, this was God’s plan.”

He also thanked President Museveni for donating the vehicle to the diocese, for the peace in the country and for his generous support to the diocese.

He thanked the Missionaries of Africa, commonly known as the White Fathers, who opened the way for his journey into priesthood, as well as his biological parents for accepting his calling.

Gubazire also thanked political leaders and Christians who witnessed his episcopal ordination and promised to pray for them.

Who is Bishop Gubazire?

Gubazire was born on March 3, 1974, to Venancio Gubazire and Maria Salome Gubazire at Kitumba village in the Diocese of Kabale. He is the second-born of seven children.

He attended St Mary's Primary School, Rushoroza, from 1981 to 1987, and St Paul's Minor Seminary, Rushoroza, from 1988 to 1994. He joined the postulancy of the Missionaries of Africa in 1994.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Religious Studies from the Philosophy Centre Jinja (PCJ), obtained in 1997; a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from the Institut Catholique de Toulouse, France, obtained in 2003; and a Master of Arts in Philosophy, majoring in ethics, from the Milltown Institute of Philosophy in Dublin, Ireland, obtained in 2010.

He also holds a Diploma in ICT System Support from Andiamo Educational Institutions of Baraka, Malawi, obtained in 2013, and a Doctorate in Philosophy (PhD) from the University of San Carlos of Cebu, Philippines, obtained in 2020.

Gubazire took his perpetual vows on December 7, 2002, and was ordained a priest on August 10, 2003, at Rushoroza Cathedral Parish.

His first appointment was at the Kabale Diocese offices from 2003 to 2007.

He later served as assistant parish priest at Paroquia da Nossa Senhora de Fátima, Murraça, in the Archdiocese of Beira, Mozambique, from 2004 to 2007. During the same period, he served as director of the School of Adult Literacy at the Catholic Mission of Murraça and Caia in the Archdiocese of Beira from 2005 to 2007.

He served as a council member of the Missionaries of Africa, Mozambique Section, from 2010 to 2013.

From 2011 to 2016, he was professor and dean of studies at Lechaptois Formation House of the White Fathers in Balaka, Malawi. He also served as Child Protection Delegate of the Missionaries of Africa, Malawi Sector, from 2013 to 2015.

Gubazire later served as acting rector of Lechaptois Formation House in Balaka, Malawi, from 2017 to 2020, and as coordinator and chaplain of Friends of Missionaries of Africa in the Philippines from 2017 to 2020.

He was a member of the Council of the Missionaries of Africa, Asia Section, in Cebu, Philippines, from 2019 to 2020.

From 2021, he served as rector of Our Lady of Africa Formation House in Cebu, Philippines, and as dean of studies at the Spiritan University College in Ejisu, Ghana.

Since 2023, he has served as rector of St Martin of Tours Formation House in Ejisu, Ghana. He has also been a member of the Academic Board of the Spiritan University College in Ejisu since 2025 and is a Provincial Council member in charge of the ongoing formation of the Missionaries of Africa, Ghana-Nigeria Province.

Gubazire speaks English, French, Portuguese, Kiswahili, Chisena, Chichewa, Cebuano and local languages including Runyankore, Rukiga and Luganda.