Preparations are in high gear for the episcopal ordination and installation of Monsignor Bonaventure Bosco Gubazire as the fifth Bishop of Kabale Diocese following his appointment by Pope Leo XIV.
Msgr Gubazire will succeed Rt Rev Callist Rubaramira, who is set to retire on Saturday, October 3, after Pope Leo XIV accepted his resignation on July 15, 2026.
The episcopal ordination and installation ceremony will be held at St Ignatius University grounds in Kabale Municipality on Saturday.
A spot check by our reporter at the venue on Thursday found service providers putting final touches to the grounds ahead of the ceremony.
The Episcopal Delegate of Kabale Diocese and chairperson of the organizing committee, Msgr Dr John Vianney Sunday, said preparations were nearing completion.
He said about 20,000 people are expected to attend the ceremony, with President Museveni expected to be the chief guest.
Msgr Sunday said infrastructure and other arrangements had been put in place to accommodate the expected guests.
He added that security agencies had been engaged and inspected the venues where various activities related to the ceremony will take place.
CUE IN MSGR VIANNEY…ON PREPARATIONS…RR/ENG//
Gubazire’s background
Bishop-elect Gubazire was born on March 3, 1974, in Kitumba, Rushoroza Cathedral Parish.
He attended St Mary’s Rushoroza Boys Primary School before joining St Paul’s Seminary Rushoroza for his secondary education.
He later obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Religious Studies from the Philosophy Centre in Jinja and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology from the Institut Catholique de Toulouse in France.
Msgr Gubazire joined the Missionaries of Africa, commonly known as the White Fathers, and was ordained a priest on August 10, 2003, by Bishop Rubaramira at Rushoroza Cathedral.
Over the past two decades, he has served in various pastoral, academic and missionary roles in Africa, Europe and Asia.
He began his priestly ministry as a parochial vicar at Nossa Senhora de Fatima Parish in Murraça, Mozambique, where he also directed adult education programmes and served on the Council of the Missionaries of Africa in Mozambique.
He later undertook formation for formators and spiritual accompaniment at the Jesuit Spiritual Centre Le Châtelard in Lyon, France, before earning a Licentiate in Philosophy from the Milltown Institute of Philosophy in Dublin, Ireland.
Between 2010 and 2016, he served at the Lechaptois Formation House in Balaka, Malawi, as professor, dean of studies, acting rector and delegate for the protection of minors.
He also completed a biblical formation course at St Anne’s Formation Centre in Jerusalem.
From 2016 to 2020, Msgr Gubazire pursued a doctorate in Philosophy at the University of San Carlos in Cebu, Philippines.
During this period, he served as coordinator and chaplain of the Friends of Missionaries of Africa, a member of the Council of the Asia Section and later rector of Our Lady of Africa Formation House Seminary.
Since 2021, Msgr Gubazire has served as dean of studies at Spiritan University College in Ejisu, Ghana.
In 2023, he was appointed rector of St Martin of Tours Formation House, while since 2025 he has served as a member of the Provincial Council of the Ghana-Nigeria Province of the Missionaries of Africa.
