The newly installed Bishop of Kabale Diocese, Rt Rev Bonaventure Bosco Gubazire, has called for unity and collaboration among the Church, government, business community and other stakeholders to promote faith, peace and socio-economic transformation in the Kigezi region.
Bishop Gubazire made the call on Sunday during a thanksgiving Mass at Our Lady of Good Shepherd-Rushoroza Cathedral in Kabale, a day after he was ordained and installed as the fifth Bishop of Kabale Diocese.
He said he would lead the diocese with humility and a listening heart, while working with Christians, priests, religious leaders and other stakeholders to address the challenges affecting communities.
“I come among you with a listening heart, ready to learn, to journey with you, and together to serve God’s people,” Bishop Gubazire said.
He described his appointment as a sacred responsibility that requires God’s guidance, wisdom and strength, and asked Christians to pray for him as he begins his pastoral ministry.
“As I stand before the Lord and you, His people, I cannot help but ask: ‘Who am I, Lord, that you have chosen me?’ Who am I that you have entrusted me with the sacred responsibility of shepherding your people, the people of the great Kigezi region?” he said.
Drawing inspiration from God’s words to Moses in the Book of Exodus, “Go, I will be with you” Bishop Gubazire said he was confident that God would guide him throughout his ministry.
He said he would seek to live by his episcopal motto, “Lux Tua Luceat”, meaning “Let Your Light Shine”, by serving the faithful and reaching out to people in need.
Bishop Gubazire urged Christians, priests, religious leaders, government officials and the business community to work together, saying the responsibility of developing the Church and society could not be left to one person.
He also called for cooperation with leaders of other faiths, including pastors and imams, saying unity was essential in promoting peace and the common good.
Bishop Gubazire pledged to work closely with priests, religious, deacons, seminarians, catechists and leaders of Small Christian Communities to strengthen the diocese.
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Bishop Gubazire thanked Pope Leo XIV for entrusting him with the pastoral leadership of Kabale Diocese, as well as the Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda, Archbishop Tomasz Grysa, and fellow bishops for welcoming him into the college of bishops.
He paid special tribute to his predecessor, Bishop Emeritus Callist Rubaramira, who led the diocese for 23 years and served as the chief consecrator during his episcopal ordination.
Bishop Gubazire commended Bishop Rubaramira for his pastoral service, wisdom, simplicity and contribution to the socio-economic transformation of people in Kigezi, and wished him God’s blessings in retirement.
In his remarks, Bishop Rubaramira urged Christians to welcome and support his successor as he begins his ministry.
He said the appointment of Bishop Gubazire resonated with his own vision for strengthening missionary work in the diocese, citing the establishment of Kyanamira Parish under the Missionaries of Africa.
Bishop Rubaramira expressed hope that his successor would lobby for the establishment of another parish under the Missionaries of Africa. He pledged continued cooperation between the Church and government in promoting freedom, justice, peace, development and stability.
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Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Henry Ariganyira Musasizi said Bishop Gubazire had assumed leadership at a time when the government was prioritizing wealth creation programmes aimed at moving households into the money economy.
He asked the new bishop to work with government in promoting socio-economic transformation and pledged his support as Bishop Gubazire leads the diocese.
Minister Musasizi encouraged Christians to engage in productive activities that generate income and contribute to household and community development.
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Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa also urged Christians to embrace government programmes aimed at addressing household poverty and malnutrition.
Tayebwa said Kigezi continues to face challenges related to malnutrition and called on religious leaders to partner with government in addressing the problem.
He said stronger cooperation between the Church and government was necessary to improve the health and living conditions of communities.
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In his homily, Fr Lucas Kiiza, the parish priest of Nyamwegabira Parish in Kanungu District and chairperson of the Kabale Diocese clergy, challenged Bishop Gubazire to use his episcopal ministry to bring hope to communities facing poverty, debt, broken families, alcoholism and other social challenges.
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Fr Kiiza said the bishop had assumed leadership at a time when some people were trapped in what he described as “prisons” of poverty, alcoholism, broken families and other social problems. He urged priests and other clergy to preach the Gospel boldly and remember the poor, oppressed, lonely and vulnerable in society.
Reflecting on Bishop Gubazire’s motto, “Let Your Light Shine”, Fr Kiiza urged him to become a source of hope and guidance to the people entrusted to his pastoral care. He also called on Christians to become a light to others through their actions and to support the new bishop as he begins a new chapter in the history of Kabale Diocese.
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