President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has commended the Catholic Church for partnering with government to promote socio-economic development and improve the livelihoods of Ugandans.
Museveni said the Church’s contribution to national development extends beyond spiritual matters to education, health, charity, skills development and community transformation.
The President, who was chief guest at the Episcopal ordination and installation of Rt Rev Bonaventure Bosco Gubazire as the fifth Bishop of Kabale Diocese on Saturday, made the remarks in a message delivered by Finance Minister Henry Ariganyira Musasizi at St Ignatius University-Kabale (IGUKA) in Kabale Municipality.
“Service to the people of God is a service to the nation and a virtue of patriotism. It is a call to sacrifice beyond self and personal will,” Museveni said.
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He urged the Church to strengthen its involvement in wealth creation and skills development, particularly among young people, as part of efforts to address unemployment and improve household incomes.
“I encourage the Church to spread the gospel of wealth creation and prosperity that Uganda has been proclaiming over the years. This will foster and build a skilled workforce for its projects, while closing the unemployment gap in the country, especially among the youth,” he said.
Museveni also called on the Church to establish more economic projects that can support its activities while improving the livelihoods of the communities it serves.
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He urged Ugandans to embrace government programmes aimed at improving household incomes and skilling young people, saying participation in such programmes, coupled with hard work, can contribute to poverty reduction.
The President said government would continue working with religious institutions to promote self-reliance and sustainable development.
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Museveni also paid tribute to the Emeritus Bishop of Kabale Diocese, Rt Rev Callist Rubaramira, for his 23 years of service to the diocese.
He described the transition from Rubaramira to Gubazire as an important milestone and thanked the retired Bishop for serving the diocese with discipline and vision.
Museveni congratulated Gubazire upon his appointment and urged him to embrace the responsibility of serving the people of God.
The President also donated a Land Cruiser vehicle to Gubazire to facilitate his pastoral and evangelisation work in the diocese.
Musasizi said he had been tasked with mobilising resources from friends towards supporting the new Bishop and thanked those who made contributions towards the initiative.
The Finance Minister also urged Gubazire to embrace pastoral closeness and dedicate himself to serving the people entrusted to his care.
Musasizi said Gubazire’s more than two decades of pastoral, academic and missionary experience in Mozambique, Malawi, the Philippines and Ghana had prepared him for his new responsibility.
“You come to Rushoroza with over two decades of pastoral, academic and missionary experience from Mozambique, Malawi, the Philippines and Ghana – a true missionary heart returning home,” Musasizi said.
Gubazire, a member of the Missionaries of Africa, was appointed the fifth Bishop of Kabale Diocese by the Holy See, with his appointment announced by the Apostolic Nunciature to Uganda on July 15.
Musasizi urged him to draw inspiration from the missionary spirit of Cardinal Charles Lavigerie, founder of the Missionaries of Africa.
“Be apostles, and nothing but, and love the people to whom you are sent,” he quoted Lavigerie as saying.
He urged Gubazire to remain close to Christ and the people of Kigezi, particularly the poor, young people, priests and lay faithful.
“May your episcopate be marked by that closeness; closeness to Christ in the Holy Eucharist and closeness to the people of Kigezi – the lambs he has given you to shepherd,” Musasizi said.
He also quoted Pope Leo XIV’s counsel to newly appointed Bishops, urging Gubazire to know the people under his pastoral care, listen to their stories and remain accessible to them.
“First of all, remain with Jesus. Among the many things you will be called to do as Bishops, this is the most important. Always cherish your time with the Lord,” Musasizi quoted the Pope as saying.
Musasizi further urged Gubazire to emulate Christ’s example of service and work to win people to the Catholic faith.
“In a world that longs for authentic witness, your call is to be all things to all people, to win souls for Christ,” he said.
He cited Jeremiah 3:15, which says: “And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”
He also cited Christ’s instruction to St Peter in John 21:17: “Feed my sheep.”
Musasizi pledged continued government collaboration with Kabale Diocese in areas including peace, education, health and human development.
“On behalf of the Government of Uganda, I pledge our continued collaboration for peace, education, health and integral human development in Kabale Diocese. Always be assured of our prayers and support in your activities,” he said.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa, who also congratulated Gubazire, said his elevation to the episcopacy was part of a journey that had prepared him for the responsibility.
Citing Psalm 75:6-7, Tayebwa said promotion does not come from the east, west or south, but from God, who is the judge.
He said Gubazire’s journey from Kitumba to missionary assignments in Mozambique, Malawi, the Philippines and Ghana had prepared him for his new responsibility.
“As you shepherd God’s people, may you continue to emulate our Lord Jesus Christ, who left the comforts of heaven and came down to serve the lowly and set captives free,” Tayebwa said.
He urged Gubazire to ensure that his episcopate in Kabale is marked by the same spirit of service and to remain guided by his episcopal motto, “To Preach the Gospel in Love.”
Gubazire succeeds Rubaramira, who served as Bishop of Kabale Diocese for more than two decades before his resignation.
His installation marks a new chapter in the leadership of Kabale Diocese, which was established in 1966 and is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.
