The newly appointed Bishop of Kabale Diocese, Rev. Fr. Bonaventure Bosco Gubazire, M.Afr., brings more than two decades of pastoral, academic and missionary experience from Africa and Asia as he prepares to lead the Catholic faithful in southwestern Uganda.
Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday appointed Rev. Fr. Gubazire, a member of the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers), as the new Bishop of Kabale Diocese, succeeding Rt. Rev. Callistus Rubaramira, whose resignation upon reaching the canonical retirement age was accepted by the Holy Father.
Born on March 3, 1974, in Kitumba, Kabale Diocese, Bishop-elect Gubazire began his education at St. Mary’s Primary School Rushoroza before joining St. Paul’s Minor Seminary Rushoroza. In 1994, he entered the Postulancy of the Missionaries of Africa and later professed his perpetual vows on December 7, 2002. He was ordained a priest on August 10, 2003, at Rushoroza Cathedral Parish.
Bishop-elect Gubazire holds an impressive academic record, including degrees in Philosophy and Theology, a Master’s degree in Philosophy with a specialization in Ethics, a Diploma in ICT Systems Support, and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of San Carlos in Cebu, Philippines.
Throughout his priestly ministry, he has served in several countries, including Mozambique, Malawi, the Philippines and Ghana. His pastoral assignments have included Assistant Parish Priest, Director of Adult Literacy Programmes, Rector of seminaries, Dean of Studies and Child Protection Delegate within the Missionaries of Africa.
Since 2023, he has been serving as Rector of St. Martin of Tours Formation House in Ejisu, Ghana, while also sitting on the Academic Board of the Spiritan University College. In 2025, he was appointed Provincial Council Member in charge of ongoing formation for the Missionaries of Africa in the Ghana-Nigeria Province.
Known for his strong commitment to priestly formation and education, Bishop-elect Gubazire is fluent in English, French, Portuguese, Kiswahili, Chisena, Chichewa, Cebuano and several Ugandan local languages, including Runyankore, Rukiga and Luganda.
The Apostolic Nunciature in Uganda congratulated the Bishop-elect on his appointment and prayed for God’s abundant blessings upon his episcopal ministry.
The Nunciature also expressed gratitude to Bishop Callistus Rubaramira for his dedicated 23 years of service as Bishop of Kabale Diocese. Bishop Rubaramira will continue serving as Apostolic Administrator until Bishop-elect Gubazire officially takes canonical possession of the diocese.
