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| Rev. Fr. Vincent Kirabo |
Barely a day after His Holiness Pope Francis concluded his apostolic journey to Uganda; the Apostolic Nunciature, on Monday December 1, 2015, announced that the Holy Father had appointed Rev. Fr. Vincent Kirabo as the new Bishop of Hoima Diocese.
The announcement was made by the Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda, His Excellency Michael August Blume, in a press statement that was delivered by the Secretary General of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, Msgr John Baptist Kauta through one of the Catholic Radios.
Archbishop Blume also urged all Christians to join in fervent prayer for Bishop-elect Kirabo. “Prayers will help him to be guided and strengthened by the wisdom and courage of the Holy Spirit, to discharge with fidelity and joy his new mission,” he said.
Bishop-elect Kirabo replaces Rt Rev. Lambert Bainomugisha, 54, who has been serving as the Apostolic Administrator of Hoima since 2009. Bishop Bainomugisha is also the Auxiliary Bishop of Mbarara, a position he attained in 2005 after he was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI.
Born on October 1, 1955, Fr Kirabo attended Kahunde Primary School and St. John Bosco Minor Seminary both in Hoima District. He began his philosophical studies at the Uganda Martyrs’ National Major Seminary in Gulu District (located in the northern region of Uganda), after completing theological studies at St. Mary’s National Seminary Ggaba.
He was ordained a priest in 1979 and has served various positions which include a teacher and Rector at St. John Bosco Minor Seminary, Director of the Diocesan Commission for Vocations, Diocesan Financial Administrator and Vicar among others. He has been a professor at St. Mary’s National Seminary Ggaba from 2012.
He holds a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Portland, USA (1990) and Licentiate in Biblical Theology from Urban University in Rome (2007).
Former Bishops that served Hoima Diocese include Bishop Cypriano Kihangire (1965-1968), Bishop Albert Edward Baharagate (1969-1991) and the late Bishop Deogratias Muganwa Byabazaire (1991-2014) before Bishop Bainomugisha.
By Jacinta Wangalwa Odongo, Media Officer, Uganda Episcopal Conference