Archdiocese of Mbarara
| Archdiocese of Mbarara Archidioecesis Mbararaensis | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country | Uganda |
| Deaneries | 8 |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 10,980 km2 (4,240 sq mi) |
| Population Total Catholics |
3,650,770 1,278,440 (35%) |
| Parishes | 42 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Catholicism |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman |
| Established | May 28, 1934 |
| Cathedral | Santa Maria Nyamitanga |
| Secular priests | 165 |
| Metropolitan Archbishop | Lambert Bainomugisha |
| Suffragans | Fort Portal, Hoima, Kabale, Kasese |
| Map | |
| Location of the Archdiocese of Mbarara within Uganda | |
Archdiocese of Mbarara — The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mbarara (Latin: Archidioecesis Mbararensis) is a metropolitan archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church located in Mbarara, Uganda.[1] Elevated to archdiocese status on January 2, 1999, it serves as the metropolitan see for the Western Uganda Ecclesiastical Province.[2]
Territory
The archdiocese covers 10,980 square kilometers (4,241 square miles) and encompasses the following districts: Mbarara, Ibanda, Kiruhura, Isingiro, Bushenyi, Shema, Rubirizi, Mitoma, Buhweiju, and Ntungamo.[2] It shares borders with Fort Portal and Kasese Dioceses in the north, Bukoba Diocese in Tanzania to the south, Masaka Diocese in the east, and Kabale Diocese in the west.[2]
As of June 2025, the archdiocese is subdivided into 42 parishes, and has 165 priests altogether.[3][4]
Suffragan dioceses
The Archdiocese of Mbarara serves as the metropolitan see for the following suffragan dioceses:[5]
The cathedral is the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Mbarara.
History
The archdiocese dates back to the Vicariate Apostolic of Ruwenzori, which was erected on May 28, 1934 by splitting the Vicariate Apostolic of Uganda. On March 25, 1953 it was elevated to a diocese and renamed after its principal town Mbarara. 1961 territory was lost to the newly erected diocese of Fort Portal, and again in 1966 to the diocese of Kabale. On January 2, 1999 the diocese was elevated to an archdiocese. Before being an archdiocese the diocese was a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Kampala.[1]
Leadership
The current Metropolitan Archbishop is Lambert Bainomugisha, appointed on April 25, 2020, and formally installed on June 20, 2020.[5] Archbishop Bainomugisha was born on July 12, 1961, at Kashumba, Bukanga, Isingiro, and was ordained as a priest on July 13, 1991, at Mbarara Cathedral.[1] He previously served as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese from 2005.[2]
Archbishops of Mbarara
Source:[1]
- Vicar Apostolic of Ruwenzori
- Bishop François-Xavier Lacoursière Missionaries of Africa (28 May 1934 - 25 March 1953 see below)
- Bishops of Mbarara
- Bishop François-Xavier Lacoursière Missionaries of Africa (see above 25 March 1953 - 20 April 1956)
- Bishop Jean-Marie Gaëtan Ogez, Missionaries of Africa (11 December 1956 - 25 November 1968)
- Bishop John Baptist Kakubi (26 June 1969 - 23 November 1991)
- Bishop Paul Kamuza Bakyenga (23 November 1991 – 2 January 1999 see below)
- Archbishops of Mbarara
- Archbishop Paul Kamuza Bakyenga (see above 2 January 1999 – 25 April 2020), promoted as Archbishop on 2 January 1999, when Mbarara became metropolitan archdiocese.[6][2]
- Archbishop Lambert Bainomugisha (25 April 2020 – Present), formerly served as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese since 2005.[5]
Coadjutor Bishop
- Paul Kamuza Bakyenga (1989-1991)
Auxiliary Bishop
- Lambert Bainomugisha (2005-2020), appointed Archbishop in April 2020
See also
Canonical status and jurisdiction
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mbarara is a metropolitan archdiocese of the Catholic Church.[7]
- Part of: Ecclesiastical Province of Mbarara
External links
References
- Back to citation occurrence 1.0 Back to citation occurrence 1.1 Back to citation occurrence 1.2 Back to citation occurrence 1.3 "Mbarara (Archdiocese)". Catholic Hierarchy. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
- Back to citation occurrence 2.0 Back to citation occurrence 2.1 Back to citation occurrence 2.2 Back to citation occurrence 2.3 Back to citation occurrence 2.4 "About Us". Archdiocese of Mbarara. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
- Back to citation "Archdiocese of Mbarara - Parishes". www.archdioceseofmbarara.org.ug. Archdiocese of Mbarara. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
- Back to citation "Archdiocese of Mbarara - Priests". www.archdioceseofmbarara.org.ug. Archdiocese of Mbarara. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
- Back to citation occurrence 5.0 Back to citation occurrence 5.1 Back to citation occurrence 5.2 "Mbarara Archdiocese". Uganda Episcopal Conference. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
- Back to citation "Archbishop Paul Kamuza Bakyenga [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Catholic Hierarchy. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
- Back to citation Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mbarara, official website