Diocese of Kasese
Diocese of the Catholic Church in Uganda
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The Roman Catholic Diocese of Kasese (Latin: Kasesen(sis)) is a suffragan diocese of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mbarara in Uganda.[1] Located in the city of Kasese, the diocese serves the Catholic faithful in the Kasese District and covers an area of 3,205 square kilometres (1,237 sq mi), making it the smallest diocese in the Mbarara Ecclesiastical Province.[2]
Uganda- Total
- Catholics
- (as of 2004)
- 466,995
- 201,248 (43.1%)
Diocese of Kasese Dioecesis Kasesensis | |
|---|---|
Roman Catholic Diocese of Kasese | |
| Location | |
| Country | Uganda |
| Metropolitan | Mbarara |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 3,205 km2 (1,237 sq mi) |
Population
|
|
| Information | |
| Rite | Latin Rite |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Leo XIV |
| Bishop | Francis Aquirinus Kibira |
| Bishops emeritus | Egidio Nkaijanabwo |
History
The Diocese of Kasese was established on 6 March 1989 by Pope John Paul II, carved out from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Portal.[1][3] At the time of its establishment, the region had been served by priests from the Fort Portal diocese, but the geographical challenges and growing population necessitated the creation of a separate ecclesiastical jurisdiction.[3]
Territory
The diocese covers 3,205 square kilometers (1,237 square miles) and serves the administrative district of Kasese.[1] The proportion of Catholics in the diocese is estimated at 48% of the total population, making it one of the dioceses with the highest Catholic concentration in Uganda.[2]
The diocesan headquarters are located in Kasese, with the bishop's residence and chancery at P.O. Box 75, Kasese, Uganda.[1] The diocese operates under the Latin Rite.[1]
The diocese is part of the Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of Mbarara, which comprises the archdiocese of Mbarara and several suffragan dioceses in western Uganda.[4]
Bishops of Kasese
The diocese has been led by two bishops since its establishment:
- Egidio Nkaijanabwo (6 March 1989 – 15 April 2014) - First Bishop, served as the founding ordinary of the diocese for 25 years[3][5]
- Acquirino Francis Kibira Araali (since 12 July 2014) - Current Bishop, appointed on 15 April 2014 to succeed Bishop Nkaijanabwo[3][6]