The Church in Eastern Africa

Msgr. Bonaventure Bosco Gubazire was ordained and installed as the fifth bishop of Kabale Diocese on Saturday, October 3, 2026. Pope Leo XIV appointed Gubazire to the position, an appointment originally announced on July 15, 2026.

Bishop Emeritus Callist Rubaramira served as the principal consecrator for the ceremony. He was joined by Archbishop Tomasz Grysa, the Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda, and Archbishop Lambert Bainomugisha of Mbarara Archdiocese. During the rite, the Chancellor of Kabale Diocese, Fr. Placid Mugumya, read the Apostolic Mandate in Latin, English, and Rukiga-Runyankore.

The installation brought together thousands of people, including Catholic clergy, religious men and women, government officials, and members of other Christian denominations. Following the homily, Gubazire made solemn promises to proclaim the Gospel and safeguard the faith according to Church tradition.

Bishop Mark Kadima Wamukoya of Bungoma Diocese called on Christians to act as instruments of peace within their homes, communities, and the nation during the National Prayer Day on October 3. Speaking at the Subukia Shrine in Nakuru Diocese, the bishop stated that bringing peace is the primary duty of every believer and leader.

The event was organized by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops. Addressing the theme "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God," Bishop Kadima identified humility, contentment, and living out the Beatitudes as the three paths to achieving peace. He noted that lasting peace requires people to choose humility instead of pride, violence, and greed.

Bishop Kadima, who previously served as Chargé d’Affaires at the Apostolic Nunciature in South Sudan, explained that humble people make effective counselors because they are approachable, trustworthy, and willing to listen to advice. He also warned against using force to win conflicts, citing the example of the Prince of Peace.

Archbishop Tomasz Grysa, the Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda, has called on bishops, priests, and the faithful to support Bishop Callist Rubaramira Gubazire as he begins his ministry in the Kabale Diocese. Archbishop Grysa stated that the appointment of Bishop Gubazire by Pope Leo XIV reflects his years of selfless service to the Catholic Church.

Bishop Gubazire, a member of the Missionaries of Africa, previously served the Church in Mozambique, Malawi, France, Ireland, the Philippines, and Ghana. Archbishop Grysa described him as a spiritual leader and academic whose missionary experience will benefit the diocese. The Nuncio noted that Bishop Gubazire was born and raised in the Kigezi region and encouraged him to build upon the work of former leaders, including the late Bishop Robert Marie Gay and Bishop Callist Rubaramira. Archbishop Grysa also urged local priests to work closely with the new bishop to help him carry out his pastoral responsibilities.

Sr. MaryGoretty Owino, a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Anna, received the national Sustainable Development Educator Award from the Teachers Service Commission in Kenya. The award was presented on Monday, October 5, during the national commemoration of the 60th World Teachers' Day.

Sr. Isabelle, as she is commonly known, is a biology and chemistry teacher who has taught for 14 years. Her career includes positions at Loreto Convent Msongari, St. Sylvester Madiany Girls Secondary School, and St. Mary’s School Lwak girls Senior School. She currently teaches at St. Augustine Nyamonye Senior School.

The Teachers Service Commission recognized her for contributions to environmental conservation and sustainable development in education. According to Sr. Isabelle, the award acknowledges her work engaging students, teachers, Church groups, and local communities in practical environmental steps that extend beyond her standard teaching duties.

Fr. Miro Babic of the Order of Friars Minor told members of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Anna that shared pain has shaped Franciscan life for years. Speaking during a Eucharistic celebration at St. Mary's Pastoral Centre in Kenya's Nakuru diocese on Sunday, October 4, the friar addressed the FSSA-Nairobi region to mark the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi.

Fr. Babic told the over 30 sisters attending the celebration that wounds within a religious community are evidence of life rather than failure. He noted that St. Francis experienced the difficulties of brotherhood and that true fraternity carries pain because members allow one another to come close.

The friar challenged common artistic depictions of St. Francis, such as those showing him surrounded by singing brothers or tame animals, stating that the reality of the brotherhood was not an idyll. He explained that the historical community faced hard realities, including brothers leaving the order.

Bishop Alex Lodiong Sakor Eyobo of the Diocese of Yei called for safeguarding to be integrated into priestly formation during a two-day training workshop. The event, organized by the National Safeguarding Office of the Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference, focused on the theme of speaking up for those unable to speak for themselves.

More than 30 Church personnel attended the training, including chancellors, religious superiors, and vicars general from dioceses throughout Sudan and South Sudan. Bishop Sakor Eyobo stated that protecting children and vulnerable adults is a central pastoral duty, noting that these individuals are at higher risk of abuse and exploitation.

The bishop urged Church leaders to move beyond administrative procedures and make safeguarding a part of everyday pastoral practice. He emphasized that Church institutions must provide safe environments where people are treated with dignity and warned against the misuse of authority.

Sister Jecinter Antoinette Okoth has called on Catholics to use social media and digital platforms to spread the Gospel ahead of the 100th World Mission Sunday on October 18, 2026.

Speaking in an interview with Capuchin TV, Sister Okoth, a member of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Anna, said missionary work is not limited to those traveling to distant countries. She stated that every baptized person can act as a missionary by proclaiming Christ and transforming lives through digital spaces. Sister Okoth, who works in the communications office of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA), also encouraged the responsible use of artificial intelligence to share the faith.

Sister Okoth noted that websites, Facebook, YouTube, and WhatsApp groups allow the Church to reach the elderly, the sick, and young people who spend significant time online. She suggested that Catholics use these tools to share Scripture, prayers, and Church teachings to help people stay connected to their faith.

Bishop Alex Lodiong Sakor Eyobo of Yei Diocese is urging citizens in South Sudan to reject electoral manipulation and vote based on candidate records rather than material incentives. He warned that politicians may exploit economically vulnerable people by offering short-term benefits to secure political support ahead of the general elections scheduled for December 22, 2026.

The bishop stated that some individuals take advantage of the poor to serve selfish interests during election periods. He noted that the Church intends to educate communities about their rights so that voters can make wise decisions and protect themselves from exploitation.

These remarks come as political parties increase preparations for the upcoming polls, including candidate nominations and internal party processes.

Bishop Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala of the Diocese of Tombura-Yambio is calling on parents, teachers, religious congregations, and communities to invest in holistic education to help build peace and transform society in South Sudan.

In a message for the Annual Catholic Education Day scheduled for Saturday, October 10, 2026, the bishop stated that education must go beyond academic success to develop individuals with faith, character, knowledge, and practical skills. He urged educators to focus on forming people who are compassionate, creative, and committed to service rather than just producing graduates.

The bishop noted that the annual celebration coincides with the Memorial of St. Daniel Comboni. Reflecting on his own life, Bishop Hiiboro shared that his grandmother, Ms. Bianca Dawegera Mbikobere, shaped his path by paying his school fees and teaching him the values of respect, human dignity, and honest work after he began his schooling as a refugee child.

The Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) and the Catholic University of Malawi (CUNIMA) are discussing a partnership to improve higher education quality in the country. During a consultative meeting on October 2, 2026, management teams from both institutions identified several areas for cooperation, including research, curriculum design, academic program development, and knowledge sharing.

RBM Training Institute Manager Dr. Charming Nakweya stated that the central bank intends to advance initiatives that benefit both organizations. CUNIMA Director of Academics and Quality Assurance Fr. Wilfred Sumani, SJ, noted that the success of the partnership depends on the ability of both parties to move beyond discussions and implement concrete actions.

The proposed collaboration includes opportunities for guest lecturing and joint research efforts to strengthen academic excellence.

Bishop Francis Aquirinus Kibira Kambale of the Diocese of Kasese warned that focusing empowerment efforts solely on girls could leave boys vulnerable to social and economic challenges. Speaking at St. John the Evangelist Minor Seminary-Kiburara, the bishop called for a balanced approach to child development that provides equal opportunities in education, welfare, rights protection, and empowerment for both boys and girls.

Bishop Kibira noted that his interactions with young people show a worrying decline in the development and performance of boys. He observed that girls are becoming more confident and academically competitive, which he partly attributed to the increasing emphasis on girl-child empowerment. He urged parents, schools, churches, and other stakeholders to ensure boys are included in programs designed to improve the welfare and future prospects of children.

The bishop made these remarks while presiding over Holy Mass at the seminary, where he administered the Sacrament of Confirmation and dedicated candidates before their final examinations. During the same service, he also urged parents and catechists to teach catechism in local languages.

Monze Mission Hospital in Zambia received a donated Land Cruiser to improve mobility for health workers and strengthen healthcare delivery within the Diocese of Monze.

Access to Health Zambia provided the vehicle during the ZCCB Health Department Annual General Meeting last week. Batuke Mwewa, the chief executive officer of Access to Health Zambia, said the donation followed the completion of a USAID project. The gift came after Monze Diocesan Health Coordinator Sr. Mwangani Juunza requested support for the diocese's health work.

Sr. Mwangani Juunza and ZCCB National Health Coordinator Sr. Astridah Chibale received the vehicle. In addition to the vehicle, the organization donated 250 boxes of gloves to Catholic health and training institutions throughout the diocese.

Bishop Evans Chinyemba, the director of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) Health Department, has called for increased support and collaboration to strengthen Catholic health institutions across Zambia. Speaking at the department's annual general meeting in Lusaka, Chinyemba identified several obstacles facing these facilities, including aging infrastructure, insufficient grants, limited mobility, and poor road networks in remote regions. He also noted how recent cholera cases have affected the communities these facilities serve.

Chinyemba urged the Church, the Ministry of Health, and other partners to work together more closely. He specifically requested a review of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Catholic Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ) and the government, noting that the current agreement has not been updated since 2011.

ZCCB National Health Coordinator Sr. Astridah Chibale stated that the Church's health work is a mission rooted in the healing of Jesus Christ rather than just a partnership with the state. She noted that Catholic facilities and training centers serve all patients regardless of their creed, tribe, or ability to pay. Chibale also addressed the challenges of increasing workloads and staffing shortages, encouraging health workers to maintain their faith and humility.

Fr. Francis Kanyiri, OFM Conv., urged members of the Franciscan family to serve one another by washing each other's feet during a Transitus service at the National Marian Shrine in Subukia, Kenya. The gathering, held on October 3 in the Diocese of Nakuru, observed the passing of St. Francis of Assisi as the Church marks 800 years since his death.

During the service, friars, sisters, and lay members watched a play performed by young men in formation for the Order of Friars Minor Conventual. The performance depicted the life of St. Francis, from his life of wealth to his commitment to poverty and his eventual death.

Reflecting on the Gospel of John and the Testament of St. Francis, Fr. Kanyiri, who serves as the acting vice chancellor of Consolata International University, described how Jesus transitioned from a master to a servant by washing his disciples' feet. He noted that St. Francis followed this same path of humility.

The Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) is holding a four-day formation seminar for approximately 230 lay council leaders from Catholic dioceses across the country. The seminar, organized through the TEC Pastoral Directorate, brings together diocesan leaders, national leaders, and representatives from apostolic associations to strengthen their understanding of their roles and responsibilities within the Church.

During the opening of the seminar, TEC Secretary General Father Charles Kitima told the leaders they serve as instruments to carry the mission of the Holy Father to local communities. He described the lay leaders as prophets and teachers of the Word of God who help proclaim the faith to both believers and non-believers. Father Kitima also encouraged the leaders to promote various vocations, including the priesthood, consecrated life, and Christian marriage, to support the growth of the Catholic faith in Tanzania.

The gathering occurs as the Church implements the Final Document of the Synod of Bishops, which calls for increased communion, participation, and mission.