KABALE- Hundreds of Christians, clergy, and dignitaries have gathered at Our Lady of Good Shepherd Rushoroza Cathedral, Kabale district to celebrate the Priestly Golden Jubilee of Rt. Rev. Callist Rubaramira.
The Bishop marked 50 years of dedicated and devoted service to the people of Kabale Catholic Diocese and Ugandans at large.
In his congratulatory message delivered by the Vice President Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo, President Yoweri Museveni thanked Bp. Rubaramira for his faithfully service to God and His people.
“You’re indeed a good shepherd. Maintaining the work of God, holding the banner of Christ for five decades and serving in the community of Kabale diocese is indeed a remarkable sacrifice and a big achievement,” Mr. Museveni said.
He commended the Catholic church for Bp. Rubaramira’s contribution in the spiritual, social and economic development to the people of Kigezi, the whole of Western Uganda and Uganda in general.
“I commend you for the faithful service that has touched and caused transformation in the lives of many Ugandans. It is gratifying to note that religious leaders have added to their fundamental task of evangelism the role of peace building and social transformation,” he said.
The president explained that the commitment of the Church towards transformation is witnessed in areas of human development such as education, charitable works, community based projects for poverty alleviation, and empowerment of communities. “Thank you for supplementing government efforts in building our country,” he said.
Museveni noted that while the government has and is still ensuring the provision and access to basic social services, including roads, schools, health centres and electricity etc, it is the duty and responsibility of all Ugandans to fight poverty in their households.
“The strategic goal of the government is to modernize and cause metamorphosis of Uganda into the middle income status, skilled working class and eventually into a knowledge based economy”.
According to the president, this will enable us to create and expand employment opportunities for our people, welfare system for our people and those who are elderly and not able to work.
He assured the Lord Bishop that Uganda is already moving to that goal by utilizing three stimuli including education for all, liberalization of the economy so that all the families can move from subsistence farming to commercial activities and more companies take up enterprises and security for all.
He urged all the people of Uganda to find jobs in commercial agriculture, industry, services and ICT. We have worked together over the past years to create steady progress and we should continue to do so in our country’s journey to modernity, he urged.
He appreciated the partnership between the NRM government and the church and indeed all religious institutions in the development process of Uganda.
“As we celebrate Bp. Rubaramira, we should remember that he has shown a good example of hard work and commitment towards God’s service”.
“He has evangelized, extended sacraments to millions, created new parishes and opened churches in various areas and we should therefore emulate his legacy. It is his dedication and devotion that has brought him this far and therefore a cause to celebrate,” he said.
Museveni thanked the people of Kabale for their dedicated service to the NRM government through the democratic processes we have gone through.
“The NRM government appreciates your support and partnerships in the development process of our country,” he said.
Once again let me thank the bishop upon the 50 years in which you have diligently and devotedly served the Lord and shepherded his people.
On her own account as one of the Christians who has walked this journey with the bishop, VP Alupo congratulated Rubaramira on this Golden jubilee of priesthood.
“We thank the Almighty lord for this milestone. You have served us with dedication, indeed this is a day the Lord has made, ” Alupo said.
She told the congregation that president Museveni will visit the people of Luweero, greater Mukono and finally greater Kampala to assess the performance of the Parish Development Model, a programme aimed at fighting household poverty at the parish level.
The president has gone to Acholi, Lango, West Nile, Karamoja, Teso, Bukedi, Busoga, Bugisu, Sebei, Kigezi, Ankole, Bunyoro, Toro and Rwenzori. She emphasized that message in the hearts of the people, is that these livelihood programmes are successful and called upon religious leaders to continue supporting the government in its efforts to mobilise the public to embrace the programmes.
She appealed to the people of Kabale to continue supporting the NRM government, especially president Museveni in the forthcoming general elections.
She also delivered the president’s contribution of Shs20m towards the colourful ceremony.
Main celebrant Bishop Rubaramira thanked the VP Alupo for standing with the church and supporting the cause of religious leaders.
“We are most grateful to the NRM government and His Excellency the President for the various programmes to the church as a whole,” Bp. Rubaramira said.
The bishop also called upon all Christians to pray for him, that he may continue to serve God and his people faithfully.
Other notable figures in attendance included mINISTER FOR security Jim Muhwezi, State ministers David Bahati and Henry Musasizi, Commissioner of Parliament Ms Prossy Akampurir, and several leaders from Kigezi region.
They all praised Bishop Rubaramira for his tireless efforts in promoting development and unity in the region.
Born in February 1950, in Rubira village, Kyanamira Sub County, Bishop Rubaramira’s life has been a testament to humility, leadership, and steadfast faith. Raised as the second-born among ten siblings to parents Cyprian Kwigira and Sefaroza Bamusibane, the future bishop rooted in a strong Catholic foundation within Rushoroza Parish under the Diocese of Kabale.
Rubaramira was ordained a priest on 18th May 1975 at Rushoroza cathedral parish church. He has faithfully served for five decades. His pastoral journey included roles such as parish priest and Apostalic Vicar in Rukungiri, secretary to the bishop, chancellor, Diocesan Treasurer, and Financial Administrator of the Diocese of Kabale.
On March 18, 2003, Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Kabale, and he was officially on 8th June 2003, becoming the fourth shepherd of the diocese after Bishops Gervasius Nkalanga, Barnabas Halem Imana, and Robert Mary Gay.
