Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Portal
Diocese of Fort Portal Dioecesis Fortis Portalis | |
|---|---|
Diocese of Fort Portal | |
| Location | |
| Country | Uganda |
| Territory | Kabarole District, Bundibugyo District, Kamwenge District, Kyenjojo District, Kyegegwa District, Ntoroko District, Bunyangabu District, Kitagwenda District |
| Ecclesiastical province | Mbarara |
| Metropolitan | Mbarara |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 13,553 km2 (5,233 sq mi) |
Population
|
|
| Parishes | 33 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | February 21, 1961 |
| Cathedral | Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Fort Portal |
| Secular priests | 132 (118 diocesan, 14 religious) |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Leo XIV |
| Bishop | Robert Kisaija Muhiirwa |
| Auxiliary Bishops | Joseph Mugenyi Sabiiti |
| Website | |
| catholicdioceseoffortportal | |
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Portal (Latin: Arcis Portal) is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Uganda. It is a suffragan diocese of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mbarara.[1]
History
The Catholic Diocese of Fort Portal formerly belonging to Rwenzori Vicariate was erected on 2 July 1961, with Vincent Joseph McCauley† CSC, as its first bishop. The Diocese was detached from Mbarara Diocese which up to 1953 was Rwenzori Vicariate. He was succeeded in 1972 by Serapio Bwemi Magambo† who served the Diocese until 1991, when Paul Lokiru Kalanda† took over as the third Bishop of the Diocese. His successor, the current bishop, Robert Muhiirwa, was ordained and installed on 15 June 2003.[1]
The diocese later became the parent diocese for the Diocese of Kasese, which was erected on 1 April 1989 by Pope John Paul II.[2]
Territory
The Diocese covers the civic districts of Kabarole, Bundibugyo, Kamwenge, Kyenjojo, Kyegegwa, Ntoroko, Bunyangabu and Kitagwenda. The diocese covers an area of 13,553 square kilometers (5,234 square miles). The Diocese comprises 29 Parishes divided in three deaneries namely: Virika, Kamwenge and Katoosa. More recent figures indicate 33 parishes, 1 mission within the diocese. Fort Portal is a suffrugan Diocese within the Archdiocese of Mbarara, placing it under the metropolitan authority of the Archbishop of Mbarara.[3][4]
Leadership
The current bishop of Fort Portal is Robert Muhiirwa, who was appointed Bishop of Fort Portal Diocese on 18 March 2003 and was ordained and installed as Bishop on 15 June 2003.[3] During the Annual Plenary of 2018, members of the Uganda Episcopal Conference elected Bishop Muhiirwa as Vice Chairman for a four-year term.[3]
This is a list of Bishops of Fort Portal (Roman rite)
- Vincent J. McCauley, C.S.C. (21 February 1961 – 16 November 1972)[5]
- Serapio Bwemi Magambo (16 November 1972 – 17 June 1991)[6]
- Paul Lokiru Kalanda (17 June 1991 – 18 March 2003)[7]
- Robert Muhiirwa (since 18 March 2003)[8]
Auxiliary Bishops
- Joseph Mugenyi Sabiiti (1999-)
- Serapio Bwemi Magambo (1969-1972), appointed Bishop here
Francis Aquirinus Kibira, who was a priest of the diocese was appointed Bishop of Kasese in 2014.[9]
Cathedral
The cathedral church of the diocese is the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Fort Portal, which serves as the mother church of the diocese and the seat of the bishop.[10][4]
See also
- Roman Catholic Church in Uganda
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mbarara
- List of Roman Catholic dioceses in Uganda
- Christianity in Uganda
References
- ^ a b David M. Cheney (26 May 2019). "Profile of Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Portal". catholic-hierarchy.org. Kansas City: Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
- ^ "Kasese Diocese". uecon.org. Uganda Episcopal Conference. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ a b c "Fort Portal Diocese". uecon.org. Uganda Episcopal Conference. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ a b "Diocese of Fort Portal". gcatholic.org. Gcatholic. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ David M. Cheney (30 April 2018). "Bishop Vincent Joseph McCauley, C.S.C. (Deceased)". Kansas City: Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
- ^ David M. Cheney (7 March 2019). "Bishop Serapio Bwemi Magambo (Deceased)". Kansas City: Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
- ^ David M. Cheney (26 May 2019). "Bishop Paul Lokiru Kalanda". Kansas City: Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
- ^ David M. Cheney (30 April 2018). "Bishop Robert Muhiirwa". Kansas City: Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
- ^ "Bishop Francis Aquirinus Kibira [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "Catholic Diocese of Fort Portal Official Website". Retrieved 1 July 2025.
External links
- Vincent McCauley: Bishop of the Poor, Apostle of East Africa Archived 7 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine Ave Maria Press (2008)
- Official website
- Diocese of Fort Portal at Catholic-Hierarchy.org
- Diocese of Fort Portal at GCatholic.org