The History of the Diocese of Ruwenzori cannot be complete without the political and cultural influence of Tooro Kingdom.
King Kasagama requested the Church Council at Mengo to send him Catechists. This is after he had tried, with the possible means to introduce his new found faith, to his subjects but realized that he needed help. The Church Council consented and Marko Luyimbazi, Petero Nsubuga, Tito Wakibinga and Nuwa Nakiwafu were sent to Tooro in 1894 and was the beginning of the Christian Faith. These were later joined by Apollo Kivebulaya and Shedrack Zabunamakwata in 1895. Kivebulaya later used his knowledge of the area to expand Christianity to Boga – Zaire through King Taboro assisted by Shedrak. The Catechist spent most of their time in the King’s and Chiefs’ households because of the number of people therein.
They were later joined by Rev. A.B Fisher who opened a new mission station at Kabarole where St. John’s Cathedral and headquarters of the Diocese of Ruwenzori are situated in 1896. In 1912 a Runyoro-Rutooro Bible was published by the British and Foreign Bible Society – London. And the First Runyoro-Rutooro Book of Common Prayer was published in 1951 by S. P. C. K – London.
King Kasagama infused politics into Christianity and this was sealed when he was baptized in 1896 at Mengo. He led by example, divorced all his queens except Tibaitwa whom he wedded. He directly forced people particularly those close to his reign to join his new found faith and encouraged them to spread the gospel. For his chiefs, it was mandatory for one to build a church in his area of jurisdiction. Him as a king he built a chapel where prayers would be held thrice every day and daily Bible classes. This grew bigger to the present day St. John’s Cathedral.
ADMINISTRATIVE AREAS OF THE DIOCESE
The Diocese now covers Six districts namely: Bunyangabu, Fort Portal Tourism City, Kabarole, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, and Ntoroko and under these districts are eight (8) Archdeaconries namely: Rubona, Kabarole, Rwebisengo, Nyantungo, Mukole, Humura, Karwenyi and St. John’s Deanery, eighty four (84) Parishes and 614 Churches.
The Diocese of Ruwenzori was created on 30th June 1960 by the division of the Diocese of Uganda; covering the area of Tooro, Bunyoro, Mboga-Zaire.
The leadership of the Diocese of Ruwenzori over time has been as follows:
1960 -1971 The Most Rev. Erica Sabiiti
1972- 1980 Rt. Rev. Yonasani Rwakaikara
1981- 1999 Rt. Rev. Eustace K. Kamanyire
2000 – 2009 Rt. Rev Benezeri T. Kisembo
2009 – 2010 Rt. Rev. Patrick Kyaligonza
2011- to-date Rt. Rev. Reuben B. Kisembo
Major Institutions include: Kabarole Hospital started in 1906, Nyakasura School, Kyebambe Girls’ SS, Canon Apollo Kivebulaya Teacher Training Institute, Bishop Balya College, Kisomoro Technical Institute, Tooro Babies, Ruwenzori SACCO with 4,788 Members, Loan Portfolio of 1.07 B/=, Loan Disbursement 1.02B/=, Total Assets 1.3B/= plus many other Projects.
We have two Diocesan Commercial houses in Fort Portal City and were are planning to construct a Commercial Shopping Mall estimated to cost 28 Billion shillings.
We have over 15 acres of Pine trees, 100 acres of Eucalyptus trees, 30 acres of Coffee, 10 acres of Macademia nuts.
Ruwenzori Diocese caters for our retired clergy, Lay Readers and Widow/Widowers of retired church servants through the staff welfare Fund.
We have one Hospital and Six (6) Health Center 3 where we have partnered with Government and One World Health.
We have Four (4) Compassion International funded Child Development Centers (CDCs) with 1249 Children who are being sponsored Fifteen (15) full-time staff.
The Diocese of Ruwenzori has five Tertiary Institutions, 19 Secondary schools 136 Primary schools and 15 Early Child Development Centers.
