We are a Roman Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Mbarara called to share in the goodness of God through Service according to Jesus Christ by living a Christian life among God’s people.

In the year 1900 Bishop Streicher, Vicar Apostolic of the Vicariate of North Nyanza, sent two White Father Missionaries (Missionaries of Africa) to South Western Uganda to explore the possibility of introducing Catholicism. These were Fr. Lebros and Bro. Hermann Kock.

The two approached Nkore, the present geographical area which is now Mbarara Archdiocese, through Kooki, in Masaka Diocese. Joseph Rutebemberwa, one of the pioneer catechists led them. A son of that catechist, Msgr. Thomas Bishanga, became the second priest of Mbarara, having been ordained in 1944.

On arrival of the missionaries, Kahaya II, the then King of Karo-Karungi gave Nyamitanga Hill to them to set up their quarters and chapel. This later became the seat and foundation of their mission and is presently the Diocesan Centre of Mbarara Archdiocese.

In 1909, Fr. Borrel opened Rugazi mission, now Rugazi Parish. In the same year, Fathers Letohic and Lefleur opened Rushoroza mission in Kabale, Kigezi. In October 1912, Fathers Bringuier, Nicolet and Bro. Tobie Kizza, the first African Brother to join the White Fathers, opened Ibanda mission. In 1919 Fr. Lefleur founded Kitabi mission.

Rwenzori Vicariate was carved out of the Vicariate of Uganda on 28th March 1934. The new Ecclesiastical territory then covered the political districts of Western Uganda, i.e. Nkore, Kigezi, Toro and Bunyoro. The present Archdiocese of Mbarara Covers the following districts; Mbarara, Ibanda, Kiruhura, Isingiro, Bushenyi, and Ntungamo

On July 25 1934, Fr. Francis-Xavier Lacoursiere of the White Fathers was ordained first Bishop of Rwenzori Vicariate. Nyamitanga in Mbarara became the seat of the Vicariate. The size of the Vicariate was 400 square miles with 13 missions.

On 25 March 1953, Rwenzori Vicariate assumed status of a diocese. In 1956 F.X. Lacoursiere retired after 21 years as Diocesan Bishop. The Second Bishop of Mbarara Diocese was Jean Marie Ogez, ordained on 26 August 1957. Due to poor health, Bishop Ogez retired in October 1968.

The third ordinary and first indigenous African Bishop is John Baptist Kakubi. He was appointed on 5 July 1969 and ordained Bishop on 1 August 1969. He retired on 23 November 1991. The present Archbishop Paul K. Bakyenga is the fourth Bishop of Mbarara. He was appointed Bishop Coadjutor of Mbarara 1 April 1989, ordained Bishop on 24 June 1989, and became Bishop Ordinary of Mbarara on 23 November

On 30 January 1999, the Holy See elevated Mbarara to an Archdiocese and Metropolitan See of the Western Uganda Ecclesiastical Province, with Paul Bakyenga as its first Archbishop. The installation ceremony of Archbishop Paul K. Bakyenga took place on 11 July 1999. Mbarara Archdiocese shares borders with Fort Portal and Kasese Dioceses in the north, Bukoba Diocese Tanzania in the south, Masaka Diocese in the east and Kabale Diocese in the west.

There are eight Diocesan Commissions that help the Ordinary to fulfil the main duties of the Church; namely evangelisation, sanctification, teaching and works of charity. These are Economic, Caritas Mbarara, Social Communications, Justice and Peace, Personnel, Pastoral, and Education.

You can view the entire Commission list here

Primary Schools	567
Secondary Schools	82
Tertiary	3
Technical Schools	9
Agricultural College	1
University Learning Centre	1

Men	Women
Comboni Missionaries	Sisters of Our Lady of Good Counsel
Franciscan Friars Minor	Daughters of Mary and Joseph
Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers)	Sisters of St. Clare
Montfort Missionaries	Daughters of Mary (Bannabikira Sisters)
Apostles of Jesus	Daughters of Our Lady of Fatima
Brothers of St. Charles Lwanga (Bannakaroli Brothers)	Missionary Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church
Brothers of Christian Instruction	Evangelizing Sisters of Mary
Brothers of St. Joseph the Worker	Daughters of Divine Charity
Claretian Missionaries	Good Samaritan Sisters
	Consolers of the Sacred Heart
	The Grail

Kyeibuza St Mary’s H/C II	Uganda Martyrs Ibanda Hospital
Butare H/C III	St Comboni Hospital Kyamuhunga
Mushanga H/C III	Rubindi H/C III
Bubangizi H/C III	St Francesca- Makonje H/C II
Burungira H/C III	Nyamitanga H/C II
Rugazi H/C III	Kakoma H/C III
Nyakatsiro H/C III	Kyabirukwa H/C III
Nyakashoga H/C III	Kabuyanda H/C III
Bitooma H/C III	Buhungiro H/C II
St Lucia Kagamba H/C III	Franciska Lechener Rushooka H/C II

RWERA DEANERY	1. Rwera Parish
	2. Kagamba Parish
	3. Ntungamo Parish
	4. Rushooka Parish
	5. Bwizibwera Centre
NYAMITANGA DEANERY	1. Nyamitanga Parish
	2. Uganda Martyrs Parish
	3. Kakoma Parish
RWEINYAGA DEANERY	1. Rushanje Parish
	2. Rweinyaga Centre
	3. Kabuyanda Centre
KYOGA DEANERYs	1. Kyoga Parish
	2. Kenyena Centre
	3. Buhungiro Parish
RUBINDI DEANERY	1. Rubindi Parish
	2. Kitura Centre
	3. Rushere Centre
IBANDA DEANERY	1. Ibanda Parish
	2. Mabonwa Parish
	3. Kazo Parish
	4. Kihani Parish
KITABI DEANERY	1. Kitabi Parish
	2. Kashekuro Parish
	3. Nyakishojwa Parish
	4. Bubangizi Parish
	5. Kigarama Centre
ST. KAGGWA BUSHENYI DEANERY	1. St. Kaggwa Parish
	2. Kyamuhunga Parish
	3. Rugazi Parish
	4. Bitooma Centre
	5. Kyamwiru Centre
MUSHANGA DEANARY	1. Mushanga Parish
	2. Nyabwina Centre
	3. Butare Parish
	4. Buhimba Centre