By Peter Masereka,
The Ordinary of the Diocese of Kasese Rt. Rev. Francis Aquirinus Kibira Kambale yesterday celebrated his 40th Priestly Anniversary.
Bishop Kibira was born on 16 April 1958 in the village of Kigoto-Buryansungwe, in Kamwenge District, in the Diocese of Fort Portal, in the Western Region of Uganda.
He studied Philosophy at Katigondo Major Seminary in Masaka, from 1977 until 1980. He then studied Theology at St. Mary’s National Major Seminary in Ggaba, Kampala, from 1981 until 1984.
He was ordained priest on 23 September 1984 at Fort Portal. He served as priest in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Portal, until 1985. He then served as a lecturer at Katigondo National Major Seminary in Masaka from 1985 until 1987.
In 1987, he left Uganda for Studies of Sacred Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, residing at the Pontifical College of St. Paul.
He completed his studies in 1991. He returned to Uganda in 1992 and served as Lecturer and Dean of Studies at St. Paul’s National Seminary Kinyamasika Fort Portal.
Since 1995, until his appointment as Bishop in 2014, he served as the Rector of St. Paul’s National Seminary Kinyamasika, in Fort Portal.
He was appointed Bishop on 15 April 2014. Kibira consecrated as Bishop on 12 July 2014 at Kasese by Archbishop Paul Kamuza Bakyenga, Archbishop of Mbarara, assisted by Bishop Egidio Nkaijanabwo, Bishop Emeritus Diocese of Kasese and Bishop Paul Lokiru Kalanda, Bishop Emeritus of Fort Portal. END.