Kaboha
Rev. Fr. Gerald Akugizibwe the pastoral coordinator Fort Portal Catholic Diocese has explained the core purpose of a deanery in the Catholic Church days after the creation of two new deaneries in Fort Portal Diocese.
Bishop Robert K Muhiirwa of Fort Portal Catholic Diocese recently announced the establishment of two new deaneries aimed at fostering better and accessible pastoral care to the catholic community across the nine districts including Fort Portal city which makeup the Diocese.
In an interview with Jubilee Radio, Fr. Gerald revealed that because a bishop cannot personally oversee every parish detail, the deanery serves as an administrative intermediate level of organization between the Diocese and individual parishes.
In addressing local needs, Fr. Gerald says a deanery acts as an ear of the Church to hear the cries of the faithful at the grassroots level and inform the bishop of the specific needs of that area. The dean is tasked with providing support, care, and a sense of fraternity to the priests within his deanery.
In an official circular distributed across the clergy, religious and all the lay faithful dated February 2026, he stated that the decision was prompted by a senate of priests meeting that was held on 16th September 2025 a general proposal was presented to him for consideration.
The new Deaneries
The new deaneries include – Bugombwa Deanery which shall comprise parishes of Nyahuka, Bugombwa and Rwebisengo. The first Dean appointed is Rev. Fr. Patrick Tukwasibwe the parish priest of Bugombwa
Another new one is Wekomire Deanery which shall comprise parishes of Kasule, Mpara, Hapuyo, Wekomire, Kakabara and Butunduzi. The first Dean appointed is Rev. Fr. Christopher Kankya the parish priest Butunduzi