Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Portal

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.

The diocese later became the parent diocese for the Diocese of Kasese, which was erected on 1 April 1989 by Pope John Paul II.{{cite web |title=Kasese Diocese |url=https://www.uecon.org/provinces/mbarara-ecclesiastical/kasese |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=uecon.org |publisher=Uganda Episcopal Conference}}

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.

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.{{cite web |title=Fort Portal Diocese |url=https://www.uecon.org/provinces/mbarara-ecclesiastical/fortportal |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=uecon.org |publisher=Uganda Episcopal Conference}} During the Annual Plenary of 2018, members of the Uganda Episcopal Conference elected Bishop Muhiirwa as Vice Chairman for a four-year term.

This is a list of Bishops of Fort Portal (Roman rite)

• Vincent J. McCauley, C.S.C. (21 February 1961 – 16 November 1972){{cite web| url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bmccauley.html | title=Bishop Vincent Joseph McCauley, C.S.C. (Deceased) |

publisher=Catholic-Hierarchy.org |access-date=24 July 2019 | date=30 April 2018 |author=David M. Cheney |place=Kansas City}}

• Serapio Bwemi Magambo (16 November 1972 – 17 June 1991){{cite web|date=7 March 2019 |url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bmagambo.html |title=Bishop Serapio Bwemi Magambo (Deceased) |publisher=Catholic-Hierarchy.org |access-date=24 July 2019 |author=David M. Cheney |place=Kansas City}}
• Paul Lokiru Kalanda (17 June 1991 – 18 March 2003){{cite web|date=26 May 2019 |url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bkalanda.html |title=Bishop Paul Lokiru Kalanda |publisher=Catholic-Hierarchy.org |access-date=24 July 2019 |author=David M. Cheney |place=Kansas City}}
• Robert Muhiirwa (since 18 March 2003){{cite web| publisher=Catholic-Hierarchy.org |date=30 April 2018 |

url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bmuhi.html | title=Bishop Robert Muhiirwa |access-date=24 July 2019 | author=David M. Cheney | location=Kansas City}}

• 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.{{Cite web |title=Bishop Francis Aquirinus Kibira [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bkibira.html |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}}

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.{{cite web |title=Catholic Diocese of Fort Portal Official Website |url=https://catholicdioceseoffortportal.co.ug/ |access-date=2025-07-01}}{{cite web |author= |date= |title=Diocese of Fort Portal |url=https://gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/fort2 |access-date=1 July 2025 |website=gcatholic.org |publisher=Gcatholic |location=}}

• Roman Catholic Church in Uganda
• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mbarara
• List of Roman Catholic dioceses in Uganda
• Christianity in Uganda

• [http://www.avemariapress.com/itemdetail.cfm?nItemid=931 Vincent McCauley: Bishop of the Poor, Apostle of East Africa] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110107135520/http://www.avemariapress.com/itemdetail.cfm?nItemid=931 |date=7 January 2011 }} Ave Maria Press (2008)
• {{Official website|catholicdioceseoffortportal.co.ug}}
• [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dfopo.html Diocese of Fort Portal] at Catholic-Hierarchy.org
• [http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/fort2.htm Diocese of Fort Portal] at GCatholic.org

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Category:Roman Catholic dioceses in Uganda

Category:Christian organizations established in 1961

Category:Roman Catholic dioceses and prelatures established in the 20th century

Category:Kabarole District

Category:1961 establishments in Uganda

Category:Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of Mbarara

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Category:Fort Portal