It was all jubilations at Kyabazinga Stadium in Bugembe, Jinja district as Rt. Rev. Prof. Dr. Grace Lubaale was consecrated and enthroned as the 4th bishop of Busoga Diocese. Dr. Lubaale replaces Rt. Rev. Paul Naimanhye, who clocked retirement age of 65 in January, 2025 after nine years of service.
He was elected as the fourth bishop of the diocese by the House of Bishops of the Church of Uganda, sitting at Lweza Training and Conference Centre in October 2025. His appointment marks a new chapter for the Church of Uganda’s Busoga Diocese, with Lubaale planning initiatives focused on spiritual renewal, unity, and good governance.
Dr. Lubaale was consecrated and enthroned by His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba, the Archbishop of Church of Uganda assisted by Bishop Onesimus Asiimwe of North Kigezi Diocese at an event graced by the Vice president Jessica Alupo on behalf of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
Museveni congratulated Dr. Lubaale, upon his consecration as the 4th Bishop of Busoga Diocese and thanked God for elevating him to this high office. “I wish to join the Christian faithful to welcome and wish you a successful ministry in Busoga Diocese. I believe that the Lord, who chose you, to serve in this capacity, at this particular time, has prepared you to fulfill your mandate,” the president said.
Museveni explained that Dr. Lubaale’s election and consecration testify to his longstanding devotion to God and the Church. He commended his predecessors for their hard work and good leadership, in the past.
Museveni further thanked the Church of Uganda for maintaining cordial relations with the NRM government, in working towards the socio-economic transformation of Uganda. “The Church has exploited the private sector-friendly policies of the NRM government to extend social services to the public. For instance, the Church has constructed a number of schools and hospitals, across the country. This is proof that the Church leadership is concerned about the material well-being of the believers,” he said.
The president appealed to the new Bishop to mobilise all the Christians in the Diocese to participate in the wealth and job creation campaign.
Museveni said the NRM government is ready to work with the Church and the other faith organisations to mobilise all Ugandans to join the fight against poverty, at the household level. “Historically, the NRM has gained the reputation of being the vanguard of change and transformation. We led Ugandans to overthrow oppressive and dictatorial regimes; we revived Uganda’s economy and restored democracy and respect for human life and property; we led Ugandans to defeat illiteracy and the killer diseases,” he said.
Therefore, it is clear that all the NRM-led struggles, soon or later, end in victory. The war against poverty will not be an exception, if all the people of Uganda listen to the advice of the NRM. There are already some success stories, especially in areas where the people have followed our advice, on wealth and jobs creation, he said.
The president reiterated the message of the NRM of encouraging every household to select an economic enterprise in the four sectors of: commercial agriculture, industries, ICT and Services, adding that this will enable the households to become creators of wealth and jobs. He said currently, the country still has 33% of the homestead outside the money economy and they are in the subsistence economy of working only for food.
“How can one expect to take their children to school or buy medicine and clothes for them, if they have no money? Therefore, if you want to build prosperous and stable homes, you must transition from subsistence farming to the modern money economy,” he said.
He urged every Christian to have omwooga (an area of economic specialization) that is earning them money. “The scriptures tell us that even the Lord Jesus Christ specialised as a carpenter, alongside His earthly father, Joseph. Their omwooga was carpentry. The Apostle Paul specialised in making tents to support his missionary journeys. Therefore, I urge the Christian faithful to emulate the example of Jesus Christ,” Museveni said.
He explained that the NRM government has put in place the necessary conditions to ensure the profitability of business enterprises. These include: the good roads, electricity, peace and security; integration of the Ugandan market to the regional, African and international markets; pursuing policies that favour the private sector, etc.
He however, noted that these economic advantages, that the NRM has created, must be translated into jobs and wealth for the households, in order for this development to be meaningful. The president once again congratulated Rev. Canon. Prof. Grace Lubaale upon your consecration as the 4th Bishop of Busoga Diocese and wish you success in your future endeavors.
The Busoga Kingdom Premier Joseph Muvawala appealed to Dr. Lubaale to promote extemporary leadership and stewardship and urged him to fight poverty among the flock by joining president Museveni in the wealth creation campaigns.
Archbishop Kaziimba congratulated the newly enthroned bishop and appealed to him pray without ceasing as he transforms lives of the Christians. He further commended retiring Bishop Naimanhye for his service to the church. Kaziimba also asked the people of Busoga to make the best use of River Nile just as our neighbours in Eqypt are doing to fight poverty and unemployment. The archbishop finally appealed to the of Busoga to maintain peace and stability during the ongoing general election campaign.
In his Charge, Dr. Lubaale appreciated President Museveni for the continued support to the church which has enabled her to carry out its mission. He highlighted that his greatest commission is to proclaim the gospel of salvation to humanity through committing time, resources (human, financial and physical) to mission and evangelism as our primary calling. He also pledged good governance, capacity building, resource mobilization, family ministry, socio-economic transformation and effective representation.
Born on October 9, 1978, in Bugombya Zone, Butansi Parish, Butansi Sun County, Bugabula County in Kamuli District, Dr Lubaale got saved in December 1994, the Church said. He was ordained a Deacon in the Diocese of Kampala in 2008, a priest in 2009, and installed as a Canon of Education and Training at All Saints Cathedral, Kampala, on November 1, 2024.
He is married to Clare Louise Atuheirwe, and God has blessed them with four Children. He holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in Development Studies, Master of Arts in Theology, Master of Arts in Development Studies and a Bachelor of Arts with Education.