HOIMA BISHOP EMERITUS EDWARD BAHARAGATE PASSES ON AT 93 YEARS

INNOCENT ATUGANYIRA

KAMPALA: The former bishop of Hoima Catholic Diocese, Rt. Rev. Bishop Albert Edward Baharagate, has passed on.

His death was announced by the Bishop of Hoima Catholic Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Vincent Kirabo.

According to Bishop Kirabo, Bishop Emeritus Baharagate passed away at Nsambya Hospital on Wednesday at around 11 p.m.

“Dear people of God, with deep sorrow, I announce the death of the Bishop Emeritus of Hoima Catholic Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Albert Edward Baharagate Akiiki, who has passed on at Nsambya Hospital,” he announced.

Relocation and ill health

For the last 29 years, the prelate lived outside of the Hoima Diocese, but in 2020, he decided to return home, spending a year at St. Cyprian Parish in Hoima before he finally relocated to his home parish in Masindi.

Unfortunately, a few days after their relocation, the bishop suffered an accident as he was coming out of a bathroom, leaving him with a fracture in his thigh bone that has since made him immobile. 

Bishop Baharagate was wheeled into the room because he was currently unable to walk. Because of his advanced age, the bishop was not able to perform many activities.

However, whenever he would meet with priests, he would offer advice on how to evangelize and resist early temptations.

Who is Bishop Baharagate?

Rt. Rev. Bishop Albert Edward Baharagate was a Ugandan Roman Catholic priest who served as Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hoima.

He was appointed bishop of Hoima on July 7, 1969, and he resigned on March 9, 1991.

Baharagate was born on February 25, 1930, in Nyamigisa Village, in present-day Masindi District, in the Bunyoro sub-region, in the Western Region of Uganda.

He was appointed Bishop of Hoima on July 7th, 1969, and was consecrated a bishop at Hoima on August 1st, 1969, by Pope Paul VI, assisted by Archbishop Sergio Pignedoli, Titular Archbishop of Iconium, and Archbishop Emmanuel Kiwanuka Nsubuga, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kampala.

Meanwhile the Hoima City Mayor Mr Brian Kaboyo said the Bishop will be remembered for his contribution towards the development of the Church, community and sports talents of the youth.