Bishop Manasseh Gahima was elected as Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Rwanda (EAR), on Friday, September 11.

Gahima, 56, leads the Diocese of Gahini and serves as president of the Council of Protestant Churches of Rwanda. He succeeded Laurent Mbanda, who had held the position since 2018.

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He was elected by Anglican House of Bishops, which comprises bishops from its 13 dioceses. His consecration ceremony is scheduled for October 25 at Camp Kigali.

Gahima was in the race with Bishop Assiel Musabyimana of Kigeme Diocese.

The two bishops qualified because they are aged between 55 and 60 and had served as diocesan bishops for at least five years. The election is traditionally held in a private meeting, where bishops vote from among themselves before the winner is announced.

Who is Bishop Manasseh Gahima?

Manasseh Gahima was enthroned as the second bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Gahini in 2019.

Born on December 12, 1970, to Pheneas Gahima and Donatille Mukarutabana, Gahima grew up in Uganda after his family fled Rwanda as refugees.

He attended Kasonga Primary School in Hoima District before joining Kololo Secondary School and St Andrea Kahwa’s College for his ordinary and advanced secondary education.

He later obtained a Diploma in Secondary Education from NTC Kakoba Campus of the then Institute of Teacher Education Kyambogo (ITEK) in Uganda. He went on to study for a Bachelor of Commerce degree at Umutara Polytechnic, now part of the University of Rwanda.

Gahima also holds a master’s degree in Human Resource Management from Kabale University and a master’s degree in theology from Wycliffe University. He later pursued a PhD in theological studies at the same university, graduating at a congregation held at its Kampala campus on July 14, 2018.

Before taking up senior church leadership, Gahima worked in local government administration in Rwanda from 1996, serving in different capacities. He later held several administrative positions in Gahini Diocese.

He was consecrated assistant bishop of Gahini Diocese on May 28, 2017, before being enthroned as the diocese’s second bishop on May 26, 2019.

Gahima is married to Rose Dusenge Gahima.

Gahini Diocese

Gahini Diocese was established in May 1997 after being carved out of the former Byumba and Kibungo dioceses. Its Anglican mission history dates back to 1925, when Christian missionaries established a mission station at Gahini.

Gahima succeeds Mbanda, 71, who led the church since 2018. Mbanda was due to retire at 65, but his tenure was extended, allowing him to remain in office beyond the usual retirement age.