Pope Francis appointed Father Acquirino Francis Kibira as bishop of Kasese, Uganda. Kaesese is a city with a population of roughly 610,000, of whom approximately 292,100 are Catholic. It is served by some 40 priests and 65 religious.
Acquirino Francis Kibira was born in Kigoto-Bulyansungwe, Uganda, in 1958, and was ordained a priest in 1984. At the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, Italy, he studied sacred Scripture. He has served in various pastoral and academic roles.
Currently rector of St. Paul’s National Seminary Kinyamasika, in Fort Portal, Uganda, the bishop-elect succeeds Bishop Egidio Nkaijanabwo, whose resignation upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
The Holy Father also appointed Monsignor Peter Kayode Odetoyinbo as bishop of Abeokuta, Nigeria. The city of Abeokuta has a population of approximately 2,570,000 people, of whom some 70,125 are Catholics. It is served by about 60 priests and 40 religious.
Currently vicar general of the Archdiocese of Ibadan, Nigeria, the bishop-elect was born in Ibadan in 1964. Holding a licentiate and a doctorate in history of the Church from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, he served as president of the Ibadan Diocesan Priests Association and as secretary of the Diocesan Priests of All Yorubaland as well as other pastoral and academic roles. (D.C.L.)
