The Diocese of Hoima was erected on 9th August 1965 being made up of parts cut from the Diocese of Fort-Portal and the former Arch Diocese of Rubaga. Its first Bishop was Bishop Cyprian Kihangire who later became Bishop of Gulu, in Northern Uganda. He was succeeded in 1969 by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Edward Albert Baharagate who retired on 9th March 1991. He was in turn succeeded by Bishop Deogratias Byabazaire, the current Bishop of the diocese.
Current
It comprises of 39 ecclesiastical Parishes constituting four (4) civil districts i.e. Hoima, Masindi, Buliisa and Kibaale with a total population of 1,232,422 (Source: Preliminary Results of the 2002 Population and Housing Census. However, the annual population growth rate of Uganda is 3.4%).
Hoima Catholic Diocese, one of the nineteen (19) Catholic Dioceses in Uganda, is a member of the Uganda Episcopal Conference.
The Diocesan headquarters are located at Bujumbura Hill in Hoima town, mid-western Uganda about 200 km north-west of Kampala city.
The diocese covers a total area of 17,200 square kilometres.
Age - sex characteristics
More than half of the population in Hoima Diocese has a high dependency ratio. The economically active / productive population is about 46% (16-64 years). 4% of the population is 65 years and above. The sex ratio stands at 99 males per 100 females.
Economic Activities
Agriculture is the major economic activity although much of the arable land is still under-utilized. Most of the farmers are involved in subsistence production of food crops such as sweet potatoes, cassava, bananas, millet, beans, groundnuts and maize.
This form of agriculture occupies 89% of the population in the diocese. The major cash crops produced are coffee, tobacco, tea, beer bananas and to a limited extent cotton. The other economic activities are fishing around L. Albert, livestock farming, petty trade, agro-processing, handicrafts, brick making, charcoal making, carpentry, hospitality, and tourism to mention few. Of recent there has been successful exploration of oil on the shores of Lake Albert, which gives prospects for oil drilling and refinery in the near future.
Mission of the Diocese
To attain full evangelization coupled with integral development of the human person.
Diocesan Administrative Structure
The diocese is headed by the bishop, assisted by the Vicar general and other vicars, heads of commissions and departments and the parish priests. The major Decision making organs include: The diocesan synod, Administrative council, diocesan curia, College of consulters and the council of priests.
