Dr Laurent Mbanda, the outgoing Bishop of Shyira Diocese has been elected as the next Archbishop and Primate of the Province of the Anglican Church of Rwanda, the Church has announced.

The election took place on Wednesday morning during a meeting of the province’s House of Bishops at St Etienne Cathedral Hall in Kigali.

The Local Anglican Church’s general secretary, the Rev. Francis Karemera, said in a statement, "The Province of the Anglican Church of Rwanda informs her members, all Rwandans, and the entire Anglican Communion, that the House of Bishops, in their meeting held at St Etienne Cathedral Hall on 17th January, in the year of our Lord 2018, elected the Bishop of Shyira Diocese Rt Revd Laurent Mbanda as the new Archbishop of the Province of the Anglican Church of Rwanda and Bishop of Gasabo Diocese.”

Mbabda replaces Archbishop Onesphore Rwaje who retires in June.

"Please, kindly hold him in your prayers as well as the retiring Archbishop Onesphore Rwaje,” Karemera added.

Archbishop-elect Mbanda will be enthroned on June 10, according to the statement from the Anglican Church.

Rwaje has served since December 2010.

Mbanda, a former vice president of Compassion International, was enthroned as Bishop of Shyira in November 2010.

He is said to be passionate about training church people, holistically, to lead transformation in society.

Dr Mbanda replaced the now retired Bishop John Rucyahana, as the Bishop of Shyira Diocese in November 2010.

He previously served as the Vice President for Africa Regional Compassion International between 2004-2010, and Vice President for Programme Development at Compassion International from 1997-2004.

He holds Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Educational studies from Trinity International University in the U.S which he obtained in 1990 and Master of Arts (M.A.) in Christian Education from Denver Seminary also in the U.S, which he acquired in 1986.

He also attended Kenya Highlands Bible College.

In 2005, Bishop Mbanda moved back to Rwanda from the US to "devote his life to the recovery and reconstruction of the country”.

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