Bishop vows to transform lives

SOUTHERN PROVINCE HUYE — Bishop-elect, Reverend Nathan Kamusiime Gasatura has said he will tackle problems of biting poverty among Christians after being consecrated and installed as the Bishop of Butare Diocese on Sunday, January 11. He replaces Bishop Venuste Mutiganda who retired recently and has since rejoined his family in the United States of America. Gasatura, who has been the Marketing and International Relations Director of World Vision International, has held different portfolios both in government and non governmental organisations. In 2004, he was appointed the chairman of the National AIDS Control Commission (CNLS) where he served for three years. He holds a degree in Psychology from Makerere University in Uganda. He also obtained a Master of Divinity from the Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology, affiliated to Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Chicago in the USA. In his Pastoral work, Reverend Gasatura served as the Vicar of Saint Etienne Cathedral in Kigali in the years 2000-2002. He then served in different parishes in Rwanda before starting Kicukiro Parish in Kigali City. In an interview with The New Times this week, Gasatura said that his work at the diocese will be centred on transforming the lives and hearts of the people through the gospel. “I have a 20-year Vision that seeks to create a prosperous diocese. We need to empower our people economically through poverty eradication programmes. We will continue to promote education, health and provide decent shelter to our people,” he said. Gasatura, a community development specialist said that the diocese has a lot of potential to develop agriculture and tourism sectors. These, he said, can be developed to provide solutions to biting poverty levels. Butare Diocese boasts of over 80,000 Christians. It has five archdeaconries, 30 parishes and 40 Pastors. It runs two secondary schools and a number of health centres. Bishop-elect Gasatura Nathan: Fact file • 1956 -Born in Uganda• 1972-Attended Primary School in Ngoma and Rubaare Primary Schools in Uganda• 1973-1976- Attained Ordinary level education at Makobore High School, Kinyasaano, Rukungiri, Uganda• 1977-1978- Attained Advanced level education at Kampala High School, Kampala, Uganda• 1979-1982- Bachelor of Science (Psychology), Makerere University, Uganda• Master of Theology/Divinity, Nairobi Graduate School of Theology, Kenya.• 1990- Ordained Deacon in Burundi• 1992- Ordained Pastor in Kenya Work life • 1982-1984- Director of projects, Namirembe Cathedral, Church of Uganda• 1985-1989- Missionary in Burundi• 1993-1999- Worked with the African Evangelistic Enterprises, Uganda• 2000-2002- Vicar Saint Etienne Cathedral Kigali• 2004- Chairman of the National AIDS Commission• 2008 Elected Bishop of Butare Diocese Ends