1992-2024, 32 years of Kigeme Diocese existance, 1931-2024, 93 years of Anglican Church presence in the area ministered by Kigeme Diocese.
Kigeme Diocese of the Anglican Church of Rwanda was created on 20th November 1991 and officially inaugurated on the 12th July 1992, from Butare Diocese, in accordance with the Ministerial Order No 318/05 of the 10th November 1992. The Ministry started in Sekera daugther church, actually in Mbogo Parish but the headquarters of the Diocese is in Kigeme Parish which was created in 1931 by Church Missionary Society (CMS) at S 2° 28′ 59.31″ , E 29° 31′ 40.3″ in the Southern Province of Rwanda, East Africa.
Kigeme Diocese work is done in all the circumscription of Nyamagabe District in full;Nyanza District in sector of Nyagisozi and in Huye District in sector of Kigoma, a part of Maraba sector and Rwaniro sector.
Until now, EAR, Kigeme Diocese has been led by three bishops: Bishop KAYUMBA Norman (the first Bishop: 1992-1997), Bishop BIRINDABAGABO Alexis (Assistant Bishop: 1992-1994), Bishop MVUNABANDI Augustin (the second Bishop: 2001-2017) and Bishop MUSABYIMANA Assiel (the third Bishop: 2018 onward).
- VISION
The vision of EAR Kigeme Diocese is “to be a Church that glorifies God and blesses the nations” (1 Peter 4.11).
- MISSION
The principal mission of Kigeme Diocese is to spread the Good news of Jesus Christ to all the people and to contribute to the well being of Rwanda People regarding the socio-economic, cultural, intellectual and health development and the protection of human right.
- OBJETIVE
To enable Kigeme Diocese find a revelation which enables the efficience of available means in order to have a strong organization for better serving all the population in general and particularly all its members who are in its catchment area.
- CORE VALUES
The core values of Kigeme Diocese are:
- Christ centred
- Bible Based
- Stewardship
- Integrity
- Excellence
- ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE 1992
All the activities of EAR Kigeme Diocese are centered on three main pillar which evolved together with the early Anglican Missionary work Evangelism, Healthcare and Education.
- EVANGELISM
As a result of evangelism, Kigeme Diocese count more than 80,000 active members in 6 Archdeaconries, 12 Districts, 64 parishes, 9 sub-parishes, 260 chapels, 1,444 grassroot churches.
There has been set six steps to test if a born again christian has become a true disciple of Jesus Christ.
As a challenge, 128 over 260 chapels are still suspended for not complying with government requirements, and only 50 over 72 pastors do not comply with education requirement with a must to train them before 2023, otherwise they will be denied to continue the service.
- HEALTH CARE:
There is Kigeme Hospital which started together with the missionary work in 1930s and built in 1938. Currently, it serves above 200, 000 people from 11 Health Centers plus 2 Dispensaries. There is also a Health Center managed in partnership with the Government, and a health Post.
- EDUCATION
EAR, is counting more than 80 nursery schools, 46 Primary Schools and three primary schools without a complete cycle, 18 Secondary schools among which 2 boarding (G.S. Kigeme A and E.S Mbogo), 3 Technical and Vocational Education Training Schools.
Primary and Secondary Schools are managed in collaboration with the Government of Rwanda.
- DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS
- REFUGEES PROTECTION
In 2012, Kigeme Diocese lent a piece of land of more than 10ha to the Ministry of Emergency Management and Refugee Affairs (MINEMA) for accommodating the Refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- FOOD SECURITY PROGRAM
Livestock to people (Goats, Pigs and Cows), Capacity building of assistants veterinarians of intervention, Milk Collection Center to be developed in a diary.
- SAVINGS AND CREDIT SCHEME
By 2017, they were more than 1,300 saving groups operating with more than 19,500 members who secured RWF 217,500,000 of savings, among them FRW 109,500,000 of loans were distributed to 10,500 members.
- JUSTICE, PEACE, RECONCILIATION AND CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PROMOTION
For the sensitization of the population in its intervention area for their participation to the local government performance contracts elaboration and implementation.