Butare (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Jean Bosco Ntagungira, Bishop
Philippe Rukamba, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 12 November 1963
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Kigali
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Rwanda
Square Kilometers: 1,958 (756 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://butarecatholicdiocese.com
Mailing Address: Eveche, B.P. 69, Butare, Rwanda
Telephone: 788.303.720

Historical Details

Diocese of Astrida
- Latin Name: Astridaensis
- Erected: 11 September 1961
- Country: Rwanda
- Description: Districts of Astrida and Nyanza

Past and Present Ordinaries

Jean-Baptiste Gahamanyi † (11 Sep 1961 Appointed - 2 Jan 1997 Retired)
Philippe Rukamba (2 Jan 1997 Appointed - 12 Aug 2024 Retired)
Jean Bosco Ntagungira (12 Aug 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Astrida
11 September 1961	Erected	Archdiocese of Kabgayi	Diocese of Astrida (erected)
Diocese of Butare
12 November 1963	Name Changed	Diocese of Astrida	Diocese of Butare
10 April 1976	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Butare (from Kabgayi)
30 March 1992	Territory Lost	Diocese of Butare (Ghikongoro)	Diocese of Gikongoro (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Diocese of Butare

1969 356,418 857,000 41.6% 48 57 105 3,394 137 273 22 ap1971

1980 497,696 1,092,000 45.6% 62 54 116 4,290 125 261 22 ap1981

1990 675,506 1,374,445 49.1% 71 42 113 5,977 147 354 24 ap1991

1999 402,024 631,669 63.6% 45 56 101 3,980 96 352 20 ap2000

2000 399,747 640,609 62.4% 57 19 76 5,259 94 359 20 ap2001

2001 422,697 673,446 62.8% 85 19 104 4,064 63 363 20 ap2002

2002 441,308 715,979 61.6% 82 22 104 4,243 77 352 20 ap2003

2003 466,401 747,659 62.4% 85 23 108 4,318 76 386 20 ap2004

2004 477,100 825,032 57.8% 88 22 110 4,337 83 395 21 ap2005

2006 474,045 848,857 55.8% 104 21 125 3,792 2 95 408 23 ap2007

2012 538,000 985,000 54.6% 93 29 122 4,409 121 479 25 ap2013

2015 586,000 1,074,000 54.6% 97 27 124 4,725 128 511 26 ap2016

2018 631,680 1,157,910 54.6% 91 44 135 4,679 120 490 26 ap2019

2020 661,000 1,213,000 54.5% 96 42 138 4,789 139 541 26 ap2021

2022 691,850 1,269,540 54.5% 81 66 147 4,706 164 594 26 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Butare
1969	356,418	857,000	41.6%	48	57	105	3,394		137	273	22	ap1971
1980	497,696	1,092,000	45.6%	62	54	116	4,290		125	261	22	ap1981
1990	675,506	1,374,445	49.1%	71	42	113	5,977		147	354	24	ap1991
1999	402,024	631,669	63.6%	45	56	101	3,980		96	352	20	ap2000
2000	399,747	640,609	62.4%	57	19	76	5,259		94	359	20	ap2001
2001	422,697	673,446	62.8%	85	19	104	4,064		63	363	20	ap2002
2002	441,308	715,979	61.6%	82	22	104	4,243		77	352	20	ap2003
2003	466,401	747,659	62.4%	85	23	108	4,318		76	386	20	ap2004
2004	477,100	825,032	57.8%	88	22	110	4,337		83	395	21	ap2005
2006	474,045	848,857	55.8%	104	21	125	3,792	2	95	408	23	ap2007
2012	538,000	985,000	54.6%	93	29	122	4,409		121	479	25	ap2013
2015	586,000	1,074,000	54.6%	97	27	124	4,725		128	511	26	ap2016
2018	631,680	1,157,910	54.6%	91	44	135	4,679		120	490	26	ap2019
2020	661,000	1,213,000	54.5%	96	42	138	4,789		139	541	26	ap2021
2022	691,850	1,269,540	54.5%	81	66	147	4,706		164	594	26	ap2023

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Jean Bosco Ntagungira (Bishop: 12 Aug 2024 - )
Thaddée Ntihinyurwa (Priest: 11 Jul 1971 to 5 Nov 1981)
Philippe Rukamba (Bishop: 2 Jan 1997 to 12 Aug 2024)
Edouard Sinayobye (Priest: 12 Aug 2000 to 6 Feb 2021)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Jean-Baptiste Gahamanyi † (Bishop: 11 Sep 1961 to 2 Jan 1997)
Félicien Muvara † (Auxiliary Bishop: 15 Dec 1988 to Feb 1989)

Source(s)

Diocese of Astrida
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 54, Page 547, and Page 548
Diocese of Butare
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 68, Page 393, and Page 394

About Catholic-Hierarchy

Terminology/Site Help

Copyright David M. Cheney, 1996-2024
Code: web_d, v3.4.9, 15 Sep 2024; Data: 6 Oct 2024

✠

Diocese of Butare

Dioecesis Butarensis