This Friday, January 8, 2021, before noon, His Excellence Celestin HAKIZIMANA, Bishop of Gikongoro Diocese and Administrator of Cyangugu Diocese, through death announcement declared sad news of death of our brother Ubald RUGIRANGOGA.

1.His short biograph

Father Ubald RUGIRANGOGA was born on April 26^th 1955 in Rwabidege, Karengera sector, Nyamasheke district, Mwezi parish in Cyangugu Diocese. He is son of Jacques KABERA and Anysie MUKARUHAMYA. He was baptized on 8^th May 1955 in Mwezi. He received his Confirmation sacrament on 6^th November 1968 in Shangi.

From 1961 to 1969 he went to Rwabidege, Giheke and Mwezi primary school respectively. From 1969 to 1978 he did his secondary studies in Mibilizi, Nyundo then in Burundi. From 1978 to 1984 he studded philosophy and theology courses in Saint-Charles Borromeo of Nyakibanda in Butare Diocese. He was ordained by His Excellent Bishop Thaddée Ntihinyurwa, former Bishop of Cyangugu Diocese

2. His mission’s activities

From 19^th September 1984 he served in Nyamasheke parish as assistant priest. From 21^st September 1987 he become assistant priest in Cyangugu parish cathedral. From 1999 to 2010 he became parish priest of Mushaka parish.  From 24^th November 2010 to 8^th January 2021 he was a leader of spiritual center “Ibanga ry’amahoro” at Muhari in Nkanka parish.

3. Some of his features in missions he did

  Father Ubald RUGIRANGOGA was a priest who loved and enjoyed the prayers in general but particularly a charismatic prayer. He had a mysterious talent of praying for sick. He was shocked by the Genocide against the Tutsi of 1994 in Rwanda, which his mission focused on unity and reconciliation in Mushaka parish and different places in Rwanda. As results of this mission Rwanda Unity Club INTWARARUMULI gave him a Unity award in 2015. He never tires of preaching mercy and reconciliation.

4. About his death

In March 2020 Father Ubald RUGIRANGONGA was invited in US for holy mass and praying for sick, he was supposed to comeback in April 2020 but he didn’t manage it because of covid-19 pandemic spread prevention measures. That why he stayed there waiting things to become like they were so that he can come back to his motherland . From November we noticed that he suffered from Covid-19. As the days went and back his condition became worse and he was taken to hospital

. Doctors did their best to the lever he was cured from covid-19. But his respiratory system was badly damaged, that’s why he went back in hospital. We noticed that he passed away in this Friday morning, 8^th January 2021 in Utah hospital located in Salt Lake City, USA.

Let us pray God to grant him eternal rest, God brightness shines on him and his soul rest in peace.

Father Athanase KOMERUSENGE.

Chancelor of CYANGUGU