Onesimus Asiimwe

Onesimus Asiimwe (born April 24, 1965)^[1] is a Ugandan Anglican bishop, theologian and former chaplain of Makerere University. He has served as the 6th Bishop of the North Kigezi^[2] Diocese^[3] in the Church of Uganda since his consecration on March 12, 2023.^[1] Asiimwe succeeded Bishop Benon Magezi, who died in June 2021.^[4]

Asiimwe, before his consecration as a bishop, was a chaplain of Makerere University. Thereafter, he was chosen to serve as the Bishop of the Diocese of North Kigezi under the Church of Uganda.

Bishop Onesimus Asiimwe was born in Mparo, Rukiga District (then part of Kigezi), Uganda, on April 24, 1965.^[5] He was the youngest of eleven children born to Lay Reader Samwiri and Samalie,^[5] who influenced his Christian upbringing.

Asiimwe was baptized on June 6, 1965,^[5] and confirmed on September 13, 1984. He attended Kihanga Boys' School for Primary Education (1973–1979).^[6] He completed his O-Levels at Kigezi High School^[7] and A-Levels at Makerere College School.

In 1988, Asiimwe enrolled at National Teachers' College, Kabale, graduating in 1990 with a Diploma in Education.^[5] Asiimwe then earned a Bachelor of Education degree from Makerere University in 1995. Later, in 2010, he pursued theological studies, graduating with a Masters of Divinity degree from Bishop Tucker School of Divinity and Theology at Uganda Christian University.^[6]

Following his graduation from Makerere University, Asiimwe worked as a teacher at Kigezi High School,^[8][6] eventually becoming head of the Fine Art department. From the 1990s until 2002, he served as an Advanced Level Art examiner for the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB), a period coinciding with significant education reforms in Uganda, including the introduction of Universal Primary Education in 1997.

After a personal spiritual awakening in 1988^[5], the bishop dedicated his life to Christian ministry, with a strong focus on youth and social transformation. Despite initial resistance from church leaders due to his miracle-centered Church ministry, the bishop rose through the ranks—serving as chaplain to the Archbishop of Uganda and later earning theology degrees from Uganda Christian University. He was consecrated bishop in 2023 at St. Peter's Cathedral Rugarama, a place that once questioned his ministry but later embraced his calling^[9].

Asiimwe was ordained as a deacon on October 2, 2011.,^[10][5] at St. Peter's Cathedral, Rugarama Kabale, and as a priest on October 7, 2012, by Bishop George Katwesigye. His ministry included participation in training programs internationally, including at Haggai Institute (Singapore),^[11] Billy Graham School of Evangelism, and Anglican Leadership Institute (South Carolina, USA)^[11]

Asiimwe served as the Provincial Youth and Students Coordinator, where he helped develop the Provincial Annual Youth and Students Convention (PAYSCO) program.

In 2006, Asiimwe was appointed Chaplain to Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi, a role noted as potentially the first time a layperson held such a position for an archbishop within the Global Anglican Communion at that time. From 2017 until early 2023, he served as chaplain of St. Francis Chapel at Makerere University.^[12]

In January 2022, Asiimwe, a former chaplain at St. Francis Chapel, Makerere University, was consecrated as the Bishop of North Kigezi Diocese.

During his tenure at St. Francis Chapel, Asiimwe (then Rev.) partook in a mission partnership focused on reaching youth in Uganda (Christ Church Anglican, n.d.). During this phase, Asiimwe was also a strong advocate for Government's affirmative action in curbing the spread of corona virus and the plague of locusts in the sector of agriculture (Christ Church Anglican, n.d.).^[13]

Asiimwe also served as a member of the Central Committee of World Council of Churches (WCC), representing Uganda in the policy reference committee in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland (World Council of Churches Central Committee, 2008).

On January 18, 2023, the House of Bishops of the Church of Uganda elected Asiimwe as Bishop of North Kigezi Diocese^[5]. He was consecrated on March 12, 2023^[14],^[15] at Emmanuel Cathedral Kinyasano by Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu^[14]. During the ceremony, Archbishop Emeritus Henry Luke Orombi highlighted Bishop Asiimwe's passion for evangelism.

Asiimwe has publicly expressed views aligned with conservative biblical interpretations regarding sexuality.

Asiimwe married Florence^[11] on September 13, 1993. They have three children: Daudi Mwesigwa Asiimwe,^[11][16] Majorie Kiconco Asiimwe^[11] (married to Aine Taremwa), and Ruth Ariho Asiimwe.^[17] A significant personal event, described in sourced accounts, was a spiritual transformation in January 1988, following which he abandoned alcohol and cigarette use.^[5][18]