Dr. Gahima was elected on Friday during the General Assembly of leaders of the Anglican Church in Rwanda held at its headquarters in Kigali.
He was among the leading candidates for the position and faced Bishop Assiel Musabyimana, Bishop of the Diocese of Kigeme, in the final stage of the election.
Nathan Rusengo Amooti, Bishop of the Diocese of Kigali, had also initially been listed among those eligible for the position but later withdrew, leaving two candidates in the final race.
In March 2026, Dr. Gahima was elected chairperson of the Council of Protestant Churches in Rwanda (CPR). His election to that position brought his name into wider consideration as a potential successor to Dr. Mbanda as head of the Anglican Church in Rwanda.
Dr. Gahima had been serving as Bishop of the Diocese of Gahini and was the second bishop to lead the diocese.
Born in 1970, he grew up in Uganda after his family fled to the country. He completed his primary education at Kasonga in Uganda before continuing his secondary education at Kololo and St Andrea Kahwa’s College.
He later obtained a degree in education and pursued higher education in business studies at what was then known as Umutara Polytechnic, now part of the University of Rwanda.
He also holds postgraduate degrees in human resource management and theology, as well as a PhD in theology.
Before joining the leadership of the Anglican Church, Dr. Gahima worked in education and local government.
From 1995 to 1997, he served as deputy head of Lycée de Kigali, where he was responsible for students studying in English.
Between 1997 and 2001, he served as mayor of the former Karangazi Commune, and from 2004 to 2005, he was mayor of the former Gabiro Commune.
Following reforms in Rwanda’s local government structures, Dr. Gahima moved into church leadership in the Diocese of Gahini, where he served as deputy diocesan leader.
In 2019, he was consecrated Bishop of the Diocese of Gahini, a position he held for seven years before being elected to lead the Anglican Church in Rwanda.
Dr. Gahima is married and has eight children.
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