Rwandan Priest Makes History as Head of SIGNIS Africa.

Father Fidele Mutabazi was elected on August 3, 2026, as the global SIGNIS assembly, bringing together leaders of Catholic media organizations and communication experts from around the world, opened in Kigali, Rwanda.

At 41 years old, Father Mutabazi becomes the first Rwandan to lead SIGNIS Africa. He succeeds Father Walter Chikwendu Ihejirika of Nigeria, who served as president for the past eight years.

Father Mutabazi will serve a four-year term, renewable once.

Speaking shortly after his election, he said his priority would be to strengthen collaboration among Catholic media organizations across Africa by fostering sustainable partnerships, encouraging the sharing of resources, and promoting mutual support.

"Our main focus will be to build a strong network of Catholic journalists and media organizations across Africa, especially in Central Africa and Rwanda, through resource sharing, lasting partnerships, and mutual support," he said.

Father Mutabazi currently serves as the Executive Secretary of the media commission at the Rwanda Catholic Episcopal Conference (CEPR). He is also the director of Kinyamateka, a Rwandan Catholic church newspaper.

A priest of the Diocese of Kabgayi, Father Mutabazi was ordained on August 2, 2014. He began his pastoral ministry at Collège Sainte Marie Reine Kabgayi from 2014 to 2015.

Between 2015 and 2019, he served at Mushishiro Parish while pursuing studies in Journalism and Communication at the Institut Catholique de Kabgayi (ICK). After completing his studies, he was appointed as the director of Kinyamateka.

Father Mutabazi joined SIGNIS Africa in 2021. A year later, he was elected to represent Central Africa on the organization's governing board, a role that paved the way for his election as President of SIGNIS Africa.