In a landmark appointment, Pope Leo IV has named Msgr. Simon Peter Engurait, a Ugandan priest, as the new bishop of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in Louisiana, USA. The Vatican announced the decision this week, marking a historic milestone for Uganda’s Catholic community.
Bishop-elect Engurait, who had been serving as the diocesan administrator of Houma-Thibodaux, is now the second Ugandan to be consecrated bishop outside his homeland, joining Bishop Joseph Mary Kizito of Aliwal, South Africa.
The Vatican Press Office confirmed the appointment, which was formally communicated to the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux and the United States by Christophe Cardinal Pierre, the Vatican’s Apostolic Nuncio to the U.S. and former representative to Uganda
Speaking to WWL Louisiana, Bishop-elect Engurait expressed deep humility and surprise at the appointment.
“I am humbled beyond words that the Holy Father has chosen me—not from outside, but from among the priests of this beloved diocese,” he said.
He also expressed gratitude for his vocation and the trust placed in him.
“I give thanks to God for the gift of life, for the call to the priesthood, and now, for this sacred new mission. Everything I am, and all I hope to be, is by His grace.
Born on August 28, 1971, in Ngora, eastern Uganda, Bishop-elect Engurait began his religious formation at Saint Peter Minor Seminary in Soroti, followed by studies at Saint Peter’s College in Tororo. Before joining the priesthood, he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and public administration from Makerere University and later obtained an MBA from the Maastricht School of Management in the Netherlands.
After relocating to the United States, he completed his theological training at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, where he received a Master of Divinity. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux on May 25, 2013.
Since his ordination, Engurait has served in several key roles within the diocese:
- Parochial Vicar, Cathedral of Saint Francis de Sales, Houma (2013–2015)
- Parochial Vicar, Saint Genevieve, Thibodaux (2015–2016)
- Parochial Vicar, Christ the Redeemer, Thibodaux (2016–2017)
- Pastor, Saint Bridget Parish, Schriever (2017–present)
- Moderator of the Curia (2016–present)
- Vicar General (2017–2024)
- Diocesan Administrator (2024–present)
Fluent in English, Ateso, Kiswahili, and Spanish, Bishop-elect Engurait now leads a diocese that covers approximately 3,500 square miles in southern Louisiana, with a Catholic population of 75,761 out of 257,548 residents.
His appointment underscores Uganda’s rising prominence in global Catholicism. As vocations decline in many parts of the world, Uganda’s vibrant Catholic community continues to provide priests and religious leaders to dioceses across the globe.
This historic elevation reflects both the local impact of Engurait’s ministry and the global contribution of Uganda’s clergy to the Catholic Church’s mission.
Bishop-elect Simon Peter Engurait
- Birthdate: August 28, 1971
- Birthplace: Ngora, Uganda
- Education:
- B.A. in Political Science, Makerere University (1995)
- MBA, Maastricht School of Management, Netherlands (1999)
- Master of Divinity, Notre Dame Seminary, New Orleans (2013)
- Ordination: May 25, 2013
