Diocese of Bukoba, Tanzania 🇹🇿

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Bukoba / Bukobaën(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Mwanza

Neighbouring Dioceses: Rulenge–Ngara (↙), Kayanga (←), Mbarara (↖), Masaka (↑)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1960.06.21: Established as Diocese of Bukoba / Bukobaën(sis) (Latin) (from the suppressed Diocese of Rutabo and became suffragan of Tabora)
1987.11.18: Became suffragan of Mwanza

Present Prelates

Bishop (2023.10.19 – ...):

Bishop Jovitus Francis Mwijage (59)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Bukoba (Roman Rite)

Bishop Jovitus Francis Mwijage (59)
(2023.10.19 – ...)

Bishop of Bukoba (Tanzania)

Born:	1966.12.02 (Bukoba, Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1997.07.20
Consecrated Bishop:	2024.01.27

Priest of Bukoba (Tanzania) (1997.07.20 – 2023.10.19)

Bishop of Bukoba (Tanzania) (2023.10.19 – ...)

Bishop Method Kilaini (78)
(Apostolic Administrator 2022.10.01 – 2023.10.19)

Bishop Desiderius Rwoma (78)
(2013.01.15 – 2022.10.01)

Bishop emeritus of Bukoba (Tanzania)

Fidelitas et humilitas

Born:	1947.05.08 (Ilogero, Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1974.07.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1999.07.11

Priest of Bukoba (Tanzania) (1974.07.28 – 1999.04.19)

Bishop of Singida (Tanzania) (1999.04.19 – 2013.01.15)

Apostolic Administrator of Singida (Tanzania) (2013.01.15 – 2015.04.28)

Bishop of Bukoba (Tanzania) (2013.01.15 – 2022.10.01)

Bishop Nestorius Timanywa
(1973.11.26 – 2013.01.15)

Born:	1937.05.07 (Kakungiri, Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1966.12.11
Consecrated Bishop:	1974.02.24
Died:	2018.08.28 (Mwanza, Tanzania † 81)

Bishop of Bukoba (Tanzania) (1973.11.26 – 2013.01.15)

Bishop Placidus Gervasius Nkalanga, O.S.B.
(1969.03.06 – 1973.11.26)

Born:	1919.06.19 (Ruti, Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1950.07.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1961.05.21
Died:	2015.12.18 († 96)

Titular Bishop of Balbura (1961.04.18 – 1969.03.06)

Auxiliary Bishop of Bukoba (Tanzania) (1961.04.18 – 1969.03.06)

Apostolic Administrator of Kabale (Uganda) (1966.02.01 – 1969.05.29)

President of Tanzania Episcopal Conference (1969 – 1970)

Bishop of Bukoba (Tanzania) (1969.03.06 – 1973.11.26)

Cardinal Laurean Rugambwa
(1960.06.21 – 1968.12.19)

Mater boni consilii

Born:	1912.07.12 (Bukongo, Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1943.12.12
Consecrated Bishop:	1952.02.10
Created Cardinal:	1960.03.28
Died:	1997.12.08 (Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania † 85)

Titular Bishop of Febiana (1951.12.13 – 1953.03.25)

Vicar Apostolic of Lower Kagera (Tanzania) (1951.12.13 – 1953.03.25)

Bishop of Rutabo (Tanzania) (1953.03.25 – 1960.06.21)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Francesco d’Assisi a Ripa Grande (1960.03.31 – 1997.12.08)

Bishop of Bukoba (Tanzania) (1960.06.21 – 1968.12.19)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania) (1968.12.19 – 1992.07.22)

President of Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (1970 – 1974)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Method Kilaini (78) (2009.12.05 – 2024.01.27)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Placidus Gervasius Nkalanga, O.S.B. (1961.04.18 – 1969.03.06)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Mater Misericordiae Cathedral, Bukoba, Kagera
Former Cathedral: Former Cathedral of St. Joseph, Kamachumu, Kagera

Rulenge–Ngara (↙), Kayanga (←), Mbarara (↖), Masaka (↑)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 8,680 km²

Population: 765,970 Catholics (61.0% of 1,255,679 total)

Pastoral Centres: 41 parishes

Personnel: 139 priests (136 diocesan, 3 religious), 564 religious (3 brothers, 561 sisters), 60 seminarians