Bukoba (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Jovitus Francis Mwijage, Bishop
Desiderius M. Rwoma, Bishop Emeritus
Method Paul Kilaini, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 21 June 1960
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Mwanza
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Tanzania, United Republic of
Square Kilometers: 8,680 (3,352 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.bukobadiocese.co.tz/
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Private Bag, Bukoba, Tanzania
Telephone: (028)222.01.89/96
Fax: 222.21.13

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Kagera Inferiore
- Latin Name: de Kagera Inferiore
- Erected: 13 December 1951
- Vicariate
- Country: Tanzania, United Republic of
Diocese of Rutabo
- Latin Name: Rutaboensis
- Elevated: 25 March 1953
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Tabora
- Country: Tanzania, United Republic of

Past and Present Ordinaries

Laurean Rugambwa † (13 Dec 1951 Appointed - 19 Dec 1968 Appointed, Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam)
Placidus Gervasius Nkalanga, O.S.B. † (6 Mar 1969 Appointed - 26 Nov 1973 Resigned)
Nestorius Timanywa † (26 Nov 1973 Appointed - 15 Jan 2013 Retired)
Desiderius M. Rwoma (15 Jan 2013 Appointed - 1 Oct 2022 Retired)
Jovitus Francis Mwijage (19 Oct 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Kagera Inferiore
13 December 1951	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Bukoba (Kisïba, Missenyi, and part of Kiymia)	Vicariate Apostolic of Kagera Inferiore (erected)
Diocese of Rutabo
25 March 1953	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Kagera Inferiore	Diocese of Rutabo
21 June 1960	Territory Added	Diocese of Bukoba (Other part of the district of Bukoba)	Diocese of Rutabo
Diocese of Bukoba
21 June 1960	Name Changed	Diocese of Rutabo	Diocese of Bukoba
18 November 1987	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Bukoba (from Tabora)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Diocese of Bukoba

1970 221,574 427,921 51.8% 68 3 71 3,120 5 253 55 ap1971

1980 248,550 566,000 43.9% 86 14 100 2,485 19 274 23 ap1981

1990 360,355 748,588 48.1% 91 6 97 3,715 6 380 24 ap1991

1999 566,695 1,131,127 50.1% 98 7 105 5,397 12 504 28 ap2000

2000 569,100 1,140,000 49.9% 106 7 113 5,036 12 510 28 ap2001

2001 578,100 1,180,000 49.0% 104 5 109 5,303 11 515 28 ap2002

2002 583,000 1,170,833 49.8% 108 6 114 5,114 12 515 28 ap2003

2003 636,724 1,171,620 54.3% 107 5 112 5,685 11 512 29 ap2004

2004 519,123 868,066 59.8% 112 6 118 4,399 11 518 29 ap2005

2006 521,256 870,048 59.9% 113 6 119 4,380 11 512 29 ap2007

2012 529,444 877,000 60.4% 121 5 126 4,201 10 434 31 ap2013

2015 547,323 930,000 58.9% 135 3 138 3,966 3 546 35 ap2016

2018 569,994 984,935 57.9% 137 6 143 3,985 6 578 39 ap2019

2020 609,725 1,042,400 58.5% 140 3 143 4,263 3 581 39 ap2021

2022 648,000 1,108,000 58.5% 145 3 148 4,378 3 581 39 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Bukoba
1970	221,574	427,921	51.8%	68	3	71	3,120	5	253	55	ap1971
1980	248,550	566,000	43.9%	86	14	100	2,485	19	274	23	ap1981
1990	360,355	748,588	48.1%	91	6	97	3,715	6	380	24	ap1991
1999	566,695	1,131,127	50.1%	98	7	105	5,397	12	504	28	ap2000
2000	569,100	1,140,000	49.9%	106	7	113	5,036	12	510	28	ap2001
2001	578,100	1,180,000	49.0%	104	5	109	5,303	11	515	28	ap2002
2002	583,000	1,170,833	49.8%	108	6	114	5,114	12	515	28	ap2003
2003	636,724	1,171,620	54.3%	107	5	112	5,685	11	512	29	ap2004
2004	519,123	868,066	59.8%	112	6	118	4,399	11	518	29	ap2005
2006	521,256	870,048	59.9%	113	6	119	4,380	11	512	29	ap2007
2012	529,444	877,000	60.4%	121	5	126	4,201	10	434	31	ap2013
2015	547,323	930,000	58.9%	135	3	138	3,966	3	546	35	ap2016
2018	569,994	984,935	57.9%	137	6	143	3,985	6	578	39	ap2019
2020	609,725	1,042,400	58.5%	140	3	143	4,263	3	581	39	ap2021
2022	648,000	1,108,000	58.5%	145	3	148	4,378	3	581	39	ap2023

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Method Paul Kilaini (Priest: 18 Mar 1972 to 22 Dec 1999; Auxiliary Bishop: 5 Dec 2009 to 27 Jan 2024; Apostolic Administrator: 1 Oct 2022 to 27 Jan 2024)
Damian Kyaruzi (Priest: 29 Jun 1968 to 21 Apr 1997)
Jovitus Francis Mwijage (Priest: 20 Jul 1997; Bishop: 19 Oct 2023 - )
Novatus Rugambwa (Deacon: 5 Jan 1986; Priest: 6 Jul 1986 to 6 Feb 2010)
Almachius Vincent Rweyongeza (Priest: 6 Dec 1981 to 14 Aug 2008)
Desiderius M. Rwoma (Priest: 28 Jul 1974 to 19 Apr 1999; Bishop: 15 Jan 2013 to 1 Oct 2022)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Placidus Gervasius Nkalanga, O.S.B. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 18 Apr 1961; Bishop: 6 Mar 1969 to 26 Nov 1973)
Laurean Rugambwa † (Vicar Apostolic: 13 Dec 1951; Bishop: 25 Mar 1953 to 19 Dec 1968)
Nestorius Timanywa † (Priest: 11 Dec 1966; Bishop: 26 Nov 1973 to 15 Jan 2013)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Kagera Inferiore
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 44, Page 397, to Page 399
Diocese of Rutabo
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 45, Page 705, to Page 710
Diocese of Bukoba
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 52, Page 912
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 80, Page 354, and Page 355

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Diocese of Bukoba

Dioecesis Bukobaensis