Bukoba Catholic Diocese is located in the North West of Tanzania in the Kagera Region. The Kagera region is comprises three diocesese: Bukoba, Rulenge-Ngara and Kayanga.The Catholic diocese of Bukoba was first evangelised in 1892 by the Missionaries of Africa. Currently, Bukoba diocese has 32 parishes.Read More.
The Holy Father, Pope Francis, appointed Rev. Fr Jovitus Francis Mwijage as the new Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Bukoba on October 19, 2023. Bishop-elect Jovitus Francis Mwijage was consecrated and officially installed as Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Bukoba on January 27, 2024. The service was presided over by Cardinal Protase Rugambwa, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Tabora, Tanzania, assisted by Bishop Methodius Kilaini, then Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Bukoba, and Bishop Almachius Rweyongeza of Kayanga.
Bishop Jovitus Francis Mwijage was born on December 2, 1966 in the Bukoba District. After his priestly studies and formation, he was ordained a priest on July 20, 1997. Immediately after his ordination, he was appointed as Assistant Parish Priest of Mwemage Parish and later teacher and formator at Rubya Minor Seminary of the Catholic Diocese of Bukoba. From 2005 to 2011, he was sent to Rome for further studies, where he obtained his licentiate and later his doctorate in Church History. From February 2012 to November 2023, he served in various capacities as Professor of Church History at Segerea Senior Seminary, Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Tanzania, National Executive Secretary of UMAWATA (Association of Diocesan Priests), as National Executive Secretary of the Regional Board of Seminaries, Kipalapala, Kibosho, Ntungamo and Segerea and as a member of the Finance Committee of the PMS (International Secretariat) representing the national directors of the African continent.
Installation of Bishop Jovitus Mwijage 27/1/2024. On the right is the Principal Concecrator, His Eminence Cardinal Protase Rugambwa, and on the left is Archbishop Angelo Accattino, the Apostolic Nuncio to Tanzania.
Bishop Jovitus Mwijage becomes the six indigenous Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Bukoba after Cardinal Laurian Rugambwa, the First African Cardinal, Bishop Gervase Nkalanga, Bishop Nestory Timanywa, and Bishop Desderius Rwoma with his Auxiliary Bishop Methodius Kilaini.
Important Links
Bukoba Catholic Diocese Orphans Scholarship (BUCADOS) is an association founded by the Catholic Diocese of Bukoba in Tanzania with the aim of supporting the education of orphans and needy children in Bukoba. BUCADOS is committed to raising funds from benefactors (Friends of BUCADOS) to pay the tuition fees and other educational costs for the orphans right from elementary school to college and university levels. Read More
CARUMCO is an institute of higher learning established in 2019 by the Catholic Diocese of Bukoba in Tanzania, in memory of the Icon of Education in Bukoba, Cardinal Laurian Rugambwa the First indigenous Bishop of Bukoba and the First African Cardinal. Read More
There are three seminaries in Bukoba Diocese: Rutabo Preparatory Seminary, Rubya Junior Seminary and Ntungamo Major Seminary. Read More
Nyakijoga, a shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, is a place of pilgrimage in the Parish of Mugana, Bukoba Catholic Diocese, where the faithful may obtain, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, God's benefits like the pilgrims who go all the way to the shrine of Our Lady at Lourdes in France. Read More
Bukoba Diocese is pliviledged to be the birth place of the first Saint in Tanzania. St. John Mary Muzeyi one of the 24 Uganda Martyrs was born at Kishomberwa in Bukoba Diocese in Tanzania. Kishomberwa is now a pilgrimage site in honour of St. J.M. Muzeyi. Read More.
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