Diocese of Kigoma, Tanzania

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Kigoma / Kigomaën(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Tabora

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1946.05.10: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Kigoma / Kigomaën(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Tanganyika)
1953.03.25: Promoted as Diocese of Kigoma / Kigomaën(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Tabora)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2014.07.10 – ...):

Bishop Joseph Roman Mlola, ALCP/OSS (59)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Kigoma (Roman Rite)

Bishop Joseph Roman Mlola, ALCP/OSS (59)
(2014.07.10 – ...)

Bishop of Kigoma (Tanzania)

Caritate unitas et pax

Born:	1966.01.09 (Mashati Rombo, Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1997.07.12
Consecrated Bishop:	2014.10.26

Bishop of Kigoma (Tanzania) (2014.07.10 – ...)

Archbishop Paul Runangaza Ruzoka (76)
(Apostolic Administrator 2012 – 2014.07.10)

Bishop Protase Rugambwa (64) (later Cardinal)
(2008.01.18 – 2012.06.26)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria in Montesanto
Metropolitan Archbishop of Tabora (Tanzania)

Euntes in mundum universum / Mwanzo na nwisho

Born:	1960.05.31 (Bunena, Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1990.09.02
Consecrated Bishop:	2008.04.13
Created Cardinal:	2023.09.30

Priest of Rulenge (Tanzania) (1990.09.02 – 2008.01.18)

Bishop of Kigoma (Tanzania) (2008.01.18 – 2012.06.26)

Adjunct Secretary of Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples (2012.06.26 – 2017.11.09)

Archbishop ad personam (2012.06.26 – 2023.04.13)

Secretary of Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples (2017.11.09 – 2022.06.05)

Vice-Grand Chancellor of Pontifical Urbaniana University (2017.11.09 – 2023.03.15)

Secretary for the Section of Evangelisation of Dicastery for Evangelisation (2022.06.05 – 2023.03.15)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Tabora (Tanzania) (2023.04.13 – 2023.11.10)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria in Montesanto (2023.09.30 [2024.02.18] – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Tabora (Tanzania) (2023.11.10 – ...)

Bishop Paul Runangaza Ruzoka (76) (later Archbishop)
(1989.11.10 – 2006.11.25)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Tabora (Tanzania)

Nitalitii neno lako

Born:	1948 (Nyakayenzi, Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1975.07.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1990.01.06

Priest of Kigoma (Tanzania) (1975.07.20 – 1989.11.10)

Bishop of Kigoma (Tanzania) (1989.11.10 – 2006.11.25)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Tabora (Tanzania) (2006.11.25 – 2023.11.10)

Apostolic Administrator of Kigoma (Tanzania) (2012 – 2014.07.10)

Bishop Alphonse Daniel Nsabi
(1969.12.15 – 1989.08.16)

Born:	1920.04.09 (Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1950.08.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1970.02.22
Died:	1989.08.16 († 69)

Bishop of Kigoma (Tanzania) (1969.12.15 – 1989.08.16)

Bishop James Holmes-Siedle, M. Afr.
(1958.08.05 – 1969.12.15)

Born:	1910.11.01 (Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1935.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1946.12.08
Died:	1995.05.22 († 84)

Titular Bishop of Adraa (1946.07.29 – 1953.03.25)

Vicar Apostolic of Karema (Tanzania) (1946.07.29 – 1953.03.25)

Bishop of Karema (Tanzania) (1953.03.25 – 1958.08.05)

Bishop of Kigoma (Tanzania) (1958.08.05 – 1969.12.15)

Titular Bishop of Ardmore (1969.12.15 – 1995.05.22)

Bishop John van Sambeek, M. Afr.
(1953.03.25 – 1957.11.22)

Born:	1886.04.23 (Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1911.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1937.03.07
Died:	1966.12.25 († 80)

Ecclesiastical Superior of Lwangwa (Zambia) (1933.05.23 – 1936.11.19)

Vicar Apostolic of Tanganyika (Tanzania) (1936.11.19 – 1946.05.10)

Titular Bishop of Gergis (1936.11.19 – 1953.03.25)

Vicar Apostolic of Kigoma (Tanzania) (1946.05.10 – 1953.03.25)

Bishop of Kigoma (Tanzania) (1953.03.25 – 1957.11.22)

Titular Bishop of Tracula (1957.11.22 – 1966.12.25)

Vicars Apostolic of Kigoma (Roman Rite)

Bishop John van Sambeek, M. Afr.
(1946.05.10 – 1953.03.25)

(see above)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of Our Lady of Victory, Kigoma, Kigoma

Bururi (↑), Rutana (↑), Ruyigi (↗), Rulenge–Ngara (↗), Kahama (↗), Tabora (→), Mpanda (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 45,056 km²

Population: 647,528 Catholics (22.5% of 2,875,170 total)

Pastoral Centres: 31 parishes, 2 missions

Personnel: 77 priests (61 diocesan, 16 religious), 217 religious (54 brothers, 163 sisters), 68 seminarians