Diocese of

Rulenge–Ngara

Tanzania

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Rulenge–Ngara / Rulengen(sis)–Ngaren(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Mwanza

Neighbouring Dioceses: Ruyigi (↙), Muyinga (←), Kibungo (↑), Kayanga (↗), Bukoba (↗), Geita (→), Kahama (↘), Kigoma (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Websites:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Francis of Assisi

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1929.04.08: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Bubuka (from Apostolic Vicariate of Tabora and Apostolic Vicariate of Victoria-Nyanza)
1951.12.13: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Lower Kagera
1953.03.25: Promoted as Diocese of Bukoba / de Bukoba (Latin) (became suffragan of Tabora)
1960.06.21: Renamed as Diocese of Rulenge / Rulengen(sis) (Latin)
1987.11.18: Became suffragan of Mwanza
2008.08.14: Renamed as Diocese of Rulenge–Ngara / Rulengen(sis)–Ngaren(sis) (Latin) (lost territory to establish Diocese of Kayanga)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2008.08.14 – ...):

Bishop Severine Niwemugizi (69)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Rulenge–Ngara (Roman Rite)

Bishop Severine Niwemugizi (69)
(2008.08.14 – ...)

Bishop of Rulenge–Ngara (Tanzania)

Hekima ya Mungu iniongoze

Born:	1956.06.03 (Katoke, Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1984.12.16
Consecrated Bishop:	1997.02.16

Priest of Rulenge (Tanzania) (1984.12.16 – 1996.11.08)

Bishop of Rulenge (Tanzania) (1996.11.08 – 2008.08.14)

President of Tanzania Episcopal Conference (2000 – 2006)

Bishop of Rulenge–Ngara (Tanzania) (2008.08.14 – ...)

Vice-President of Tanzania Episcopal Conference (2012 – 2015.09.04)

Bishops of Rulenge (Roman Rite)

Bishop Severine Niwemugizi (69)
(1996.11.08 – 2008.08.14)

(see above)

Bishop Christopher Mwoleka
(1969.06.26 – 1996.11.08)

Born:	1927.08.09 (Itahwa, Tanzania)
Ordained Priest:	1962.06.30
Consecrated Bishop:	1969.06.19
Died:	2002.10.16 († 75)

Titular Bishop of Zica (1969.03.06 – 1969.06.26)

Auxiliary Bishop of Rulenge (Tanzania) (1969.03.06 – 1969.06.26)

Bishop of Rulenge (Tanzania) (1969.06.26 – 1996.11.08)

Bishop Alfred Lanctôt, M. Afr.
(1960.06.21 – 1969.05.30)

Born:	1912.04.14 (Sherbrooke, QC, Canada)
Ordained Priest:	1936.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1952.03.06
Died:	1969.05.30 († 57)

Titular Bishop of Avensa (1951.12.13 – 1953.03.25)

Vicar Apostolic of Bubuka (Tanzania) (1951.12.13 – 1953.03.25)

Bishop of Bukoba (Tanzania) (1953.03.25 – 1960.06.21)

Bishop of Rulenge (Tanzania) (1960.06.21 – 1969.05.30)

Bishops of Bukoba (Roman Rite)

Bishop Alfred Lanctôt, M. Afr.
(1953.03.25 – 1960.06.21)

(see above)

Vicars Apostolic of Bubuka (Roman Rite)

Bishop Alfred Lanctôt, M. Afr.
(1951.12.13 – 1953.03.25)

(see above)

Bishop Laurent Tétrault, M. Afr.
(1947.11.13 – 1951.03.20)

Caritas omnia sperat

Born:	1904.05.21 (Saint-Malo, QC, Canada)
Ordained Priest:	1929.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1948.03.11
Died:	1951.03.20 († 46)

Titular Bishop of Tabuda (1947.11.13 – 1951.03.20)

Vicar Apostolic of Bubuka (Tanzania) (1947.11.13 – 1951.03.20)

Bishop Burcardo Huwiler, M. Afr.
(1929.03.18 – 1946.03.20)

Born:	1868.04.07 (Buttwil-Argau, Switzerland)
Ordained Priest:	1893.07.02
Consecrated Bishop:	1929.07.14
Died:	1954.10.01 († 86)

Vicar Apostolic of Bubuka (Tanzania) (1929.03.18 – 1946.03.20)

Titular Bishop of Vazari (1929.03.18 – 1954.10.01)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Christopher Mwoleka (1969.03.06 – 1969.06.26)

Special Churches

Pro-Cathedral: Pro-Cathedral of Christ the King, Rulenge, Kagera

Ruyigi (↙), Muyinga (←), Kibungo (↑), Kayanga (↗), Bukoba (↗), Geita (→), Kahama (↘), Kigoma (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 13,004 km²

Population: 419,188 Catholics (30.9% of 1,355,654 total)

Pastoral Centres: 30 parishes

Personnel: 60 priests (58 diocesan, 2 religious), 281 religious (8 brothers, 273 sisters), 54 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.03.30

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