DAR ES SALAAM, FEBRUARY 19, 2019 (CISA)-Pope Francis has appointed Rt. Rev. Renatus Nkwande of Catholic Diocese of Bunda as Archbishop of Mwanza. His appointment was announced by the Apostolic Nuncio to Tanzania Most Rev. Marek Solczyn’ski on February 11.
He takes over from Most Rev. Jude Thaddeus Ruwaich who was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Dar es Salaam on June 21, 2018.
Bishop Nkwande was born on November 12, 1965 in Sumve and ordained priest of Catholic Archdiocese of Mwanza on July 2, 1995.
He served as Curate at Magu Parish in Mwanza from 1995 to 1996 and Rector of St Mary’s Junior Seminary of Mwanza Archdiocese from 1996 to 2001.
In 2002 to 2005 he went to Rome for studies in Church Law at the Urbanian University. From 2005 to 2011 he was a Chief Accountant of Mwanza Archdiocese; and between 2008 and 2009 he was Vicar General of the archdiocese.
In 2009 he was appointed Administrator of Mwanza Archdiocese after the death of Most Rev. Anthony Mayala.
On 27th November, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him bishop of the new Diocese of Bunda, where he was consecrated and installed on February 20 in 2011 by Cardinal Polycarp Pengo, Archbishop of Dar es Salaam.
He has served as Bishop of Bunda for 7 years until February 11 when Pope Francis appointed him Archbishop of Mwanza.
He is the Chairman for Health Commission of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference.
