Renatus Leonard Nkwande

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Renatus Leonard Nkwande
Archbishop of Mwanza
HIS GRACE NKWANDE.png
The Most Reverend Renatus Leonard Nkwande
Church Roman Catholic Church
Archdiocese Archdiocese of Mwanza
SeeMwanza
Appointed11 February 2019
Installed12 May 2019
Predecessor Jude Thaddaeus Ruwa'ichi
Previous post(s) Bishop of Bunda (2010 - 2019)
Apostolic Administrator of Geita (2014 - 2016)
Orders
Ordination2 July 1995
Consecration20 February 2011
by  Polycarp Pengo
RankArchbishop
Personal details
Born
Renatus Leonard Nkwande

(1965-11-12) 12 November 1965 (age 59)
MottoBwana ni fungula posho langu
Styles of
Ignatius Chama
Coat of arms of Renatus Leonard Nkwande.svg
Reference style
Spoken style Your Grace
Religious style Archbishop

Renatus Leonard Nkwande (born 12 November 1965), is a Tanzanian Catholic prelate who is the archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mwanza in Tanzania, since 11 February 2019. Before that, between 27 November 2010 and 12 May 2019, he was bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bunda, Tanzania. He was appointed bishop by Pope Benedict XVI. He was consecrated bishop on 20 February 2011 and installed at Bunda. On 11 February 2019, Pope Francis transferred him to Mwanza and elevated to archbishop over that Ecclesiastical Metropolitan Province. He was installed at Mwanza on 12 May 2019.

Contents

Background and education

Nkwande was born in Mantare, Tanzania, on 12 November 1965. He attended primary schools in Sumve, from 1974 until 1980. In 1981 he joined Saint Pius' Junior Seminary, where ghe completed his O-Level studies. He continued with his A-Level education at Saint Mary's Junior Seminary in Nyegezi, between 1984 and 1986. In 1987 he entered the Kibosho Major Seminary in the Diocese of Moshi, where he studied philosophy between 1987 until 1989. He studied theology at Saint Charles Lwanga Seminary in Dar-es-Salaam. He studied in Rome for a Licentiate in Canon Law at the Pontifical Urban University between 2002 and 2005. [1]

Priest

On 2 July 1995, he was ordained priest for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mwanza. He served as priest until 27 November 2010. While a priest, he served in various roles and locations including as: [1]

Bishop

On 27 November 2010, Pope Benedict XVI created the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bunda, Tanzania by taking territory from the Diocese of Musoma and the Archdiocese of Mwanza. The new diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Mwanza. The Holy Father appointed Reverend Father Renatus Leonard Nkwande, previously the Diocesan Administrator of the Archdiocese of Mwanza as the pioneer bishop of Bunda. [1] [2] He was consecrated bishop and installed in front of Saint Paul Cathedral, Bunda, Diocese of Bunda on 20 February 2011. The Principal Consecrator was Cardinal Polycarp Pengo, Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam assisted by Jude Thaddaeus Ruwa'ichi, Archbishop of Mwanza and Michael George Mabuga Msonganzila, Bishop of Musoma.

Archbishop

On 11 February 2019, Pope Francis elevated Bishop Renatus Leonard Nkwande to Archbishop and was appointed to lead the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mwanza. He was installed at Mwanza on 12 May 2019. [3] As of 2025, he continues to serve as archbishop at Mwanza. [4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Agenzia Fides (27 November 2010). "Africa/Tanzania: Creation of the Diocese of Bunda and appointment of the first Bishop". Agenzia Fides . Vatican City. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  2. CISA (30 November 2010). "Tanzania: First Bishop Appointed to New Diocese of Bunda" (via AllAfrica.com). Catholic Information Service for Africa (CISA). Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  3. Agenzia Fides (12 February 2019). "Africa/Tanzania: Appointment of the Archbishop of Mwanza". Agenzia Fides . Vatican City. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  4. Nicholas Waigwa (9 July 2025). "Like in Construction Projects, Let's Also "plan strategies" to Grow God's Kingdom: Catholic Bishop in Tanzania". ACI Africa. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 15 September 2015.

Succession table

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
(10 November 2010 - 21 June 2018)
Archbbishop of Mwanza
(since 11 February 2019)
Succeeded by
Preceded by
None (Diocese created)
Bishop of Bunda
(27 November 2010 - 11 February 2019)
Succeeded by
Simon Chibuga Masondole
(since 6 Apr 2021)