AFRICA/TANZANIA - Erection of the Diocese of Kayanga and first bishop appointed

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father Benedict XVI, on August 14, 2008 erected the Diocese of Kayanga (Tanzania), with territory taken from the Diocese of Rulenge, which would become Rulenge-Ngara, making it a suffragan of the Metropolitan See of Mwanza. The Holy Father has appointed Monsignor Almachius Vincent Rweyongeza, Vicar General of the Diocese of Bukoba, as the first Bishop of Kayanga.
Monsignor Almachius Vincent Rweyongeza was born in the village of Bushagara-Kamachumu, pertaining to the Parish Church of Rutabo, in the Diocese of Bukoba, on January 1, 1956. He carried out primary school studies at the Mission in Rutabo and the Rutabo Preparatory Seminary until 1970. From 1971-1974, he attended secondary school at the Rubya Junior Seminary. He studied philosophy at the Major Seminary in Ntungamo (1975-1976), and theology at the Major Seminary in Kipalapala (1977-1981). He was ordained a priest on December 6, 1981 for the Diocese of Bukoba. After his ordination, he served in the following posts: 1982-1983: Parish Vicar in a parish in Bukoba;1984-1985: pastor of a parish in Mungana, Diocese of Bukoba; 1985-1986: Professor at the Major Seminary in Segerea; 1986-1988: Studies in Rome at the Pontifical Urban University, for a Licentiate in Biblical Theology; 1989-1999: Professor of Sacred Scripture in the Major Seminary in Ntungamo, and simultaneously Vice-Rector of the same Seminary. Since 1999, he has served as Vicar General of the Diocese of Bukoba.
The new Diocese of Kayanga is situated in the northwestern edge of the country, bordered by Uganda to the north, the River Kagera (which marks the boundary with Rwanda) to the west, the Straits of Biharamulo, Chato, and Ngara (which would enter into the territory of the Diocese of Rulenge-Ngara) to the south, and the Straits of Bukoba and Misyeni to the east. The new Diocese includes the civil districts of Karagwe and Kyerwa. It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Mwanza. The Cathedral of the new diocese is already under construction. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 1/9/2008)