KAGERA: POPE Francis has appointed Fr Jovitus Francis Mwijage (57) as the new elect bishop for Bukoba diocese, replacing Bishop Deziderius Rwoma, who has retired.
Secretary General of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), Fr Charles Kitima said in a statement that the appointment became effective yesterday, urging the clergy to give the new bishop all the necessary support.
Soon after the news broke out, hundreds of Bukoba Municipal Catholics gathered at the Mater Misericordiae Cathedral here to congratulate the new bishop and also attended a special mass celebrated by Bukoba Auxiliary Bishop Methodius Kilaini and 70 other priests.
Bishop Elect Mwijage was born on December 2nd, 1966 in Missenyi District’s Ishozi village.
He was ordained a priest on July 20th, 1997 and served at several parishes and also as formation teacher at Rubya Seminary. He obtained his PhD degree in 2012 at the Gregorian University in Rome, Italy.
Until his new appointment, Fr Jovitus Mwijage was National Executive Director of Association of Diocesan Priests (UWAMATA) and member of the Regional Council of Seminaries and the International Economic Committee of the Pontifical Mission Societies.