Rugambwa to be laid to rest in Bukoba
BUKOBA: THE Catholic Church in Tanzania will on September 29, 2025 bid farewell to Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa, a distinguished Vatican diplomat whose decades of service took him across the globe representing the Holy See.
He will be laid to rest at the Mater Misericordiae Cathedral in Bukoba, alongside other prominent clerics including the late Laurian Cardinal Rugambwa and Bishop Nestorius Timanywa.
Archbishop Rugambwa passed away on September 16 at Gemelli Hospital in Rome after a period of illness. He was 67.
His death has been met with deep sorrow both in Tanzania and the globe, where he served in several papal missions.
Acting Secretary General of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), Rev Fr Clement Kihiyo, announced that a requiem mass will be held on September 27 at St Joseph Cathedral in Dar es Salaam before the body is transported to Bukoba for burial.
Bishop Jovitus Francis Mwijage of Bukoba Diocese described the Archbishop as a humble servant of the Church whose life embodied dedication, diplomacy and faith.
“It is with great sadness that I announce the death of our beloved Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa, who was called to be with the Lord,” he said.
“Let us continue to pray for the repose of his soul.”
Born on October 8, 1957 at Maruku Ward, Bukoba, Archbishop Rugambwa was ordained priest in 1986 by Bishop Timanywa. He joined the Holy See’s diplomatic service in 1991 and went on to serve in Vatican missions in several continents.
His career included senior appointments: In 2007 Pope Benedict XVI named him Undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People.
Later, he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe in 2010 and to Honduras in 2015.
In 2019, Pope Francis entrusted him with the mission of Apostolic Nuncio to New Zealand and several Pacific Island nations. Two years later, his portfolio expanded further to include Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, Fiji and Palau.
The Archbishop is remembered as a bridgebuilder who promoted dialogue, peace and pastoral care wherever he was posted. His burial in Bukoba will draw faithful from across Tanzania, dignitaries and colleagues from the Vatican to honour a lifetime of service.
