RELIGIOUS SERVICES
Religion is an
integral part of the daily life of the people in Bukoba and Kagera Region. The
information on this website is a guide on where to find a church, mosque or
temple when visiting or relocating to Bukoba Municipality and immediate
surrounding areas. Because of the street numbering system, the location of the
building to an exact address cannot be provided. The location information
provided here refers to the closest intersection from where you can see the
church, mosque or temple. Telephone and email addresses for the institution is
provided if available. Likewise, mass, service and work hours are provided if
available. Where the institution has historical significance to Bukoba or
Tanzania, a brief description is provided. When deemed appropriate for
historical purposes, a religious institution outside Bukoba Municipality is
included on this website. The information is grouped by religious denomination
and will be continuously added or expanded as it becomes available.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH SERVICES
The
Mater Misericordiae (Mother of Mercy) Roman Catholic Cathedral is the most beautiful,
most visible, and the largest stand-alone structure in the Bukoba Municipality.
It houses the tomb of Cardinal Laurian Rugambwa, the first Africa Cardinal of
the Roman Catholic Church.
Location: Jamhuri Road & Barongo Road, Bukoba (map)
Office
hours: Monday – Friday (8:00 am – 12:30 pm &
2:30 pm – 500 pm); Saturday (8:00 am – 12:30 pm).
Daily
Mass times: (Monday – Saturday): 6:30 am
Sunday
Mass times: 6:30 am & 8:00 am (Swahili); 10:00 am
(English); 3:00 pm (children mass).
Contact
information: Tel. (255) 766 397 638 & (255) 625 914
913 (with WhatsApp)
NOTE:
Contact information are cellphone contacts and changes with of priest
assignments.
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| Cathedral front and side view |
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| Cathedral sanctuary & Bishop Seat |
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Cathedral inside front wing
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| Cathedral inside front wing |
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| Cathedral inside South wing |
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| Above: The tombs of Cardinal Laurian Rugambwa (centre), Bishop Nestor Timanywa (right), and an empty tomb for burial of future bishops (left). |
Bunena Roman Catholic Church
Location: Shore Road, Bukoba
(map)
Built in 1914, it
is the first Catholic Mission Church in Bukoba Municipality. It was a Cathedral
from 1947 to 1968 when Laurent Tetrault, Alfred Lancton, and Cardinal Laurian
Rugambwa were bishops of Bukoba.
Daily Mass
times: (Monday – Saturday): 12:30 am
Sunday Mass times:
(Sunday): 8:00 am
Location: Nyakijoga, Mugana Parish (map)
Nyakijoga
is a shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes where pilgrims may receive God’s grace
through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin May. The shrine is located in
Mugana Parish about 29 km from Bukoba Municipality and is visited by many
religious faithful from Kagera Region, across Tanzania and neighboring countries.
The pilgrimage to Nyakijoga Shrine is on the first Sunday of October every
year.
Location:
West side of Bukoba Municipality (map)
St.
Anthony of Padua Major Seminary (locally known as Ntungamo Major Seminary) educates
and forms seminarians preparing for the Catholic priesthood. Seminarians are
from Bukoba and across Tanzania. It is located on the hills overlooking Lake
Victoria on the west side of Bukoba Municipality off Maruku Road.
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| Ntungamo Major Seminary Chapel |
Rutabo Parish
Located
about 45 – 50 km from Bukoba Municipality on the Kianja plateau is Rutabo
Parish, which is the birthplace and home Parish of Cardinal Laurian Rugambwa.
It was also the seat of the former Rutabo Diocese which was suppressed in 1953
to establish the present Bukoba Diocese. Although the church is a considerable
distanced from Bukoba Municipality to attract visitors, it is included on this
site for historical purposes.
Kashozi Parish Church
Kashozi
Parish is the oldest Roman Catholic Mission in the Bukoba Catholic Diocese. The
present church is located at Kashozi, about 5 – 6 km from Bukoba Municipality
along Kashozi Road. It is included on this site for historical reasons.
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
Bukoba Lutheran Cathedral
Location: Kashozi
Road, Bukoba (map)
Kashura Lutheran church
Location: Kanazi Rd on Kashura Hill (map)
OTHER ORGANIZED CHURCHES
Greek Orthodox Church
Location: Uganda
Rd & Twaijumaa Rd (map)
Seventh Day Adventist Church
Location: Uganda
Rd close Kagera prisons (map)
Anglican Church
Location: Custom
Rd & Boma Rd (map)
SERVICES FOR MUSLIMS
Ismaili Mosque & Clock Tower
Location: Kawawa
Rd & Mosque Street (map)
Bukoba Sunni Mosque
Location: Kawawa
Road west of Uganda Road (map)
Khoja Shia Mosque
Location: Mosque St & Sokoine Road (map)