KUZIKA RASMI MASALIA YA KARDINALI RUGAMBWA NA KUTABARUKU KANISA KUU LA JIMBO LA BUKOBA KUFANYIKA LEO OKTOBA 6-7 /2012

“Watu watakuwa wengi, tumemwalika Rais Kikwete, Kardinali Pengo, mawaziri, maaskofu wote wa Tanzania na wengine kutoka kwa majirani zetu Uganda na Burundi,” alisema Askofu Kilaini katika mahojiano maalumu.

Siku moja baada ya mazishi hayo, itafanyika shughuli ya  kubariki upya Kanisa Kuu la jimbo hilo baada ya kukamilika ukaratabati wake wa miaka 17, ulioanza mwaka 1995.

Matukio hayo mawili yatakwenda sambamba na maadhimisho ya miaka 100 tangu kuzaliwa kwa Marehemu Rugambwa Julai 12, 1912.

Kuhamisha mwili Rugambwa ambaye alikuwa Kardinali wa kwanza Mwafrika aliyefariki dunia Desemba 8, 1997 na mwili wake kuhifadhiwa katika Kanisa la kwanza la Katoliki mkoani Kagera, Kashozi, kunatokana na kauli yake ya  kuzikwa katika Kanisa Kuu la Bukoba alilochagua yeye.

Askofu Kilaini, alisema shughuli ya kuhamisha mwili huo kutoka katika Kanisa la Kashozi itafanywa na watalaamu wa afya walioandaliwa na kuwekwa katika jeneza jipya kwa ajili ya mazishi rasmi.

Paroko wa Parokia ya Kashozi, Padri Anthony Rugundiza alisema jana kuwa wageni wanaopeleka jeneza kutoka Dar es Salaam wanatarajiwa kuwasili Bukoba leo na baada ya hapo maandalizi ya mwili huyo yataanza.

Kaburi la muda la Kardinali Rugambwa limekuwa likitumiwa kama sehemu ya utalii na waumini kufanya maombi na mafungo, na tangu azikwe miaka 15 iliyopita hadi jana maelfu ya watu walikuwa wamekwishalitembelea.

“Si rahisi kujua idadi ya waliotembelea, lakini ni wengi kwa maelfu. Wengine wamekuwa wakifanya maombi yao na wengine wameandika hata barua zenye ujumbe wa mambo wanayotaka Rugambwa  awaombee kwa Mungu,”
alisema Padri Rugundiza.

Padri Rugundiza alisema wamekwishafungua kaburi hilo kufanya usafi na lile jeneza la awali bado lina hali nzuri, lakini wameamua kutolitumia kwa mazishi rasmi.

His Eminence Laurean Cardinal Rugambwa
The First African Cardinal
(1912 - 1997)

Rugambwa was born on 12th July 1912, in of an aristocratic family in Bukongo village, Rutabo-Kamachumu; Bukoba district, North west of Tanzania on the bourder with Uganda. His father was Domitiani Rushubirwa and the mother Asteria Mukaboshezi both of royal families. He was propheticlly given the name of Rugambwa meaning ‘the renowned’.

The local chief had forbidden any religious activity on the plateau of Kamachumu, thus Rugambwa as a young boy had daily to walk 20 Kilometers to Kagondo Parish for catechism. He was baptised by Fr. Emil Verfurth, a Missionary of Africa (White Father) on 21 March 1921. That same year he was baptised permission was given and a parish was opened by indigenous diocesan priests at Rutabo. After baptism he continued with the primary school education in the village.
Seminarian

In 1926 he was selected to join the junior seminary of Rubya where he studied till 1933 when he joined the major seminary at Katigondo

Uganda. In all his training, he was taught by the missionaries of Africa (White fathers) who evangelised Bukoba and southern Uganda. Among his teachers at Katigondo was Joseph Kiwanuka the future bishop of Masaka.

Father Laurean Rugambwa
Rugambwa was ordained priest on 12 December 1943 at Rutabo by bishop Burchard Huwiler. After ordination he was appointed to Kagondo parish and latter to Rubya parish. He often narrated on how interesting the pastoral work was; he was fortunate to have a bicycle with which he travelled up to 50 kilometers to give services. In 1948 he was transferred to Kashozi parish, the oldest parish in the diocese. He had very lively memories of his pastoral work in the parish especially at the outstation of Katoma, six miles from the town of Bukoba.

Father Rugambwa in Rome

It was at this time that Rome was thinking of dividing Bukoba vicariate and making the second experiment of a vicariate in black Africa, lead by an African after Masaka in Uganda. Rugambwa was selected for studies in Rome for that purpose. In Rome while lodging at St. Pater’s College he studied Canon law at the PontificalUrbanCollege both belonging to propaganda Fide.

The new Vicariate
In 1948 Bishop Burchard Huwiler of Bukoba reached the age of 80 and as his health was not good he retired. Bishop Tetrault was appointed to replace him. Unfortunately after two years his health deterioted and he died in 1951.
In this situation the arrangements of separating the vicariate were accellerated. On his return, after his graduation with a doctorate in Canon Law, Rugambwa was appointed to Rubya for a short time and later to Kashozi Parish.

On 16th December 1951, Laurean Rugambwa was nominated bishop of the new Vicariate of Lower Kagera, cut off from Bukoba Vicariate with 5 parishes and 17 indigenous priests. He was ordained on 10th February 1952. In 1953 the vicariate was raised to a diocese of Rutabo. The diocese was run by an exclusively African clergy, all determined to prove themselves. They managed with little financial support as they had little outside contacts. Under him with success they organised the people to support their diocese.

The First African Cardinal

In recognition of these successful efforts, Pope John XXIII elected him the first African cardinal in history in March 1960. He was created Cardinal on 28th March 1960. The same year cardinal Rugambwa was transferred to Bukoba diocese. Which had been cut into two. His Bukoba diocese comprised of the then district of Bukoba while the new diocese of Rulenge under Bishop Alfred Lanctot comprised of the districts of Karagwe, Bihamulo and Ngara.
In his diocese he organised people into social guilds and trained many people, both men and women, locally and abroad. A number of them were destined to hold important posts of leadership in the country. By 1969 he had developed the diocese both spiritually and materially through hospitals and schools. Among the hospitals are counted Rubya Hospital and Mugana Hospital, among the schools is the major seminary of Ntungamo and the girls secondary school called after him, 'Rugambwa secondary school'.

Archbishop of Dar es Salaam

In 1969 he was nominated the Archbishop of the Capital city of Tanzania Dar es Salaam. He was its pastor till 1992 when he retired at 80 years. Here he introduced religious from different congregations both men and women. This helped him to open many parishes in the predominantly Moslem city. Like in Bukoba in dar es salaam he introduced the spirit of self reliance. He built its first catholic hospital at Ukonga. He built a major seminary at Segerea and a junior seminary at Visiga. At the end he founded a women religious congregation for Dar es Salaam, the Little Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi.

Both in Bukoba and Dar es Salaam, he was the undisputed leader of all religious denominations, the Catholics, Protestants and Moslems. They all accepted his leadership in common negotiations with the government. All governments respected him and took seriously his word.
His Eminence Cardinal Laurean Rugambwa died on 8th December 1997 at 22.15 hours. His body was laid to rest in the church at kashozi the first mission in Kagera region, north of Tanzania. A good devotion has developed around his tomb with people coming from far to pay their homage and say a prayer. It will be transferred to the Cathedral church once the repairs are finished. Hopefully on 6th October 2012.
He is remembered for his simplicity, pastoral concern especially for the spiritual and social needs of the people, and his solicitude for the pastoral workers. His relationship with all including the government officials was amiable. He has left a rich legacy to all especially in the places he has worked.

TASWIRA YA HALI HALISI HUKO KASHOZI AMBAKO MWILI WA KARDINALI RUGAMBWA ULIPO HIFADHIWA NA HII LEO MASALIA YAKE YATAZIKWA KATIKA KANISA LA KUU LA JIMBO KATORIKI LA BUKOBA.

Muonekano wa gari litakalo ubeba mwili wa Marehemu Kardinali Rugambwa likiwa tayari limepambwa Maua.
Anaonekana Baba Askofu Msaidizi wa Kanisa Katoliki Jimbo la Bukoba, Methodius Kilaini mara tu baada ya kukagua gari litakalo tumika kubebe mwili wa marehemu Kardinali Rugambwa

kulia ni gari litakalo beba mwili wa Kardinali Rugambwa
Muonekano wa ndani ya gari maalum mwili wa Kardinali utakapo wekwa tayari kwa safari kuja Bukoba mjini katika Jimbo Katoliki
Mzee Dioniz Malinzi akiteta jambo na Askofu KilainiKikundi cha Ngoma kutoka nchini Rwanda kikiendelea  na mashamsham  katika mahadhimisho haya.
 Shamrashamra za hapa na pale zikiendelea.