Renatus Leonard Nkwande

Renatus Leonard Nkwande (born 12 November 1965), is a Tanzanian Catholic prelate who is the archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mwanza in Tanzania, since 11 February 2019. Before that, between 27 November 2010 and 12 May 2019, he was bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bunda, Tanzania. He was appointed bishop by Pope Benedict XVI. He was consecrated bishop on 20 February 2011 and installed at Bunda. On 11 February 2019, Pope Francis transferred him to Mwanza and elevated him to archbishop over that Ecclesiastical Metropolitan Province. He was installed at Mwanza on 12 May 2019.

Background and education Nkwande was born in Mantare, Tanzania, on 12 November 1965. He attended primary schools in Sumve, from 1974 until 1980. In 1981 he joined Saint Pius' Junior Seminary, where he completed his O-Level studies. He continued with his A-Level education at Saint Mary's Junior Seminary in Nyegezi, between 1984 and 1986. In 1987 he entered the Kibosho Major Seminary in the Diocese of Moshi, where he studied philosophy between 1987 until 1989. He studied theology at Saint Charles Lwanga Seminary in Dar-es-Salaam. He studied in Rome for a Licentiate in Canon Law at the Pontifical Urban University between 2002 and 2005.

Priest

On 2 July 1995, he was ordained priest for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mwanza. He served as priest until 27 November 2010. While a priest, he served in various roles and locations including as: He was consecrated bishop and installed in front of Saint Paul Cathedral, Bunda, Diocese of Bunda on 20 February 2011. The Principal Consecrator was Cardinal Polycarp Pengo, Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam assisted by Jude Thaddaeus Ruwa'ichi, Archbishop of Mwanza and Michael George Mabuga Msonganzila, Bishop of Musoma.

Archbishop On 11 February 2019, Pope Francis elevated Bishop Renatus Leonard Nkwande to Archbishop and was appointed to lead the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mwanza. He was installed at Mwanza on 12 May 2019. As of 2025, he continues to serve as archbishop at Mwanza.