FIRST AFRICAN CARDINAL
(1912–1997)
Cardinal Rugambwa Memorial College (CARUMCO) is a new institution established in 2019 recognized by National Council for Technical Education (NACTE) with registration number REG/087/107. The college is owned by Bukoba Catholic Diocese having been named in the name of the first Black African Cardinal and the Bishop of Bukoba His Eminence Late Cardinal Laurean Rugambwa who had a great vision of uplifting the black man from misery through Education. The college takes the place of Cardinal Rugambwa University College (CARUCO) which was a constituent college of the St. Augustine University of Tanzania.
The college is located at Manumbu Area, Nkindu village about 8 kilometers from Bukoba town.
Laurean Cardinal Rugambwa was the first African in the history of the Catholic Church to be created the first African Cardinal by the late Cardinal Pope John XXIII. His achievements as Bishop of Bukoba (1952–1960), Bukoba Diocese and Cardinal of the Roman Church (1960–1997), Bishop (1960–1969) and as Archbishop of Dar es Salaam (1969–1992) cannot be ignored.
His contribution to human development in spheres of evangelization and education is well known locally and globally. His achievements can be witnessed in the parishes, convents, hospitals, pastoral centers and institutions established in Tanzania today. As the first African Cardinal, his vision and contributions are historical and worthy of being admired and emulated by future generations.
He believed in development and transformation through education, faith, hard work and determination. It is with this background that the Bukoba Diocese decided to start Rugambwa Memorial College. This college stands not only as a symbol of academic excellence, but also as a memorial of the great African leader and father in faith and education.
One of the justifications of this College in Bukoba is the high demand of qualified teachers in the region and Tanzania at large. The college aims at supporting government efforts in improving the quality of education by providing competent teachers. This institution is also expected to be the main source of well-trained, competent professionals who have a right spirit to serve the community.
