Cardinal Protase Rugambwa, Metropolitan Archbishop of Tabora (Tanzania), was born on 31 May 1960 in Bunena.

After completing his primary studies, he began his ecclesiastical formation in the Minor Seminary of Katoke, and then in Itaga. He then entered the Seminary of Kibosho to study philosophy and in the Saint Charles Lwanga Segerea Higher Seminary to study theology.

At the end of his formation, on 2 September 1990, he was ordained a priest for the diocese of Rulenge-Ngara, in the city of Dar es-Salaam, by Pope John Paul II during his pastoral visit to Tanzania. Shortly after priestly ordination, he was appointed parish vicar of Mabira, until 1991, when he became full professor of liturgy in the minor seminary of Katote, and at the same time chaplain of the hospital of Biharamulo.

In 1994 he decided to move to Italy, where he was awarded a doctorate in pastoral theology from the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome. After obtaining his doctorate in 1998, he returned to Tanzania and there he began to work as a seminary teacher, vocational director and secretary of the pastoral department of the diocese of Rulenge-Ngara, until 1999. From 2000 to 2002 he was vicar general of the same diocese. Upon returning to Rome, he entered the Roman Curia as official of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

Subsequently, on 18 January 2008, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him titular bishop of the diocese of Kigoma. He received episcopal consecration on 13 April of the same year, in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Victory. At the same time, he was elected president of the Department of the Ministry and the Liturgy of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference.

On 26 June 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him adjunct secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, and president of the Pontifical Mission Societies, with the personal title of archbishop. On 9 November 2017 he was appointed secretary of the same Congregation.

From 13 April 2023 to the 10 November 2023 He was him coadjutor archbishop of Tabora, Tanzania.

On 10 November 2023 Pope Francis appointed him Metropolitan Archbishop of Tabora (Tanzania).

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory of 30 September 2023, of the Title of Santa Maria in Montesanto.

Member of:

• Dicasteries: for Evangelization, Section for the First Evangelization and New Particular Churches; for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.