Born in Musumba, Lualaba District, a member of the Lunda tribe and a nephew of the Katangan leader, Moise Tshombe, Nguza was a pock-marked child who rose rapidly through government posts and gained the favour of President Mobutu Sese Seko.
In foreign policy, his government supported the United Kingdom during the Suez Crisis and got involved in the Congo Crisis, by accepting white refugees and supporting State of Katanga and its leader Moise Tshombe.