Its Boundaries

The Archdiocese of Mwanza includes the districts of Mwanza, Kwimba, Misungwi, and part of the western district of Magu. According to historical records, the Archdiocese of Mwanza was originally part of the Great Lakes region.

Source

In 1878, the Buganda region was under the leadership of priests from the Missionary Society of Africa. In 1882, the missionaries were expelled by Kabaka Mutesa. In 1883, these missionaries made an agreement with Chief Kiganga to establish the Bukumbi parish. Therefore, this parish is the first in the area of what is now the Mwanza region. The area of Mwanza, Bukoba, Ngara, Biharamulo, Karagwe, Rwanda, and Burundi was known as the Nyanza Vicariate under the leadership of Monsignor Livinhac when he was appointed bishop in 1884.

Later, in 1890, Bishop Joseph Hirth from Germany led the Nyanza vicariate until 1912 when the vicariate was split into the vicariates of Rwanda and Nyanza.

The Nyanza Vicariate, established under the leadership of Monsignor Joseph Sweens, included all the current dioceses of the Archdiocese of Mwanza except for the Shinyanga Diocese. Monsignor Sweens, who lived in Rubya, Kagera region, continued to lead until 1929 when the Nyanza vicariate was divided into Bukoba and Mwanza.

The Mwanza Vicariate was led by Bishop Anthony Oomen from 1929 to 1948. It is important to note that in 1946, the districts of Musoma, North-Mara, and Maswa were separated from the Mwanza Vicariate to form the new Musoma-Maswa vicariate. At the same time, Shinyanga was removed from the Diocese of Tabora and placed under the Mwanza vicariate.

Bishop Joseph Blomjous, who was appointed bishop in 1946, was given the responsibility to lead the Mwanza vicariate in 1950, succeeding Bishop Oomen and also overseeing the Musoma-Maswa vicariate.

In 1956, the Musoma-Maswa vicariate was split into the dioceses of Musoma and Maswa, which were handed over to the Maryknoll Missionaries.

On May 1, 1966, Bishop Renatus Butibubage began leading the Diocese of Mwanza until 1987 when he retired.

Establishment of the Archdiocese

The Archdiocese of Mwanza was elevated to the status of an archdiocese in February 1988 when Bishop Anthony Mayala, who had been the Bishop of Musoma since 1979, was appointed to lead it. His appointment coincided with the retirement of the former Bishop of Mwanza, His Excellency Bishop Renatus Butibubage, in 1987.

The Archdiocese of Mwanza includes the following dioceses:

• Archdiocese of Mwanza
• Diocese of Bunda
• Diocese of Musoma
• Diocese of Bukoba
• Diocese of Geita
• Diocese of Rulenge
• Diocese of Kayanga