Mwanza (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Renatus Leonard Nkwande, Archbishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 18 November 1987
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Tanzania, United Republic of
Square Kilometers: 19,062 (7,362 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://archmwanza.or.tz
Mailing Address: Archbishop's House, P.O. Box 1421, Mwanza, Tanzania
Telephone: (028)2501.029

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Victoria Nyanza {Victoria-Nyanza Meridionale}
- Latin Name: Victoria-Nyanza Meridional
- Erected: 13 July 1894
- Vicariate
- Country: Tanzania, United Republic of
Vicariate Apostolic of Victoria-Nyanza
- Latin Name: Victoriae Nyanzensis
- Name Changed: 15 January 1915
- Vicariate
- Country: Tanzania, United Republic of
Vicariate Apostolic of Mwanza
- Latin Name: de Mwanza
- Name Changed: 10 April 1929
- Vicariate
- Country: Tanzania, United Republic of
Diocese of Mwanza
- Latin Name: Mvanzaensis
- Elevated: 25 March 1953
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Tabora
- Country: Tanzania, United Republic of

Past and Present Ordinaries

Jean-Joseph Hirth, M. Afr. † (13 Jul 1894 Appointed - 12 Dec 1912 Appointed, Vicar Apostolic of Kivu)
Joseph Franciskus Marie Sweens, M. Afr. † (12 Dec 1912 Succeeded - 12 Nov 1928 Resigned)
Anton Oomen, M. Afr. † (18 Mar 1929 Appointed - 13 Jun 1948 Retired)
Joseph Blomjous, M. Afr. † (24 Jun 1950 Appointed - 15 Oct 1965 Resigned)
Renatus Lwamosa Butibubage † (18 Dec 1965 Appointed - 18 Nov 1987 Resigned)
Anthony Peter Mayalla † (18 Nov 1987 Appointed - 19 Aug 2009 Died)
Jude Thaddaeus Ruwa’ichi, O.F.M. Cap. (10 Nov 2010 Appointed - 21 Jun 2018 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam)
Renatus Leonard Nkwande (11 Feb 2019 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Victoria Nyanza {Victoria-Nyanza Meridionale}
13 July 1894	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Victoria-Nyanza	Vicariate Apostolic of Upper Nile {Nilo Superiore} (erected) Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Victoria Nyanza {Victoria-Nyanza Meridionale} (erected)
8 April 1911	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Upper Congo {Congo Superiore} (Boundaries Changed) Vicariate Apostolic of Nyassa (Boundaries Changed) Vicariate Apostolic of Tanganyika (Boundaries Changed) Vicariate Apostolic of Unianyembé (Boundaries Changed) Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Victoria Nyanza {Victoria-Nyanza Settentrionale} (Boundaries Changed) Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Victoria Nyanza {Victoria-Nyanza Meridionale} (Boundaries Changed)
12 December 1912	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Victoria Nyanza {Victoria-Nyanza Meridionale} (Kivu region)	Vicariate Apostolic of Kivu (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Victoria-Nyanza
15 January 1915	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Victoria Nyanza {Victoria-Nyanza Meridionale}	Vicariate Apostolic of Victoria-Nyanza
15 March 1923	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Victoria-Nyanza (Bussambiro)	Vicariate Apostolic of Unianyembé
12 July 1926	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Urundi	Vicariate Apostolic of Tanganyika (Southern part of Uha) Vicariate Apostolic of Tabora (Central part of Uha) Vicariate Apostolic of Victoria-Nyanza (Northern part of Uha)
8 April 1929	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Tabora (Part of Uha that is East and North of Malagarazi river) Vicariate Apostolic of Urundi (Bugufi) Vicariate Apostolic of Victoria-Nyanza (Civil province of Bukoba)	Vicariate Apostolic of Bukoba (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Mwanza
10 April 1929	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Victoria-Nyanza	Vicariate Apostolic of Mwanza
11 January 1946	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Tabora (Shinyanga)	Vicariate Apostolic of Mwanza
11 April 1946	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Mwanza (Musoma and Maswa along with part of Watyerewe)	Vicariate Apostolic of Musoma-Maswa (erected)
24 June 1950	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Maswa (Continental part of Wakerewe)	Vicariate Apostolic of Mwanza
Diocese of Mwanza
25 March 1953	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Mwanza	Diocese of Mwanza
8 November 1984	Territory Lost	Diocese of Mwanza (Geita and Sengerema)	Diocese of Geita (erected)
Archdiocese of Mwanza
18 November 1987	Elevated	Diocese of Mwanza	Archdiocese of Mwanza
27 November 2010	Territory Lost	Diocese of Musoma (Saragana and Mabui) Archdiocese of Mwanza (Ukerewe and Ukara)	Diocese of Bunda (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Vicariate Apostolic of Mwanza

1950 29,435 818,600 3.6% 17 34 51 577 19 5 ap1951

Diocese of Mwanza

1970 117,629 1,057,695 11.1% 65 65 1,809 91 90 26 ap1971

1980 153,938 1,488,000 10.3% 34 49 83 1,854 55 81 25 ap1981

Archdiocese of Mwanza

1990 154,000 1,303,000 11.8% 34 29 63 2,444 65 113 19 ap1991

1999 360,232 2,500,000 14.4% 40 23 63 5,717 30 112 28 ap2000

2000 365,777 2,750,000 13.3% 41 25 66 5,542 34 119 29 ap2001

2001 775,000 3,500,000 22.1% 43 23 66 11,742 30 112 26 ap2002

2002 925,000 4,600,000 20.1% 48 28 76 12,171 39 112 27 ap2003

2003 811,900 3,536,000 23.0% 48 28 76 10,682 35 112 27 ap2004

2004 875,000 2,942,148 29.7% 46 20 66 13,257 28 181 29 ap2005

2010 627,000 2,600,000 24.1% 41 32 73 8,589 8 209 27 bul27nov2010

2013 269,000 1,893,000 14.2% 55 48 103 2,611 61 229 31 ap2014

2016 450,775 2,063,000 21.9% 64 44 108 4,173 60 259 35 ap2017

2019 478,367 3,050,823 15.7% 84 51 135 3,543 69 322 41 ap2020

2021 494,970 3,156,741 15.7% 95 51 146 3,390 67 361 46 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Mwanza
1950	29,435	818,600	3.6%	17	34	51	577		19	5	ap1951
Diocese of Mwanza
1970	117,629	1,057,695	11.1%		65	65	1,809	91	90	26	ap1971
1980	153,938	1,488,000	10.3%	34	49	83	1,854	55	81	25	ap1981
Archdiocese of Mwanza
1990	154,000	1,303,000	11.8%	34	29	63	2,444	65	113	19	ap1991
1999	360,232	2,500,000	14.4%	40	23	63	5,717	30	112	28	ap2000
2000	365,777	2,750,000	13.3%	41	25	66	5,542	34	119	29	ap2001
2001	775,000	3,500,000	22.1%	43	23	66	11,742	30	112	26	ap2002
2002	925,000	4,600,000	20.1%	48	28	76	12,171	39	112	27	ap2003
2003	811,900	3,536,000	23.0%	48	28	76	10,682	35	112	27	ap2004
2004	875,000	2,942,148	29.7%	46	20	66	13,257	28	181	29	ap2005
2010	627,000	2,600,000	24.1%	41	32	73	8,589	8	209	27	bul27nov2010
2013	269,000	1,893,000	14.2%	55	48	103	2,611	61	229	31	ap2014
2016	450,775	2,063,000	21.9%	64	44	108	4,173	60	259	35	ap2017
2019	478,367	3,050,823	15.7%	84	51	135	3,543	69	322	41	ap2020
2021	494,970	3,156,741	15.7%	95	51	146	3,390	67	361	46	ap2022

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Joseph Blomjous, M. Afr. † (Vicar Apostolic: 24 Jun 1950; Bishop: 25 Mar 1953 to 15 Oct 1965)
Renatus Lwamosa Butibubage † (Auxiliary Bishop: 19 Dec 1959; Bishop: 18 Dec 1965 to 18 Nov 1987)
Jean-Joseph Hirth, M. Afr. † (Vicar Apostolic: 13 Jul 1894 to 12 Dec 1912)
Anthony Peter Mayalla † (Priest: 20 Dec 1970 to 12 Jan 1979; Archbishop: 18 Nov 1987 to 19 Aug 2009)
Anton Oomen, M. Afr. † (Vicar Apostolic: 18 Mar 1929 to 13 Jun 1948)
Joseph Franciskus Marie Sweens, M. Afr. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 1 Jan 1910; Vicar Apostolic: 12 Dec 1912 to 12 Nov 1928)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Victoria Nyanza {Victoria-Nyanza Meridionale}
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 3, Page 199
Vicariate Apostolic of Victoria-Nyanza
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 7, Page 47, and Page 48
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 18, Page 488, and Page 489
Vicariate Apostolic of Mwanza
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 21, Page 623, and Page 624
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 38, Page 359
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 42, Page 892
Diocese of Mwanza
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 45, Page 705, to Page 710
Archdiocese of Mwanza
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 80, Page 354, and Page 355

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Archdiocese of Mwanza

Archidioecesis Mvanzaensis