Bukoba, Apostolic Vicariate of

BUKOBA, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF. - The vicariate of B., evangelized by the White Fathers, was erected in 1929, its territory being taken from those of Tanganyika, Tabora and Urundi. It comprises, besides the civil province of B., the region of Uha, and the district of Kibondo in the province of Kigoma.

The population is about 450,000 souls, for the most part Bahaya with, in the south, a Baha minority, over an area of 27,230 sq km. The vicariate, which began with a little more than 25,000 Catholics, saw them increase by almost 16,000 in 1934. Today the population slightly exceeds half a million and the Catholics number 103,530, the catechumens 15,991, the Protestants 27,047, the Muslims 27,121, the pagans 327,782. Protestant competition is very keen, especially in the school sector, but the influx to the Catholic schools, favored by the pagan and Muslim chiefs, is so great that it cannot be satisfied; the central school for the training of teachers and civil employees is very well attended; the movement of conversions is encouraging even in the most distant regions. The Fathers today number 24 indigenous and 68 foreign, the brothers 19, the sisters 70, the catechists 543. Nearly 17 parishes, 111 secondary stations. Elementary schools 23 with 5,556 pupils, middle schools 1 with 174 pupils, vocational schools 1 with 18 pupils, higher schools of various grades 3 with 245 pupils. In 246 rural schools 17,778 pupils are instructed. There are 3 hospitals with 120 beds and numerous other works of charity. The mission also publishes two periodicals, which exceed 3,050 copies.

Giovanni B. Tragella