BUTA, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE of. - Formerly the apostolic vicariate of Western Uellè in the Belgian Congo, it was created under this name as an apostolic prefecture in 1898, and elevated to a vicariate in 1924; it is entrusted to the Premonstratensian Fathers of the abbey of Tongerloo (Belgium). In 1926 the part north of the Uellè was detached (v. BONDO) from the vicariate, which remained confined to the part south of the river. In 1932 Protestants entered the mission, but their results have been quite modest. The Catholic mission is making increasing progress, aided, especially in the educational and charitable sectors, by the Marist Brothers and by four congregations of sisters. Several Premonstratensian fathers and brothers hold diplomas in tropical medicine. Vocational and agricultural education is highly developed (every central school also includes agronomy in its curriculum); the indigenous literary production of the missionaries, whether religious or purely educational, is also abundant.
At present (1948) the vicariate (area 60,000 sq. km.) has a population of 245,000 inhabitants, of whom 41,697 are Catholics and 7,338 catechumens, approximately 1,000 Protestants, and 203,000 pagans. There are 43 fathers, including four indigenous ones, 41 brothers, 74 sisters, and 381 catechists. A vast network of charitable works and pious associations facilitates the apostolate.