Diocese of Uvira
Diocese of Uvira Dioecesis Uviraensis | |
|---|---|
Cathédrale Saint-Paul d'Uvira | |
| Location | |
| Country | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Territory | Uvira, Fizi, and Mwenga in South Kivu Province, as well as parts of Walungu (in South Kivu) and Kabambare (in Maniema Province) |
| Metropolitan | Bukavu |
| Headquarters | Uvira, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 36,000 km2 (14,000 sq mi) |
Population
|
|
| Parishes | 18 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Rite | Latin Rite |
| Established | 16 April 1962 |
| Cathedral | Cathédrale Saint-Paul d'Uvira |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Leo XIV |
| Bishop | Sébastien-Joseph Muyengo Mulombe |
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Uvira (Latin: Uviraën(sis)) is an ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church located in the South Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Established on 16 April 1962, the diocese encompasses the pastoral zones of Uvira Territory, Fizi Territory, and Mwenga Territory, and it partially includes the territories of Walungu Territory and Kabambare Territory. It is part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Bukavu.[1][2]
Location and history
The Diocese of Uvira covers an extensive geographic area of approximately 36,000 square kilometers, encompassing a population of around 1.5 million people.[1] Among this population, nearly 500,000 are adherents of the Roman Catholic faith. The diocese stretches diverse terrain, including mountainous areas, plateaus, and the lowland plain of the Ruzizi valley bordering Lake Tanganyika.[1]
The Diocese of Uvira was erected from parts of neighboring dioceses and territories to serve the growing Catholic population in South Kivu.[1] The diocese has played a pivotal role in the spiritual and socio-educational development of the region, promoting education, healthcare, and humanitarian services alongside its pastoral mission.[1]
Bishops
Bishops of Uvira (Latin Rite)[1]
| Name | Tenure | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Danilo Catarzi | 16 April 1962–26 March 1981 | |
| Léonard Dhejju | 26 March 1981–2 July 1984 | Appointed Bishop of Bunia |
| Jérôme Gapangwa Nteziryayo | 1 July 1985–1998 | |
| Jean-Pierre Tafunga Mbayo | 1998–2008 | |
| Sede vacante | 1 August 2008–14 October 2013 | |
| Sébastien-Joseph Muyengo Mulombe | Since 15 October 2013 |
Organization
Episcopal Curia and personnel
The diocese is overseen by the Episcopal Curia, which manages both administrative and pastoral duties. At its head is the Apostolic Administrator, Mgr. François-Xavier Maroy Rusengo, who governs the diocese in the absence of a resident bishop.[1] He is supported by Vicar General Flavien Milenge Munene, Chancellor Etienne Esube Kalenga Batundji, and Economist General Abbé Lucien Kasangadjo, who oversees financial and material management.[1]
The diocesan personnel is composed of a dedicated body of clergy and religious, including 69 diocesan priests, 20 male religious (brothers), and 76 female religious (sisters), who carry out various pastoral, educational, and social missions.[1] The Diocese of Uvira is organized into 18 parishes, with one principal church serving as its cathedral. In its commitment to education and social welfare, the diocese operates 281 educational institutions and 31 charitable institutions across its territory.[1] The clergy includes secular priests and members of religious congregations and missionary orders.[1]
Pastoral zones and parishes
The Diocese of Uvira is divided into three pastoral zones:[1]
| Pastoral Zone | Parish/location | Year founded | Notable Institutions/services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone Pastorale de la Plaine de la Ruzizi (Uvira) | Uvira (Saint-Paul Cathedral) | 1933 | Diocesan pharmacy, health center, cultural center Baeza la Parokia |
| Kavimvira | – | Site of the Marian sanctuary and a reference health center | |
| Kiliba (Saint-Joseph Ouvrier) | 1959 | It has a pharmacy and a health center | |
| Luvungi (Sainte-Famille) | 1967 | Includes a garage, social center, and health reference center | |
| Mulenge-Kidote (Saints Martyrs Baganda) | 1963 | Includes a social center | |
| Zone Pastorale de Fizi | Fizi (Saint-Jean-Baptiste) | 1962 | Multiple social centers |
| Baraka (Cœur Immaculé de Marie) | 1948 | Dispensary, social services | |
| Mboko (Saint-Pierre Apôtre) | 1973 | Nutritional center, dispensary | |
| Nakiliza (Saint-Michel Archange) | 1955 | – | |
| Zone Pastorale de Mwenga | Mwenga (Sainte-Marie) | 1959 | Social center, reference health center |
| Saint-Hilaire | 1928 | Petit Séminaire Notre-Dame d’Afrique (Seminary) | |
| Kamituga (Saint-François Xavier) | 1948 | Training center for laity, services for the disabled | |
| Kitutu (Saint-Esprit) | 1967 | Social center, reference health center | |
| Kasiba (Saint-Mukasa) | 1972 | – | |
| Minembwe (under Fizi zone) | 1992 | – |
Congregations of religious women
| Congregation | Location(s) of service |
|---|---|
| Sœurs Filles de Marie Reine des Apôtres (Bukavu) | Uvira |
| Sœurs Filles de la Résurrection (Bukavu) | Kasika |
| Sœurs Benebikira (Rwanda) | Uvira |
| Sœurs Missionnaires de Marie (Xaverian Sisters) | Uvira, Luvungi, Kamituga, Nakiliza |
| Sœurs de la Compagnie de Marie Notre-Dame | Mboko |
| Sœurs Missionnaires de Sainte Gemma | Kavimvira, Mwenga |
| Sœurs de Saint Joseph de Turin | Uvira, Baraka, Sange |
| Sœurs Piccole Figlie dei Sacri Cuori di Gesù e Maria | Fizi, Uvira |
| Sœurs Franciscaines de Notre Seigneur del Monte | Kidote |
| Sœurs Clarisses | Uvira |
Works, services, and socio-educational mission
The diocese operates a broad network of institutions and services that support its religious mission and community development efforts, including the General Finance Office (Économat Général), which oversees the financial management of diocesan operations.[1] For religious education, the diocese operates the Spiritual Propedeutic Seminary Saint-Pierre Claver of Kiringye (Propédeutique spirituelle Saint-Pierre Claver de Kiringye), founded in 1992 to prepare men for the priesthood. Its social mission is evident in the Bethany Rehabilitation Center for the Disabled (Centre Béthanie de réhabilitation pour handicapés), which helps persons with disabilities, and the Caritas Medical Center, which provides healthcare to underprivileged communities.[1] The Catechetical Center, located in Kavimvira, reinforces religious teachings, while the Formation Center for Lay Collaborators in Kamituga trains laypeople to actively support the Church's pastoral mission.[1]
In educational and social services, it manages a network of 281 schools, covering primary, secondary, and vocational training levels that prepare youth for various vocations. It also runs 31 charitable organizations, which include healthcare and social service centers.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Annuaire de l'Église catholique en RD Congo, 2012–2013" [Directory of the Catholic Church in the DRC, 2012–2013] (PDF). Cenco.cd (in French). Gombe, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Conférence Episcopale Nationale du Congo (CENCO). 2013. pp. 223–227. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ "Diocese of Uvira". Catholic-hierarchy.org. Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
External links