Tanzania: Fr. Edward Mapunda is the new Bishop of Singida

The Holy Father, Pope Francis has appointed Fr. Edward Mapunda as the new Bishop of Singida Diocese in Tanzania. Up until his appointment, Fr. Mapunda has been the Diocesan Procurator as well as the head of the health ministry in the diocese. 

Bishop elect, Edward Mapunda was born on 30 September 1964 at Mango, in the Diocese of Mbinga. After his primary and secondary school studies, he went to Ntungamo, Bukoba where he studied Philosophy. He later went to the interdiocesian seminary of St. Charles Lwanga in Segrea, Dar-es-Salaam.

He was ordained priest on 23 November 1997 for the Diocese of Singida. After his ordination, he worked in the minor seminary of Singida before pursuing a Masters degree in Education at the University of Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania. Between 2004 and 2006 he was the Vice Rector of the minor seminary in Singida. In 2006, he was appointed Diocesan Treasurer as well as the head of the diocesan health ministry.

The Catholic Diocese of Singida, erected in 1972, is a suffragan diocese of Dodoma Archdiocese. It covers an area of  49,341 square Kilometres and has an approximate population of 1.5 million inhabitants. Of these, 238, 307 are Catholics. The Diocese has 22 parishes, 67 priests (50 Diocesan priests and 17 religious).  There are also 423 religious sisters and 14 seminarians.

The diocese has been vacant since 15 January 2013 when Bishop Désiderius M. Rwoma was transferred to Bukoba Diocese as new Bishop.

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