Diocese of

Mbujimayi

Congo-Kinshasa

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Mbujimayi / Mbugimayen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Kananga

Neighbouring Dioceses: Luiza (↙), Kananga (←), Kabinda (→), Kamina (↘), Tshilomba (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1963.11.22: Established as Apostolic Administration of Mbuji-Mayi / Mbugimayen(sis) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Luluabourg and Diocese of Kabinda)
1966.05.03: Promoted as Diocese of Mbujimayi / Mbugimayen(sis) (Latin) (gained territory from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Luluabourg and became suffragan of Luluabourg)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2009.08.01 – ...):

Bishop Bernard Emmanuel Kasanda Mulenga (71)

Monsignors (5)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Mbujimayi (Roman Rite)

Bishop Bernard Emmanuel Kasanda Mulenga (71)
(2009.08.01 – ...)

Bishop of Mbujimayi (Congo-Kinshasa)

Apostolus Jesu Christi

Born:	1954.12.25 (Kananga, Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1981.08.06
Consecrated Bishop:	1998.06.14

Priest of Kananga (Congo-Kinshasa) (1981.08.06 – 1998.02.14)

Titular Bishop of Utimmira (1998.02.14 – 2009.08.01)

Auxiliary Bishop of Mbujimayi (Congo-Kinshasa) (1998.02.14 – 2009.08.01)

Bishop of Mbujimayi (Congo-Kinshasa) (2009.08.01 – ...)

Bishop Tharcisse Tshibangu Tshishiku
(1991.11.26 – 2009.08.01)

Born:	1933.04.23 (Kipushi, Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1959.08.09
Consecrated Bishop:	1970.12.06
Died:	2021.12.29 (Kinshasa, Congo-Kinshasa † 88)

Priest of Lubumbashi (Congo-Kinshasa) (1959.08.09 – 1970.09.01)

Titular Bishop of Scampa (1970.09.01 – 1991.11.26)

Auxiliary Bishop of Kinshasa (Congo-Kinshasa) (1970.09.01 – 1991.11.26)

Bishop of Mbujimayi (Congo-Kinshasa) (1991.11.26 – 2009.08.01)

Bishop Joseph Ngogi Nkongolo
(1966.05.03 – 1991)

Born:	1916.06.17 (Hemptinne Saint Benoît, Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1946.05.05
Consecrated Bishop:	1959.07.01
Died:	1999.10.12 († 83)

Titular Bishop of Lebedus (1959.04.25 – 1959.11.10)

Vicar Apostolic of Luebo (Congo-Kinshasa) (1959.04.25 – 1959.11.10)

Bishop of Luebo (Congo-Kinshasa) (1959.11.10 – 1966.05.03)

Apostolic Administrator of Mbuji-Mayi (Congo-Kinshasa) (1963 – 1966.05.03)

Bishop of Mbujimayi (Congo-Kinshasa) (1966.05.03 – 1991)

Apostolic Administrators of Mbuji-Mayi (Roman Rite)

Bishop Joseph Ngogi Nkongolo
(1963 – 1966.05.03)

(see above)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Bernard Emmanuel Kasanda Mulenga (71) (1998.02.14 – 2009.08.01)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Bonzola, Mbuji-Mayi, Kasaï Oriental

Luiza (↙), Kananga (←), Kabinda (→), Kamina (↘), Tshilomba (↓)

Statistics (2021.12.31)

Area: 15,285 km²

Population: 2,555,000 Catholics (53.1% of 4,811,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 128 parishes, 13 missions

Personnel: 186 priests (149 diocesan, 37 religious), 503 religious (165 brothers, 338 sisters), 204 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.07.02

© 2026 GCatholic.org