The Diocese of Tabora was inaugurated on July 2, 1989. It covers 96,000 square kilometers of rural western Tanzania, which is approximately one-tenth of the mainland’s total area. According to the 2022 Tanzanian census, the region has an estimated population of 3.3 million people, most of whom are subsistence farmers. 

The first Diocesan Bishop was the Rt. Rev. Francis N. Ntiruka in 1989 — 2005. In 2005, Rt. Rev. Sadock Y. Makaya was enthroned as the second Diocesan Bishop of Tabora until 2010, followed by the third and current Diocesan Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Elias Chakupewa Mazi, who was consecrated and enthroned on May 29, 2011. 

The Diocese is comprised of 11 Deaneries, 56 Parishes, and 163 Congregations, with a total membership exceeding 25,000.

In 2024 the diocese voted to allow the ordination of women priests.

The Diocese’s ministry is based on three core areas: evangelism, education, and social development. To fulfill its mission and vision, the Diocese has a long history of collaborating with the Tanzanian government and various non-governmental organizations to provide social services in education, health, and sanitation. 

Investments in Community Services

Over the years, the Anglican Diocese of Tabora has invested in several key institutions to serve the wider community:

• Peter’s Secondary School
• Philip’s Health Centre
• Tabora Anglican Training Centre (TATC)

All these institutions extend their services not only to the people of Tabora but also to those outside Tabora Region.