The Apostolic Vicariate of Bangueolo has its origins in the White Fathers mission at Mambwe Mwela, 100 kilometres (62 mi) to the east of Mbala, established in 1891.
[1] The new vicariate of Bangweulu covered the Northern and Luapula Regions, while the south east part kept the name Nyassa.
[3] In 1913 the Bangweulu vicariate had six mission stations, twenty five priests, eight White Sisters and six lay brothers.
The population suffered from food requisitions, taxes and forced levies of men to act as porters and to do other war-related work.
[5] On 23 May 1933 the northeast was separated as the Mission Sui Juris of Lwangwa, administered by Fr.