[1][2] On 8 August 1965, he was ordained a priest of Songea, Tanzania by Bishop James Joseph Komba.
On the same day, the Diocese of Mbinga was created as a Suffragan of the Metropolitan Ecclesiastic Province of Songea.
He was consecrated on 6 January 1987 by the hands of Pope John Paul II at Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome, Italy.
[1][2] Bishop Emmanuel Alex Mapunda fell ill at his residence at Nangombo Parish, Mbinga Diocese on 11 May 2019.
On 16 May 2019, his doctors decided to transfer him to Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam for better evaluation and management.