Abstract: This study critically assessed the role of religious institutions in enhancing peace in Tanzania, focusing on the Catholic Church at Kihesa Parish in Iringa Municipality. The study proceeds from the argument that sustainable peace cannot be reduced to the absence of physical violence but encompasses the quality of relationships, social cohesion, reconciliation, dialogue, tolerance, justice and the capacity of communities to manage differences constructively. Although religious institutions are frequently regarded as natural agents of peace, this assumption requires critical examination because religious institutions may simultaneously promote reconciliation and reproduce exclusion, hierarchy or social divisions. Recent African scholarship similarly cautions against treating religion as either inherently peaceful or inherently conflictual, emphasising instead its contextual and institutional character (Chigudu, 2024). The study examined peacebuilding initiatives undertaken by the Catholic Church at Kihesa Parish, community perceptions of its contribution, challenges affecting religious peacebuilding and strategies for strengthening its contribution to sustainable peace. The study was guided by Religious Peacebuilding Theory and Conflict Transformation Theory and employed a pragmatic philosophy, exploratory approach and case study design within a mixed-methods approach with qualitative dominance. Data were collected through interviews, questionnaires, focus group discussions and documentary review and analysed thematically and descriptively. Findings indicate that the Church contributes to peace through moral and religious education, pastoral counselling, family reconciliation, mediation, youth empowerment, community dialogue, charitable activities and promotion of tolerance and cooperation. However, these contributions are constrained by limited resources, inadequate specialised training, youth-related challenges, social differences, political sensitivities and wider socio-economic pressures. The study argues that religious institutions are better understood as potential and conditional peacebuilding actors, rather than inherently peaceful institutions. Their effectiveness depends on institutional credibility, inclusiveness, competence, community participation and their ability to address both interpersonal relationships and wider structural conditions. The study recommends strengthening professional peacebuilding capacity, youth and women's participation, interfaith dialogue, community-based conflict prevention, referral systems and collaboration with state and non-state actors without compromising religious independence.
Keywords: Religious Institutions, Religious Peacebuilding, Conflict Transformation, Peacebuilding, Catholic Church, Kihesa Parish, Tanzania.
Title: EXPLORING THE CONTRIBUTION OF RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS TO PEACEBUILDING IN TANZANIA: A CASE STUDY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AT KIHESA PARISH, IRINGA MUNICIPALITY
Author: Leonard Raphael Mgina
International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research
ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online)
Vol. 14, Issue 4, October 2026 - December 2026
Page No: 188-195
Research Publish Journals
Website: www.researchpublish.com
Published Date: 21-October-2026
