History
Jesuits first arrived on the African continent in the 16th Century under the direction of Saint Ignatius himself, and traveled to present day Ethiopia. Wherever they have gone, they have established social works, namely education institutions and refugee services among others. The Society of Jesus in Eastern Africa was formally established in 1986. The Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda were joined under one superior and called the Eastern Africa Province of the Society of Jesus.
The Jesuits of this province planned to have a school in each of the five countries. The first Jesuit secondary school was established in the Sudan at Wau. Loyola took shape in 1989 when the late Fr. Louis Plamondon, SJ. was appointed to organize the building project.
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The decision was made to build the school in Tanzania. Places such as Arusha, Iringa, Mwanza, Moshi, Dodoma, Morogoro and Dar es Salaam were sites considered. It seems that after every consideration, Dar es Salaam was the area in the greatest need of good schools. The Tanzanian government offered various plots, but the Jesuits finally decided on Mabibo Farasi.
Building the school at Mabibo was designed to serve mostly the needs of the local Mabibo population. The Jesuits wished to offer quality education for those with the ambition to study but are not able to afford such education.
The present layout consists of a 5.5 hectare, two-tiered plot built up and supported by retaining walls to keep the recently moved land in place.
Construction of the first building (Block V) began in 1994 and it was completed by 1995. The Jesuit residence was built followed by block VI and the temporary Canteen in 1996 and then Block IV in 2000. Block III was completed in 2002. The chapel, the canteen and the playgrounds are yet to be constructed.
In July 1995, Fr. Richard Twohig, SJ. from the Detroit Province of the Society of Jesuit, arrived as the first Headmaster of the school. He admitted the first batch of student: 70 girls and 70 boys for the first Pre-Form One program.
In 1999 the first Loyola Pre-Form One intake sat for their Form Four National Examinations. They were ninety one students.
In July of 2000, Loyola continued its charting of new waters by establishing Advanced Level and admitting the first batch of Form Five students.
Loyola was officially inaugurated by the Provincial superior Fr. Fratern Masawe, SJ. on October 5, 2002. In March 2005 the Board members decided to change the Pre-Form One program into “Human Development Program” (HDP).