Karema had been a Belgian military station founded by Captain Emile Storms. In 1884 Captain Storms subsequently handed it over to the Missionaries of Africa who had arrived to evangelize the Vicariate of Tanganyika, when he returned to Europe. The Missionaries of Africa founded the village of Karema with five hundred redeemed slaves. The former Papal Zouave, Leopold Joubert, reached there in 1886 to offer protection. Dr. Adrian Atiman arrived in 1889 and remained the medical doctor and catechist until his death in 1956. His small house can still be seen close to the Church of Karema.