Soroti Catholic Diocese
Bishop Ordinary
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Eciru Oliach was born on the 11th August 1970.He went to St. Peter’s Minor Seminary Madera, St. Pius X Seminary, Tororo, he did his philological studies at St. Paul’s National Major Seminary at Kinyamasika in Fort Portal and was ordained Priest on the 09th August, 2003.On 19th March, 2019, the Holy Father appointed him as the new bishop of Soroti. He was ordained and installed by His Grace Emmanuel J. Obbo, on 25th May, 2019 as the 3rd bishop of Soroti Catholic Diocese.
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The Catholic Diocese of Soroti was created on November 29th 1980, being partitioned from the then Tororo Diocese. Its first bishop, His Lordship Erasmus Desiderius Wandera, was consecrated on the 29th/March/1981. To date it comprises of 10 civil districts of Soroti, Katakwi, Amuria, Kapelebyong, Kalaki, Kaberamaido, Serere, Ngora, Kumi and Bukedea. The tribes inhabiting the diocese are mainly Iteso, Kumam, Bakenye. There are a few Karimojong and Langi in some parts of the diocese.
BRIEF HISTORY OF SOROTI CATHOLIC DIOCESE.
Until 1980, the territory of the now Soroti Catholic Diocese was part of Tororo Diocese (now Tororo Archdiocese). Soroti Catholic Diocese was erected as a particular church cut off from Tororo Diocese on November 29th 1980. The history of Soroti Catholic diocese is, therefore, closely linked to that of Tororo Archdiocese. That history can be summarised into the following phases:
Phase I (1894 – 1925).
The Mill Hill Missionaries (MHM) spearheaded the establishment and development of the church in the Vicariate of the Upper Nile; an area that stretched from the present St Peter’s Nsambya in the now Archdiocese of Kampala, to St. Patrick’s in Naivasha Kenya, Bukedi, and Teso. Bishops Henry Hanlon (1894 – 1911) and John Biermans (1912 – 1924) laid the foundation for the spreading of the Gospel in the Upper Nile Vicariate. During this period the chiefs and tribal leaders often invited the missionaries to their villages and even allocated land for the construction of churches, schools and rectories.
Phase II (1925 – 1951) Creation of the Apostolic See in Tororo.
Bishops John Campling (1925 – 1937) and John Reesink (1938 – 1950) followed in the footsteps of the above-mentioned bishops. In 1948 the Vicariate of the Upper Nile was divided resulting in the creation of an Apostolic See in Tororo with Bishop Reesink as the first Vicar Apostolic. Monsignors John Eneku (Ngora Parish) and Philip Odii (Madera Parish), were ordained in 1939 as the first diocesan priests from Teso land, the now Soroti Catholic Diocese.
Phase III (1951 – 1980) Creation of Tororo diocese.
Bishop John Greif succeeded Bishop Reesink in 1951. On 25th March 1953 Tororo diocese was created with Bishop John Greif as its first Bishop. In 1968 Bishop James Odongo, the first indigenous bishop, succeeded Bishop Grief.
Phase IV (1980 – 2019). Erection and consolidation of Soroti Catholic Diocese.
On 29th November 1980, Soroti Catholic Diocese was erected from Tororo Diocese, with Erasmus Desderius Wandera appointed as the first Diocesan Bishop. He was ordained bishop on 29th March 1981. Rt. Rev. Erasmus Desderius Wandera set up the necessary administrative structures for Soroti Catholic diocese. He put emphasis on the formation and ordination of an indigenous clergy. The current bishop is towing the same line of strengthening Christian formation and bringing services closer to the people, new parishes have been created increasing even the number of deaneries from original 6 to 11. Details are in the following information hereafter.
Bishop Erasmus Wandera, in accordance with the requirement of ecclesiastical law (can. 401 §1), retired on 27th June 2007 and formally handed over the diocese to Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Obbo, AJ on 6th October 2007. Bishop Emmanuel Obbo, AJ, therefore, becomes the second bishop of Soroti Catholic Diocese. Bishop Emmanuel Obbo was elevated as Arch Bishop of the Metropolitan Ecclesiastical Province of Tororo and Ordinary of Tororo in 2014, the See of Soroti fell vacant till the election and Appointment of the Rt. Rev. Bishop Joseph Eciru Oliach in March 19th 2019.
About the Diocese
Immaculate conception cathedral - Soroti Catholic Diocese
Welcome to Soroti Catholic Diocese! Find on this website information about the history of the diocese, its bishop, the main functions in the diocese, diocesan statistics, religious communities of men and women with their respective addresses, other institutions including seminaries, catechetical centre, hospitals and health centres, parishes, centres with resident priests, diocesan and religious priests with their dates of ordination
DIOCESAN ADDRESS:
SOROTI CATHOLIC DIOCESE,
P.O BOX 650,
SOROTI, UGANDA. Tel. +256(0)783243968.
E-mail: bishopsrtcatholic@gmail.com
ADDRESS
Soroti Catholic Diocese,Bishop’s House,
P.O. Box 650, Soroti - Uganda.
Tel: 045-44-63468,