Metropolitan Archdiocese of Gulu, Uganda 🇺🇬

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Gulu / Guluen(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Arua, Lira, Nebbi

Neighbouring Dioceses: Hoima (↙), Nebbi (←), Arua (↖), Juba (↑), Torit (↑), Kotido (→), Lira (↘)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1923.06.12: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Equatorial Nile (English) / Nilo Equatoriale (Italiano) / Nili Æquatorialis (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Bahr el-Ghazal)
1927.07.14: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Bahr el-Gebel
1934.12.10: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Equatorial Nile (English) / Nilo Equatoriale (Italiano) / Nili Æquatorialis (Latin)
1950.12.01: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Gulu / Guluen(sis) (Latin)
1953.03.25: Promoted as Diocese of Gulu / Guluen(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Rubaga)
1958.06.23: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Arua
1965.03.22: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Moroto
1966.08.05: Became suffragan of Kampala
1968.07.12: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Lira
1999.01.02: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Gulu / Guluen(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Arua, Lira and Nebbi)

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1993.02)

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2024.03.22 – ...):

Archbishop Raphael p’Mony Wokorach, M.C.C.J. (65)

Pontifical Commissioner for Congregation of the Apostles of Jesus

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Gulu (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Raphael p’Mony Wokorach, M.C.C.J. (65)
(2024.03.22 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Gulu (Uganda)
Pontifical Commissioner for Congregation of the Apostles of Jesus

Service with humility

Born:	1961.01.21 (Ojigo, Uganda)
Ordained Priest:	1993.09.25
Consecrated Bishop:	2021.08.14

Apostolic Visitor of Congregation of the Apostles of Jesus (2015.12.04 – 2018.06.21)

Pontifical Commissioner for Congregation of the Apostles of Jesus (2018.06.21 – ...)

Bishop of Nebbi (Uganda) (2021.03.31 – 2024.03.22)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Gulu (Uganda) (2024.03.22 – ...)

Apostolic Administrator of Nebbi (Uganda) (2024.07.12 – 2024.11.26)

Archbishop John Baptist Odama (78)
(1999.01.02 – 2024.03.22)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Gulu (Uganda)

Servire est ducere

Born:	1947.06.29 (Riki-Oluku, Uganda)
Ordained Priest:	1974.12.14
Consecrated Bishop:	1996.05.26

Priest of Arua (Uganda) (1974.12.14 – 1996.02.23)

Bishop of Nebbi (Uganda) (1996.02.23 – 1999.01.02)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Gulu (Uganda) (1999.01.02 – 2024.03.22)

President of Uganda Episcopal Conference (2010 – 2018.11.14)

Bishops of Gulu (Roman Rite)

Bishop Martin Luluga
(1990.02.08 – 1999.01.02)

Deus caritas est

Born:	1933.03.01 (Lodonga, Uganda)
Ordained Priest:	1963.06.01
Consecrated Bishop:	1987.01.11
Died:	2022.07.30 (Nebbi, Uganda † 89)

Priest of Arua (Uganda) (1963.06.01 – 1986.10.17)

Auxiliary Bishop of Gulu (Uganda) (1986.10.17 – 1988.01.10)

Titular Bishop of Aquæ in Dacia (1986.10.17 – 1990.02.08)

Apostolic Administrator of Gulu (Uganda) (1988.01.10 – 1990.02.08)

Bishop of Gulu (Uganda) (1990.02.08 – 1999.01.02)

Bishop of Nebbi (Uganda) (1999.01.02 – 2011.02.08)

Bishop Martin Luluga
(Apostolic Administrator 1988.01.10 – 1990.02.08)

Bishop Cipriano Biyehima Kihangire
(1968.12.19 – 1988.01.10)

Born:	1918.03.19 (Hoima, Uganda)
Ordained Priest:	1951.02.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1963.03.24
Died:	1990.11.01 († 72)

Titular Bishop of Maura (1962.11.12 – 1964.01.20)

Auxiliary Bishop of Gulu (Uganda) (1962.11.12 – 1964.01.20)

Military Vicar of Uganda (Uganda) (1964.01.20 – 1985)

Bishop of Hoima (Uganda) (1965.08.09 – 1968.12.19)

Bishop of Gulu (Uganda) (1968.12.19 – 1988.01.10)

Bishop Giovanni Battista Cesana, M.C.C.J.
(1953.03.25 – 1968.12.19)

Born:	1899.05.14 (Lecco, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1925.06.06
Consecrated Bishop:	1951.04.01
Died:	1991.06.12 († 92)

Titular Bishop of Cerbali (1950.12.01 – 1953.03.25)

Vicar Apostolic of Gulu (Uganda) (1950.12.01 – 1953.03.25)

Bishop of Gulu (Uganda) (1953.03.25 – 1968.12.19)

Titular Bishop of Lettere (1968.12.19 – 1991.06.12)

Vicars Apostolic of Gulu (Roman Rite)

Bishop Giovanni Battista Cesana, M.C.C.J.
(1950.12.01 – 1953.03.25)

(see above)

Vicars Apostolic of Equatorial Nile (Roman Rite)

Bishop Angelo Negri, F.S.C.I.
(1934.12.10 – 1949.11.13)

Born:	1889.11.19 (Tres, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1912.08.10
Consecrated Bishop:	1935.05.05
Died:	1949.11.13 (Arua, Uganda † 59)

Titular Bishop of Barica (1934.12.10 – 1949.11.13)

Vicar Apostolic of Equatorial Nile (Uganda) (1934.12.10 – 1949.11.13)

Prefects Apostolic of Equatorial Nile (Roman Rite)

Fr. Antonio Vignato, F.S.C.I.
(1923.07.16 – 1933)

Born:	1878.01.17 (Gambellara, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1902.08.03
Died:	1954.04.14 († 76)

Prefect Apostolic of Equatorial Nile (Uganda) (1923.07.16 – 1933)

Superior General of Sons of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (1937.05.02 – 1947.05.02)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Sabino Ocan Odoki (68) (2006.07.22 – 2010.10.20)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Martin Luluga (1986.10.17 – 1988.01.10)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Cipriano Biyehima Kihangire (1962.11.12 – 1964.01.20)