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

HISTORY

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.

ORDINARY.
There are 2 bishops. Of the two bishops, the ordinary is Right Reverend Joseph Eciru Oliach who was born on 11th August 1970 in Gweri. He was ordained priest on the 9th/08/2003. He was appointed the 3rd bishop of Soroti on the 19th/03/2019 and was consecrated on the 25th/05/2019.
The other bishop is Emeritus Rt. Rev. Erasmus Desiderius Wandera, born at Dabani in Tororo on the 16th/April/1930. He was ordained priest on the 27th/12/1956 and appointed first bishop of Soroti catholic diocese on the 29th/12/1980 and was consecrated on the 29th/03/1981. Currently he is residing at Mbale in Tororo Archdiocese.

DIOCESAN ADDRESS:
SOROTI CATHOLIC DIOCESE,
P.O BOX 650,
SOROTI, UGANDA. Tel. +256(0)783243968.
E-mail: bishopsrtcatholic@gmail.com

MAIN FUNCTIONS IN THE DIOCESE

COLLEGE OF CONSULTORS
Msgr. Robert Ecogu
Msgr. John Eriau
Msgr. Silver Opio
Fr. Gonzaga Ongereny Waziwazi
Fr. Martin Aeko
Fr. Denis Richard Asima
Fr. Fredrick Obore
Fr. Remi Nyengere M.Afr
Fr. Francis Kayaye.

ABEKO St. James Catholic Parish (2019)
P.O Box 650, SOROTI

ACUMET St.Francis Catholic Parish (1989)
P.O Box 802, SOROTI
 Acumet SS, Acumet Health Unit

AKAJIKAJ St. Mary’s Catholic Parish (2014)
P.O Box 438 SOROTI

ALWA All Saints Parish (2019)
P.O Box 650- SOROTI

AMINIT-KAMUDA Divine Mercy Parish (2019)
P.O Box 650, SOROTI

AMURIA St. Benedict parish (1941)
P.O Box 36, SOROTI.
Sisters of St. Francis, Community, Amuria Health Unit, St. Benedict SS

AMURIA TOWN Parish (2019)
P.O Box 650, SOROTI.

ANYARA, St. Andrew's parish (2014)
P.o Box 581,SOROTI.

APOPONG, St. Elizabeth Parish (2019)
P.O Box 650, SOROTI.

ATUTUR, Holy Trinity Parish (2019)
P.O Box 366-KUMI

BUKEDEA, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus parish (1938)
P.O Box 778 MBALE
Sisters of St. Francis community, Health Unit, Secondary school, Primary Teacher’s college, Pastoral Training Centre.

GWERI, Holy Family Parish (2019)
P.O Box 650, SOROTI
KABERAMAIDO, St. Karoli

Lwanga Parish (1953)
P.O Box 63, SOROTI
Sisters of Mary Mother of the church community, Health unit

KACHUMBALA, Uganda Martyrs Parish (1960)
P.O Box 542 MBALE.
Health Unit.

KAMOD Our Lady of Fatima Parish (2019)
P.O Box 650, SOROTI

KATAKWI, St. Stephen Parish (2001)
P.O Box 28 KATAKWI
White Fathers, Secondary school St. Stephen SS

KATETA St. John Paul II Parish (2019)
P.O Box 650, SOROTI.

KATINE St. Kizito Parish (1987)
Health Unit

KIDETOK, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish (1939)
P.O Box 395, SOROTI
Health Centre, Community of Franciscan sisters, Catechists Formation Centre, St. Elizabeth Girls’ secondary school.

KOBUIN St. Charles Borromeo Parish (2019)
P.O Box 650, SOROTI

KOGELAK, Sacred Heart Parish (2019)
P.O Box 670, SOROTI.
A secondary school

KOLOIN, St. Thomas Didymus (2007)
P.O Box 650, SOROTI.
A secondary school

KUMI, St. Paul’s Parish (1949)
P.O Box 25, KUMI
A secondary school, A community of LSOSF.

KYERE, Our Lady of Assumption Parish (1960)
P.O Box 650, SOROTI.
A Health Unit, Girls’ Secondary School.

LWALA, Our Lady of Assumption Parish (1915)
P.O Box 3012, OTUBOI.
Lwala Hospital, A Girls’ Secondary School

MADERA, St. Patrick’s Parish (1914)
P.O Box 55, SOROTI.
A Technical Institute, A vocational Institution, Secondary School for Girls, Secondary School for the Blind, Msgr. John Eneku Training Centre, Seminary, Health Unit.

MAGORO St. Simon’s Parish (2003)
P.O Box 42 SOROTI.

MUKONGORO, St. Augustine’s Parish (2014)
P.O Box 650, SOROTI.
A vocational Training School.

NGORA, St. Joseph’s Parish (1912)
P.O Box 50, NGORA
Health Unit, Vocational School, Teachers’ Training College, Secondary School

OBALANGA, St. Andrew’s Parish (2014)
P.O Box 650, SOROTI.

OCERO, St. Paul’s Parish (1998)
P.O Box 678, SOROTI
A Secondary School

OLILIM, Christ the King Parish (2019)
P.O Box 778 SOROTI
A Secondary School.

OLIO, St. Peter’s Parish (2014)
P.O Box 261, SERERE.

ONGUTOI, Holy Cross Parish (2019)
P.O Box 650, SOROTI.

OPUNOI, Good Shepherd Parish (2019)
P.O Box 650, SOROTI.

ORUNGO, St. Peter Canisius (1958)
P.O Box 167, SOROTI.
Health Centre with Hospice, Secondary School for Girls, LSOSF community.

SANGAI, Our Lady of Africa Parish (2019)
P.O Box 650, SOROTI

SOROTI, Immaculate Conception Parish (1960)
P.O Box 340, SOROTI.
Community of LSOSF, 2 Secondary schools, Diocesan Procure, Garage. SOCADIDO/CEREDO Offices, Curial offices.

TOROMA St. Pancras Parish (1932)
P.O Box 650, SOROTI.
Health Centre, Secondary School and Community of LSOSF.

USUK, St. Ann’s Parish (1951)
P.O Box 30, KATAKWI.
Health Centre, Secondary School, Youth Centre, Community of LSOSF.

WERA, St. Michael’s Parish (1966)
P.O Box 385, SOROTI.
Youth Centre, Health Centre, Vocational School, Secondary School.
 

DEANERIES.

DIOCESAN PRIESTS AND THEIR DATES OF ORDINATION

MISSIONARIES OF AFRICA  (WHITE FATHERS)

Fr. Paul Breimes       ......................... 29/01/1955.
Fr. Denis Laflamme
Fr. Peter van der Heuvel ....................02/02/1991.
Fr. Roberto Ubemu
Fr. Maheshe Jean Pierre

DIOCESAN INSTITUTIONS AND SCHOOLS
Bishop Wandera Girls’ Secondary School, Kyere
P.O Box 650- SOROTI

Bukedea Pastoral Training Centre
P.O Box 778- MBALE

Catechists Formation Centre (C.F.C), Kidetok
P.O Box 395-SOROTI

Fr. Borghols Vocational Institute Ngora
P.O Box 50- NGORA.

Fr. Kiggen Memorial School
P.O Box 50- NGORA

Immaculate Girls’ Senior Secondary School
P.O Box 340- SOROTI

John Paul II Secondary School
P.O Box 340-SOROTI

John Paul II Shalom Youth Centre
P.O Box 650- SOROTI

Kumi Girls’ Primary School
P.O Box 25-KUMI

Kumi Boys’ Primary School
P.O Box 25-KUMI

Lwala Girls’ Primary School
P.O Box 3012 OTUBOI

Lwala Boys’ Primary School
P.O Box 3012- OTUBOI

Lwala Girls’ Secondary School
P.O Box 3012 OTUBOI

Madera Boys’ Boarding Primary School
P.O Box 55- SOROTI

Madera Girls’ Boarding Primary School
P.O Box 161- SOROTI

Madera School for the Blind Primary School
P.O Box 161- SOROTI

Madera School for the Blind Secondary
P.O Box 161- SOROTI

Holy Angels  college
P.o Box 55, SOROTI

Ococia Girls’ Secondary school
P.O Box 167- SOROTI

SOCADIDO Offices
P.O Box 614- SOROTI

St. Aloysius Prmary Teachers’ College
P.O Box 17- NGORA.

St. Benedict SS Amuria
P.O Box 36, SOROTI

St. Mary’s Primary Teachers College Bukedea
P.O Box 778- MBALE

St. Francis SS Acumet
P.O Box 802-SOROTI

St. Francis SS Kogelak
P.O Box 650- SOROTI

St. Mary’s Girls SS Madera
P.O Box238-SOROTI

St. Joseph’s Garage Soroti
P.O Box 630-SOROTI

St. Kizito’s Technical Institute Madera
P.O Box 320-SOROTI

St. Peter’s Seminary Madera
P.O Box 22 SOROTI

St. Stephen Secondary School Katakwi
P.O Box 650- SOROTI

Toroma Senior Secondary School
P.O Box 650-SOROTI

Toroma Girls’ Boarding Primary School
P.O Box 650- SOROTI

Toroma Boys’ Primary School
P.O Box 650- SOROTI

Uganda Martyrs Vocational Institution
P.O Box 630-SOROTI

Usuk Girls Primary School
P.O Box 30- KATAKWI

Usuk Boys’ Primary School
P.O Box 30- KATAKWI

Usuk Senior Secondary School
P.O Box 30 KATAKWI

Usuk Youth Centre
P.O Box 30- KATAKWI.

SCHOOLS WITH CHAPLAINS
Teso College Aloet

Private bag SOROTI
Fr. Hilary Eragu

Busitema University Arapai campus
Fr. Hilary Eragu

Uganda College of Commerce Soroti
Fr. Hilary Eragu

Soroti University
Fr. Jerome Agelu

St. Kizito technical Institute
Fr. Francis Kayaye

Uganda Martyrs Vocational Institution
Msgr. Robert Ecogu

St. Francis School for the Blind
Fr. Simon Peter Obelekek

St. Paul’s SS Ocero
Fr. Thomas Omee

Immaculate Girls’ SS
Fr. Julius Oumo

St. Aloysius PTC
Fr. Moses Apuri

Fr. Kiggen Memorial School
Fr. Akepa Lawrence

Toroma Secondary school
Fr. John Bosco Ocom.

St. Mary’s Girls’ SS
Fr. Francis Kayaye

Uganda Government Prison
Seminary Priests.