Anglican dioceses of Northern Uganda

The Anglican dioceses of Northern Uganda are the Anglican presence in (roughly) the Northern Region, Uganda; they are part of the Church of Uganda. The remaining dioceses of the Church are in the areas of Buganda, of Eastern Uganda, of Ankole and Kigezi, and of Rwenzori.

Diocese of Northern Uganda

The first diocese to be erected in this area was that called simply the Diocese of Northern Uganda, which was split from the Diocese on the Upper Nile in 1961. Today the mother church is St Philip's Cathedral, Gulu. ^[1]

Bishops of Northern Uganda

• 1961 –1964/5: Keith Russell (previously an assistant bishop on the Upper Nile)
  • 1964–1966: Silvanus Wani, assistant bishop
• bef. Jan 1966 –1969: Silvanus Wani ^[2] (became Bishop of Madi and West Nile)
• 1969–1974: Janani Luwum (became Archbishop of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Boga-Zaire)
• 1974 –1989 (res.): Benoni Ogwal (in exile 1977–1980) ^{[3] [4]}
  • Allan Oboma, assistant bishop
• 1989 –1998 (ret.): ^[5] Allan Oboma
• 1998 –2009 (ret.): ^[5] Nelson Onono-Onweng
• 20 December 2009 ^{[6] [7]}  –present: Bishop Godfrey Loum

Diocese of Madi—West Nile

Erected from Northern Uganda diocese in 1969; See at Emmanuel Cathedral, Mvara (near Arua). ^[8]

Bishops of Madi—West Nile

• 1969 –1977: Silvanus Wani ^[2] (became Archbishop of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Boga-Zaire) ^[9]
• ? –1987: Remelia Ringtho ^[10]
• 1988 –1990 (d.): Ephraim Adrale ^[10]
• ? –1994 (d.): Ariaka Nguma ^[10]
• 1995 ^[10]  –2005 (ret.): Lee Drati ^[11]
• 26 November 2005 –?: Joel Obetia ^{[11] [12]}
• 26 February 2017 –present: Collins Andaku ^[13]

Diocese of Karamoja

Split in 1976 from the Diocese of Soroti; St Philip's Cathedral, Moroto.

Bishops of Karamoja

• 1976 –1981 (res.): ^[14] Brian Herd (previously Archdeacon of Karamoja; consecrated 11 January 1976, by Janani Luwum, Archbishop of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Boga-Zaire, at Namirembe Cathedral; ^[15] exiled March 1977 –?) ^[16]
• 1981–?: Howell Davies ^[17]
• 1987 –June 2006 (d.): Peter Lomongin
• 27 May 2007 –present: Joseph Abura (consecrated 27 May 2007) ^[18]

Diocese of Lango

Erected from Northern Uganda, 1976; ^[19] Lira Cathedral.

Bishops of Lango

• 1976 –2001: Melkizedek Otim (consecrated 11 January 1976, by Janani Luwum, Archbishop of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Boga-Zaire, at Namirembe Cathedral) ^[15]
• 2001–2017 (ret.): ^[20] Charles Odurkami ^[21]
• 13 August 2017 –present: Alfred Olwa

Diocese of Nebbi

Created in 1993 from the Diocese of Madi—West Nile; St Stephen's Cathedral, Goli.

Bishops of Nebbi

• 1993 - 2004: Henry Luke Orombi
• 2004 - 2020: Alphonse Watho-kudi
• 2021 - Present: Pons Ozelle Awinjo

Diocese of Kitgum

Created in 1995 from Northern Uganda diocese; the See is Kitgum, where stands All Saints' Cathedral.

Bishops of Kitgum

• 1995–2002: Baker Ochola ^[22]
• 2002–2018: ^[23] Benjamin Ojwang
• 2018–present: Wilson Kitara ^[21]

Diocese of North Karamoja

Christ Church Cathedral, Kotido is the mother church of this diocese, erected from Karamoja in 2007.

Bishops of North Karamoja

• 1 July 2007 ^[18]  –?: James Nasak

Diocese of West Lango

Split from Lango diocese, 2014; St Peter's Cathedral, Aduku.

Bishops of West Lango

• 2014–2018: Alfred Acur
• 2019–present: Julius Nina

See also

• Anglican dioceses of Ankole and Kigezi
• Anglican dioceses of Buganda
• Anglican dioceses of Eastern Uganda
• Anglican dioceses of Rwenzori
• List of Roman Catholic dioceses in Uganda

References

1. Uganda Radio Network, 10 August 2009 — New Bishop of Diocese of Northern Uganda Elected (Accessed 18 February 2020)
2. "History In Progress Uganda - 'The new Archbishop of Uganda, pictured with other members of the House of Bishops and the Chancellor of the Province of Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, after his election yesterday. In the picture are (left to right), Bishop Asanasio Maraka, of Soroti; Mr. S.K. Kulubya (Chancellor); Bishop Lawrence Barham, of Rwanda-Burundi; The Archbishop, Bushop Sabiti; Bishop Silvana Wani of Northern Uganda; Bishop Stephen Tomusange, Bishop of West Buganda and Dean of the Province, Bishop Kosea Shalita, of Ankole-Kigezi; Bishop Erisa Masaba, of Mbale; and Bishop Dunstan Nsubuga, of Namirembe.' Uganda Arugs, Wednesday January 6th 1966 | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
3. "Over-angry reactions on Uganda?" . Church Times . No. 5951. 4 March 1977. p. 20. ISSN   0009-658X . Retrieved 17 February 2020– via UK Press Online archives.
4. Ward, Kevin. “'The Armies of the Lord': Christianity, Rebels and the State in Northern Uganda, 1986-1999.” Journal of Religion in Africa , vol. 31, no. 2, 2001, pp. 187–221. (JSTOR; accessed 17 February 2020) 9–10
5. Diocese of Northern Uganda — A miracle has happened (Accessed 17 February 2020)
6. New Vision, 19 August 2009 — Gakumba rises from orphanhood to bishop (Accessed 17 February 2020)
7. Diocese of Northern Uganda — commemorative programme, 20 December 2010 to Nov 20 2021 Bishop Johnson Gakumba (Accessed 17 February 2020)
8. Daily Monitor, 14 November 2016 — Arua gets new bishop (Accessed 18 February 2020)
9. Episcopal News Service, 24 March 1977 — New Archbishop Elected in Uganda (Accessed 17 February 2020)
10. "The good, bad and ugly; how Madi and west Nile diocese has evolved over 50 years". West Nile Web. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
11. "New Anglican Bishop for Madi West Nile Diocese".
12. Aileen Ngu (11 January 2006). "Consecration of Bishop Joel Obetia and Assistant Bishop Sandy Millar, 27 November 2005". Global South Anglican Online. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020.
13. "Bishop Collins Andaku – one year in office". West Nile Web. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
14. "Gazette: deaths" . Church Times . No. 8003. 5 August 2016. p. 28. ISSN   0009-658X . Retrieved 18 February 2020– via UK Press Online archives.
15. "3 new bishops for Uganda" . Church Times . No. 5892. 16 January 1976. p. 3. ISSN   0009-658X . Retrieved 13 January 2020– via UK Press Online archives.
16. "Bishop Herd in car accident" . Church Times . No. 6066. 18 May 1979. p. 5. ISSN   0009-658X . Retrieved 18 February 2020– via UK Press Online archives.
17. The Living Church. Morehouse-Gorham Company. 1981.
18. "Decade of Mission – Archbishop's Charge to 19th Provincial AssemblyChurch of Uganda | Church of Uganda". churchofuganda.org. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
19. Crockford's Clerical Directory 1980–82 p 661: London, OUP, 1983 ISBN   978-0192000101
20. "Bishop Odurkami: My Reign Was Tainted by Hatred".
21. "Kumi Diocese's Bishop Thomas Edison Irigei abdicates to the Archbishop | Church of Uganda".
22. "2002 events". oremus.org. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
23. "Former Kitgum Bishop Dead".