UGANDA: His Holiness Appoints Bishop Wokorach New Archbishop of Gulu, Uganda

Masereka Peter

Pope Francis has appointed Nebbi Diocese bishop, Rt. Rev. Raphael P’mony Wokorach as the new Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese.

According to an announcement made by the Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda Luigi Bianco, the appointment comes after the Pope accepted the resignation of most Rev. John Baptist Odama who requested to do so upon attaining the age of retirement, 75, two years ago.

About the appointment at Nebbi Catholic Diocese, the Nuncio said that Bishop Wokorach remains shepherd at his diocese until when he is installed archbishop. He added that the people of Nebbi will have to wait for an appointment of a new bishop.

In his remarks, the Bishop Wokorach described his appointment as an ambush, saying as missionary, “I have had my heart open to go where my lord and my superiors have asked me to go. I sincerely thank Pope Francis for his trust in me”.

Wokorach was born on 21 January 1961, at Ojigo Village in Wadelai, in the then Diocese of Arua, in present-day Arua District in the West Nile sub-region, in the Northern Region of Uganda.

He attended Ragem Primary School, before entering the highly selective Saints Peter and Paul Minor (Preparatory) Seminary at Pokea, in Arua, studying Sciences, Mathematics, Social Studies and Latin from 1975 until 1979, for his O-Level education. He transferred to the all-boys’ boarding school, St. Joseph’s College Ombaci, also in Arua, where he completed his A-Level education, graduating in 1982, with the equivalent of a high school diploma.

Between 1983 and 1987, Wokorach studied philosophy at Uganda Martyrs’ National Major Seminary Alokolum, in Gulu, Uganda. In 1987, he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy, by the Pontifical Urban University, in Rome. He continued with his studies in Kenya, graduating with a Master of Arts degree in Philosophy from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in 1994.^[4]

He is a member of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (MCCJ), or Verona Fathers, a male Religious institute founded on June 1, 1867 by Italian priest Saint Daniel Comboni.

He was ordained priest on 25 September 1993 at Wadelai Parish, in Arua Diocese, by Martin Luluga, the Bishop of Gulu at that time. He served as priest in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nebbi, until 31 March 2021.

As bishop, was appointed bishop on 31 March 2021 by Pope Francis. He replaced Bishop Sanctus Lino Wanok, who served as Bishop of Nebbi from 8 February 2011 until 23 November 2018, when he was transferred to Lira Diocese as Bishop. During the absence of a bishop at Nebbi (2018 to 2021), Monsignor Emmanuel Odaga served as the Diocesan Administrator. He is expected to be installed as Bishop of Nebbi Catholic Diocese on 14 August 2021.

Wokorach was consecrated bishop on 14 August 2021, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral, Nebbi, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nebbi by Archbishop John Baptist Odama, Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Gulu, assisted by Archbishop Luigi Bianco, Titular Archbishop of Falerone and Papal Nuncio to Uganda, Bishop Giuseppe Filippi, M.C.C.I., Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kotido and Bishop Sanctus Lino Wanok, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lira.

Bishop Wokorach has become the second Bishop from Nebbi to be appointed Archbishop, after the Archbishop Emeritus Odama in 1999, after serving on three years as Bishop.