Gulu (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Raphael p’Mony Wokorach, M.C.C.I., Archbishop
John Baptist Odama, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 2 January 1999
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Uganda
Square Kilometers: 27,945 (10,793 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://archdiocesegulu.org
Mailing Address: Archbishop's House, P.O. Box 200, Gulu, Uganda
Telephone: (0471)432.026

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Nilo Equatoriale
- Latin Name: Nili Aequatorialis
- Erected: 12 June 1923
- Country: Uganda
Vicariate Apostolic of Nilo Equatoriale
- Latin Name: Nili Aequatorialis
- Elevated: 10 December 1934
- Vicariate
- Country: Uganda
Vicariate Apostolic of Gulu
- Latin Name: Guluensis
- Name Changed: 1 December 1950
- Vicariate
- Country: Uganda
Diocese of Gulu
- Latin Name: Guluensis
- Elevated: 25 March 1953
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Kampala
- Country: Uganda

Past and Present Ordinaries

Antonio Vignato, F.S.C.J. † (16 Jul 1923 Appointed - 10 Dec 1934 Resigned)
Angelo Negri, F.S.C.J. † (10 Dec 1934 Appointed - 13 Nov 1949 Died)
Giovanni Battista Cesana, M.C.C.I. † (1 Dec 1950 Appointed - 19 Dec 1968 Resigned)
Cipriano Biyehima Kihangire † (19 Dec 1968 Appointed - 9 Jan 1988 Resigned)
Martin Luluga † (8 Feb 1990 Appointed - 2 Jan 1999 Appointed, Bishop of Nebbi)
John Baptist Odama (2 Jan 1999 Appointed - 22 Mar 2024 Retired)
Raphael p’Mony Wokorach, M.C.C.I. (22 Mar 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Nilo Equatoriale
12 June 1923	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Bahr el-Ghazal (Region in the East)	Prefecture Apostolic of Nilo Equatoriale (erected)
14 July 1927	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Nilo Equatoriale (Central Equatoria State)	Prefecture Apostolic of Bahr el-Gebel (erected)
4 December 1929	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Upper Nile {Nilo Superiore} (Dstrict of Lira (or Langó) and part of Karamojo)	Prefecture Apostolic of Nilo Equatoriale
Vicariate Apostolic of Nilo Equatoriale
10 December 1934	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Nilo Equatoriale	Vicariate Apostolic of Nilo Equatoriale
Vicariate Apostolic of Gulu
1 December 1950	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Nilo Equatoriale	Vicariate Apostolic of Gulu
Diocese of Gulu
25 March 1953	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Gulu	Diocese of Gulu
23 June 1958	Territory Lost	Diocese of Gulu (West Nile)	Diocese of Arua (erected)
4 November 1964	Territory Added	Diocese of Tororo (Alanyi, Dokolo, and Amolatar)	Diocese of Gulu
22 March 1965	Territory Lost	Diocese of Gulu (Karamoja)	Diocese of Moroto (erected)
12 July 1968	Territory Lost	Diocese of Gulu (Lango)	Diocese of Lira (erected)
Archdiocese of Gulu
2 January 1999	Elevated	Diocese of Gulu	Archdiocese of Gulu

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Vicariate Apostolic of Gulu

1950 166,243 1,038,000 16.0% 10 39 49 3,392 16 14 ap1951

Diocese of Gulu

1970 248,615 484,034 51.4% 8 52 60 4,143 83 135 114 ap1971

1980 301,059 657,705 45.8% 11 37 48 6,272 1 77 139 21 ap1981

1990 308,500 702,500 43.9% 33 21 54 5,712 1 39 265 24 ap1991

Archdiocese of Gulu

1999 760,565 1,453,244 52.3% 29 31 60 12,676 45 345 22 ap2000

2000 778,275 1,496,841 52.0% 27 30 57 13,653 58 379 24 ap2001

2001 431,448 856,448 50.4% 37 27 64 6,741 44 153 22 ap2002

2002 447,600 886,800 50.5% 36 28 64 6,993 49 153 23 ap2003

2003 610,057 1,048,208 58.2% 28 28 56 10,893 51 180 23 ap2004

2004 622,913 1,079,654 57.7% 26 27 53 11,753 51 178 23 ap2005

2006 655,281 1,145,405 57.2% 28 25 53 12,363 51 169 23 ap2007

2013 833,372 1,446,014 57.6% 57 26 83 10,040 46 190 26 ap2014

2016 902,921 1,500,770 60.2% 56 27 83 10,878 65 193 27 ap2017

2019 988,054 1,649,695 59.9% 64 28 92 10,739 75 164 27 ap2020

2021 1,034,169 1,798,823 57.5% 65 33 98 10,552 56 190 29 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Gulu
1950	166,243	1,038,000	16.0%	10	39	49	3,392			16	14	ap1951
Diocese of Gulu
1970	248,615	484,034	51.4%	8	52	60	4,143		83	135	114	ap1971
1980	301,059	657,705	45.8%	11	37	48	6,272	1	77	139	21	ap1981
1990	308,500	702,500	43.9%	33	21	54	5,712	1	39	265	24	ap1991
Archdiocese of Gulu
1999	760,565	1,453,244	52.3%	29	31	60	12,676		45	345	22	ap2000
2000	778,275	1,496,841	52.0%	27	30	57	13,653		58	379	24	ap2001
2001	431,448	856,448	50.4%	37	27	64	6,741		44	153	22	ap2002
2002	447,600	886,800	50.5%	36	28	64	6,993		49	153	23	ap2003
2003	610,057	1,048,208	58.2%	28	28	56	10,893		51	180	23	ap2004
2004	622,913	1,079,654	57.7%	26	27	53	11,753		51	178	23	ap2005
2006	655,281	1,145,405	57.2%	28	25	53	12,363		51	169	23	ap2007
2013	833,372	1,446,014	57.6%	57	26	83	10,040		46	190	26	ap2014
2016	902,921	1,500,770	60.2%	56	27	83	10,878		65	193	27	ap2017
2019	988,054	1,649,695	59.9%	64	28	92	10,739		75	164	27	ap2020
2021	1,034,169	1,798,823	57.5%	65	33	98	10,552		56	190	29	ap2022

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Giovanni Battista Cesana, M.C.C.I. † (Vicar Apostolic: 1 Dec 1950; Bishop: 25 Mar 1953 to 19 Dec 1968)
Cipriano Biyehima Kihangire † (Auxiliary Bishop: 12 Nov 1962 to 9 Aug 1965; Bishop: 19 Dec 1968 to 9 Jan 1988)
Martin Luluga † (Auxiliary Bishop: 17 Oct 1986; Apostolic Administrator: 1988 to 12 Apr 1990; Bishop: 8 Feb 1990 to 2 Jan 1999)
Angelo Negri, F.S.C.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 10 Dec 1934 to 13 Nov 1949)
Antonio Vignato, F.S.C.J. † (Prefect: 16 Jul 1923 to 10 Dec 1934)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Nilo Equatoriale
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 15, Page 490, and Page 491
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 22, Page 476, and Page 477

Vicariate Apostolic of Gulu