About Us

Gulu, like all the territories along the Nile valley, belonged to the Apostolic Vicariate of Central Africa created in 1846, and which had been suspended because of too many deaths of missionaries. The sons and daughters of St. Daniel Comboni who were the first missionaries in Gulu had been there for a while.

The Vicariate of Central Africa was eventually re-activated and entrusted to Msgr. Daniel Comboni with the same boundaries of 1846. In 1877 he was promoted Bishop and Vicar Apostolic with his See in Khartoum. With the help of many explorers and commanders, Saint Daniel Comboni had studied and planned to push southward down to Uganda. Even so the Roman Authorities did not allow him to proceed.

Before Comboni’s death (1881) a Decree of Propaganda Fide had moved the southern boundary to the 10th degree latitude north and rectified the boundaries. On the 15th January, 1894 the boundary for Equatorial Nile was taken back to the 2nd degree latitude north. On 13th July, 1894 the “Uganda Vicariate” was finally established South of Victoria Nile. Thus, it was a satisfactory arrangement.

The Ecclesiastical Territory under the See of Gulu was created as an autonomous circumscription on 12th June, 1923 under the care of the Most Reverend Monsignor Antonio Vignato (1923-1933). It was then known as Apostolic Prefecture. On 10th December, 1934 it became what was known as Equatorial Nile under the care of Arua. On 1st December, 1950 it became a Diocese with His Excellency Bishop John Baptist Cesana (1950-1969) as the Ordinary.

From its large area were later detached the Dioceses of: Arua in 1958, Moroto in 1965, and Lira in 1968. December 1968, His Excellency Bishop Cipriano Dr. Kihangire was nominated by His Holiness Pope Paul VI, Bishop of Gulu and took possession of Gulu Diocese on 20th April, 1969 (died on 1st November, 1989). On 11th January, 1987 His Excellency Bishop Martin Luluga was ordained Auxiliary Bishop of Gulu. He became Apostolic Administrator of Gulu in 1988 and was confirmed as Bishop of Gulu on 22nd February, 1990. He was installed as Bishop of Gulu on 12th April, 1990 (1988-1999).

On 30th January, 1999 His Holiness Pope John Paul II announced the erection of Gulu Diocese to a Metropolitan Archdiocese of Gulu and the Ecclesiastical Province of Gulu consisting of the three suffragan Dioceses of Arua, Lira and Nebbi.

Archbishop’s Residence
P.O.Box 200, GULU, Uganda
Tel: 0471-432026, 0772- 602943 Fax: +256 4714 434860
E-mail: metrog@archdiocesegulu.org Web page address: www.archdiocesegulu.org

1. Msgr. Matthew Odong
2. Fr. Sebastian Odong
3. Msgr. Vincent Ojok
4. Fr. Martin Agwee
5. Fr. Eric Justin Uma
6. Fr. Michael Lawrence Komakech
7. Fr. Romano Ouma
8. Fr. Callisto Locheng, AJ
9. Fr. Matthew Ojara
10. Fr. Guido Miotti,MCCJ
11. Fr. Leonsyo Akena

The Registered Trustees of Gulu Diocese Uganda is the legal body recognized by the state of Uganda in the relations between the Church and the State and other entities there in.

The members of the Board of Trustees of the Archdiocese of Gulu is an appointed body that assists the Archbishop in supervising and maintaining all property of the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Gulu.

Its duties are: to formulate policies and guidelines for the administration of the temporal goods; to acquire and hold, to convey, to assign and demise any immovable or movable property or any interests in such property belonging to or held for the benefit of the Archdiocese of Gulu; to manage, administer, look after projects and all property and interest that are vested in it and to manage, control and direct all administrative and legal affairs of the Archdiocese of Gulu.

1. Most. Rev. John Baptist Odama
2. Msgr. Matthew Odong
3. Msgr. Vincent Ojok
4. Fr. Martin Agwee
5. Fr. Michael Lawrence Komakec