BISHOP OF ARUA TO MARK 20TH ANNIVERSARY: C.O.C APPEALS FOR SUPPORT

Bishop Sabino Ocan Odoki during the ordination ceremony this year at the Ediofe Cathedral. Photo//Erema.

By Erema George

Arua City

The Bishop of the diocese of Arua, Rt. Rev Sabino Ocan Ododki is set to celebrate his 20^th episcopal anniversary on the 24^th October 2026 and preparations for the function is on high gears with a call for support from the Christian community.

The diocesan Central Organizing Committee chairperson Cat. Christopher Nyakuni describes the function a high class celebration as many dignitaries including political leaders and religious leaders from within the country and abroad are anticipated to join the celebrations;

“This is a celebration not only for the Bishop, this is a celebration for all the Christians of Arua diocese and the Gulu Ecclesiastes province as a whole.” Nyakuni said

“The Papal Nuncio to Uganda is coming to be present on this day and also the president of the republic of Uganda His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is invited, we shall be having the MPs, we shall be having the Bishops within west Nile and the bishops of Uganda, and we shall have visitors from Germany.” He added.

He said the central organizing committee has already build sub-committees to support them in the various planning processes.

He is now urging the Christians to make their contributions in order to support the C.O.C in order to fill the budget gap.

“Let us make contributions to come fourth because as of now we are standing at only 14.9 Million out of 72M, that means we still have a lot to contribute. I am appealing to the parishes, I’m appealing to the institutions, I’m appealing to individuals, I’m appealing to all the well-wishers to make contributions to this effect and from today we are left with 14 days that means we are very much squeezed.” Nyakuni stated.

The financial administrator of Arua diocese, Phiona Adania on the other hand has urged the various institutions under the diocese to send in their contributions to support this function;

“For now what we have cannot ably allow us to carry the function. That means we still have a lot to do especially our institutions. Our income generating institutions, I humbly appeal to you, kindly support us in this noble cause, all our schools we have reached out to you, if you have not submitted your contribution, I kindly request you to submit in, any congregation that has not supported us in this cause, I also appeal to you to send in your contribution and we encourage everyone to give in generously for this cause.” Adania said.

Meanwhile the vicar general of Arua diocese Msgr. Kasto Adeti called for double efforts as days draw closer to the celebration;

“This is a very rare occasion, let us prepare for this occasion because the Bishop will not celebrate the 20 years as a bishop twice but once and even the occasion where the Nuncio is coming to us for the first time. As the days are drawing near, we need to double our efforts for this organization.” Adeti urged.

Bishop Sabino Ocan Odoki began his work at Ediofe when he was appointed Apostolic Administrator of Arua Diocese on August 19, 2009, and he was appointed the Bishop of Arua Diocese on October 20^th and later installed as the Bishop Ordinary of Arua Diocese at Ediofe Cathedral on December 18, 2010.

Written by newsroom-radiopacis