# Diocese of Arua

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Diocese of the Catholic Church in Uganda

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Diocese of Arua Dioecesis Aruaensis Uganda - Diocesi di Arua Location Country Uganda Metropolitan Gulu Statistics Area 10,561 km2 (4,078 sq mi) Population Total Catholics (as of 2006) 1,650,275 670,000 (40.6%) Information Rite Latin Rite Cathedral Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Lodonga Current leadership Pope Leo XIV Bishop Sabino Ocan Odoki

The **Roman Catholic Diocese of Arua** ([Latin](/source/Latin_language): *Aruaën(sis)*) is a [diocese](/source/Diocese) of the [Catholic Church](/source/Catholic_Church) in [Uganda](/source/Uganda). located in the city of [Arua](/source/Arua) in the [ecclesiastical province](/source/Ecclesiastical_province) of [Gulu](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Gulu) in [Uganda](/source/Uganda). Following the resignation of [Bishop Frederick Drandua](/source/Frederick_Drandua), on 19 August 2009, [Pope Benedict XVI](/source/Pope_Benedict_XVI) appointed the [Sabino Ocan Odoki](/source/Sabino_Ocan_Odoki), Auxiliary Bishop of the [Catholic Archdiocese of Gulu](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Gulu), as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Arua, until a substantive bishop is appointed.[1] On October 20, 2010 he was named ordinary Bishop.[2]

## Territory

The Diocese of Arua is bordered to the north by the Catholic Diocese of Torit and the Diocese of Yei, both located in [South Sudan](/source/South_Sudan). To the south, it borders the [Nebbi Catholic Diocese](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Nebbi) in Uganda. The eastern boundary is shared with the [Gulu Archdiocese](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Gulu) in Uganda, while the western border adjoins the Diocese of Mahagi-Nioka in the [Democratic Republic of the Congo](/source/Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo).[2]

## History

The Diocese of Arua was established on June 23, 1958, from Diocese of Gulu and became suffragan of Rubaga. In 1966, it became suffragan of Kampala. In 1996, the Diocese of Nebbi was curved out from some of the territory of the diocese. [3][4]

## Leadership

The current bishop of the diocese is [Sabino Ocan Odoki](/source/Sabino_Ocan_Odoki), who was appointed in 2010.[5] Bishop Odoki previously served as Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Gulu before being appointed as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Arua on 19 August 2009 by [Pope Benedict XVI](/source/Pope_Benedict_XVI), following the resignation of Bishop Frederick Drandua.

Previous [Bishops](/source/Bishop) of Arua (Roman rite) include:

- Angelo Tarantino (1959-02-12 – 1984)[6]

- [Frederick Drandua](/source/Frederick_Drandua) (1986-05-27 - 2009-08-19)[7]

- [Sabino Ocan Odoki](/source/Sabino_Ocan_Odoki) (2010-10-20 - present)[5]

Another priest of this diocese [Martin Luluga](/source/Martin_Luluga) was appointed auxiliary bishop of Gulu in 1986.[8]

## Notable people

Bernardo Sartori, a priest and missionary was venerated by [Pope Francis](/source/Pope_Francis) on 13th December, 2021. [9]

## See also

- [Catholic Church in Uganda](/source/Catholic_Church_in_Uganda)

## External links

- [Official Website of the Diocese of Arua](http://www.dioceseofarua.org/)

- [GCatholic.org](http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/arua0.htm)

- [Catholic Hierarchy](http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/darua.html)

## Sources

- [Catholic Hierarchy](http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/darua.html)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Bishop Ocan Odoki is Apostolic Administrator of Arua Catholic Diocese Since August 2009"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080526161435/http://www.aruadiocese.org/index.htm). *aruadiocese.org*. Archived from [the original](http://www.aruadiocese.org/index.htm) on 26 May 2008. Retrieved 24 March 2010.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-arua_location_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-arua_location_2-1) ["Our Bishops"](https://www.dioceseofarua.org/Our-Bishops.php). *dioceseofarua.org*. Diocese of Arua. Retrieved 1 July 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Arua Diocese"](https://www.uecon.org/provinces/gulu/arua). *Uganda Episcopal Conference*. Retrieved 1 July 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Arua (Diocese) \[Catholic-Hierarchy\]"](https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/darua.html). *www.catholic-hierarchy.org*. Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved 1 July 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-gcatholic_arua_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-gcatholic_arua_5-1) ["Diocese of Arua, Uganda"](https://gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/arua0.htm). *gcatholic.org*. Retrieved 1 July 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Bishop Angelo Tarantino \[Catholic-Hierarchy\]"](https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/btara.html). *www.catholic-hierarchy.org*. Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved 1 July 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Bishop Frederick Drandua \[Catholic-Hierarchy\]"](http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bdrandua.html). *www.catholic-hierarchy.org*. Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved 1 July 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Bishop Martin Luluga \[Catholic-Hierarchy\]"](https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bluluga.html). *www.catholic-hierarchy.org*. Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved 1 July 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Ombaci Celebrates- Arua Diocese"](https://www.dioceseofarua.org/Fr.Sartori2022.php). *www.dioceseofarua.org*. Retrieved 1 July 2025.

v t e Arua District Capital: Arua Counties and sub-counties Ayivu County Madi-Okollo County Terego County Vurra County Towns and villages Arua Bondo Kuluva Okollo Ombaci Rhino Camp Vurra Banking Absa Bank Uganda Limited Bank of Africa Uganda Limited Centenary Bank DFCU Bank Diamond Trust Bank Housing Finance Bank KCB Bank Uganda Limited Stanbic Bank Uganda Limited PostBank Uganda Pride Microfinance Limited FINCA Uganda Limited Economy Arua Foam Mattresses Limited Toyota Uganda Limited Westnile Distilling Company Limited Energy Lira–Gulu–Nebbi–Arua High Voltage Power Line Ituka Solar Power Station Paidha–Nebbi–Bondo–Arua Power Line Notable landmarks Roman Catholic Diocese of Arua Emmanuel Cathedral, Mvara Ombaci Earth Satellite Station Education Arua Campus of IUIU Muni University Nile University of Uganda UCU Arua Campus St. Joseph’s College Ombaci Mvara Secondary School Transport Arua Airport Vurra–Arua–Koboko–Oraba Road Pakwach–Arua Road Arua–Rhino Camp Road Health Arua Regional Referral Hospital Arua Regional Cancer Centre Kuluva Hospital Notable people Jason Avutia (Agofe) Charles Asiki Christine Bako Abia Dorcas Inzikuru Gabriel Ajedra Aridru James Nyakuni Martin Drito Kassiano Wadri Peter Debele Shaphan Andeku Simon Ejua Kania Obiga

[3°00′49″N 30°53′49″E / 3.0136°N 30.8970°E / 3.0136; 30.8970](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Diocese_of_Arua&params=3.0136_N_30.8970_E_source:wikidata)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Diocese of Arua](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocese_of_Arua) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocese_of_Arua?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.