Diocese of Arua

{{Short description|Diocese of the Catholic Church in Uganda}} {{Expand Italian|Diocesi di Arua |date=February 2011}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}

{{Infobox diocese |jurisdiction = Diocese |name = Arua |latin = Dioecesis Aruaensis |country = {{flag|Uganda}} |metropolitan = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Gulu|Gulu]] |rite = [[Latin Church|Latin Rite]] |cathedral = [[Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Lodonga]] |cocathedral = |area_km2 = 10,561 |population = 1,650,275 |population_as_of = 2006 |catholics = 670,000 |catholics_percent= 40.6 |pope = {{Incumbent pope}} |bishop = [[Sabino Ocan Odoki]] |coadjutor = |auxiliary_bishops= |image=Uganda - Diocesi di Arua.png|denomination=|caption=Uganda - Diocesi di Arua}}

The '''Roman Catholic Diocese of Arua''' ({{langx|la|Aruaën(sis)}}) is a [[diocese]] of the [[Catholic Church]] in [[Uganda]]. located in the city of [[Arua]] in the [[ecclesiastical province]] of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Gulu|Gulu]] in [[Uganda]]. Following the resignation of [[Frederick Drandua|Bishop Frederick Drandua]], on 19 August 2009, [[Pope Benedict XVI]] appointed the [[Sabino Ocan Odoki]], Auxiliary Bishop of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Gulu|Catholic Archdiocese of Gulu]], as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Arua, until a substantive bishop is appointed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bishop Ocan Odoki is Apostolic Administrator of Arua Catholic Diocese Since August 2009 |url=http://www.aruadiocese.org/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526161435/http://www.aruadiocese.org/index.htm |archive-date=2008-05-26 |access-date=2010-03-24 |website=aruadiocese.org }}</ref> On October 20, 2010 he was named ordinary Bishop.<ref name="arua_location">{{cite web |title=Our Bishops |url=https://www.dioceseofarua.org/Our-Bishops.php |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=dioceseofarua.org |publisher=Diocese of Arua}}</ref> ==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]]. To the south, it borders the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Nebbi|Nebbi Catholic Diocese]] in Uganda. The eastern boundary is shared with the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Gulu|Gulu Archdiocese]] in Uganda, while the western border adjoins the Diocese of Mahagi-Nioka in the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]].<ref name="arua_location"/>

==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. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Arua Diocese |url=https://www.uecon.org/provinces/gulu/arua |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=Uganda Episcopal Conference |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Arua (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/darua.html |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org |publisher=Catholic-Hierarchy}}</ref>

==Leadership== The current bishop of the diocese is [[Sabino Ocan Odoki]], who was appointed in 2010.<ref name="gcatholic_arua">{{cite web |title=Diocese of Arua, Uganda |url=https://gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/arua0.htm |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=gcatholic.org }}</ref> 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]], following the resignation of Bishop Frederick Drandua.

Previous [[Bishop]]s of Arua (Roman rite) include:

* Angelo Tarantino (1959-02-12 – 1984)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bishop Angelo Tarantino [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/btara.html |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org |publisher=Catholic-Hierarchy}}</ref> * [[Frederick Drandua]] (1986-05-27 - 2009-08-19)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bishop Frederick Drandua [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bdrandua.html |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org |publisher=Catholic-Hierarchy}}</ref> * [[Sabino Ocan Odoki]] (2010-10-20 - present)<ref name="gcatholic_arua" />

Another priest of this diocese [[Martin Luluga]] was appointed auxiliary bishop of Gulu in 1986.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bishop Martin Luluga [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bluluga.html |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org |publisher=Catholic-Hierarchy}}</ref>

==Notable people == Bernardo Sartori, a priest and missionary was venerated by [[Pope Francis]] on 13th December, 2021. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Ombaci Celebrates- Arua Diocese |url=https://www.dioceseofarua.org/Fr.Sartori2022.php |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=www.dioceseofarua.org}}</ref>

==See also== *[[Catholic Church in Uganda]]

==External links== * [http://www.dioceseofarua.org/ Official Website of the Diocese of Arua] * [http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/arua0.htm GCatholic.org] * [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/darua.html Catholic Hierarchy]

==Sources== * [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/darua.html Catholic Hierarchy]

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Arua}} [[Category:Roman Catholic dioceses in Uganda]] [[Category:Christian organizations established in 1958]] [[Category:Roman Catholic dioceses and prelatures established in the 20th century]] [[Category:Arua District]] [[Category:Arua]] [[Category:1958 establishments in Uganda]] [[Category:Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of Gulu]] [[Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Arua| ]] {{authority control}}