Roman Catholic Diocese of Arua

{{Infobox diocese

|jurisdiction = Diocese

|name = Arua

|latin = Dioecesis Aruaensis

|country = {{flag|Uganda}}

|metropolitan = Gulu

|rite = 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 Gulu in Uganda. Following the resignation of Bishop Frederick Drandua, on 19 August 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed the Sabino Ocan Odoki, Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Gulu, as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Arua, until a substantive bishop is appointed.{{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 |publisher=aruadiocese.org}} On October 20, 2010 he was named ordinary Bishop.{{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}}

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 Nebbi Catholic Diocese in Uganda. The eastern boundary is shared with the Gulu Archdiocese in Uganda, while the western border adjoins the Diocese of Mahagi-Nioka in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

History

The Diocese of Arua was establed 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. {{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}}{{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}}

Leadership

The current bishop of the diocese is Sabino Ocan Odoki, who was appointed in 2010.{{cite web |title=Diocese of Arua, Uganda |url=https://gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/arua0.htm |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=gcatholic.org |publisher=GCatholic.org}} 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 Bishops of Arua (Roman rite) include:

Angelo Tarantino (1959-02-12 – 1984){{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}}
Frederick Drandua (1986-05-27 - 2009-08-19){{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}}
Sabino Ocan Odoki (2010-10-20 - present)

Another priest of this diocese Martin Luluga was appointed auxiliary bishop of Gulu in 1986.{{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}}

Notable people

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