SOROTI – After several years of uncertainty, Soroti Catholic Diocese has finally got a new bishop replacing Emmanuel Obbo who is now Archbishop of Tororo Diocese.
Pope Francis tapped Rev. Fr. Dr. Joseph Eciru Oliach of St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish, Madera as the 3rd Bishop of Soroti Diocese.
This was confirmed in a letter dated March 13, 2019, from the Apostolic Nunciature in Uganda signed by Alfred Rayan D’ Souza, the charge d’ Affaires, a.i.
Fr. Eciru is the first Catholic Bishop of Teso origin to work in his native Soroti Catholic Diocese.
The announcement of Rev Fr Eciru’s appointment was published in Rome on Tuesday and other details regarding his episcopal ordination will be communicated in due course, according to the appointment letter.
“Let us assure our prayerful support to Bishop-elect Fr. Joseph Eciru Oliach that he will be guided and strengthened by the wisdom and courage of the Holy Spirit to discharge with fidelity and enjoy his new mission,” the letter reads.
The development was also confirmed by Uganda Episcopal conference, the assembly of African bishops in Uganda.
About Rev. Fr. Dr. Joseph Eciru Oliach
Born on August 11, 1970, in a family of 8, Eciru went to St. Aloysius Dem PS Ngora, joined St. Peter’s Seminary Madera, Soroti for O’level and went to St. Pius X Seminary Nagongera, Tororo for A’level.
He then went to St. Thomas Aquinas National Seminary Katigondo, Masaka and later joined St. Paul’s National Seminary Kinyamasika, Fort-Portal. He got his diaconate ordination on August 11, 2002, at St. Ann’s Catholic Parish; Usuk and was ordained a priest on 9th August 2003, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish, Madera.
He is also a lecturer of Sacred Scripture at St. Paul’s National Seminary Kinyamasika, Fort-Portal and Sacred Scripture at St. Mary’s National Seminary Ggaba, Kampala.
He has a licentiate in Sacred Scripture at the Biblicum, Rome and a doctorate in Biblical Theology in Pontifical Urbaniana University, Rome.
He is also the first Old Boy of St. Aloysius Dem PS Ngora and St. Peter’s Seminary Madera to become Catholic Bishop.
