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Preparations are in high gear at the Arua Catholic Diocese as bishop ordinary Sabino Ocan Odoki celebrates 40 years in the priesthood.

The celebration that will take place at Ediofe Boys Primary School playground on Saturday, October 28, 2023, is expected to be presided over by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

Despite the budget shortfall faced by the organising committee with the day almost at hand, the committee is upbeat that, the event will be a success.

Charles Andrua, the chairperson central organising committee for the celebration on Thursday said, they have realised 55 percent of the budget projection after collecting sh55m in cash out of the initial shillings 100 million budget before it was revised downwards to 75 million.

He says security has been beefed up in the city ahead of the day as they are expecting tents from the State House to house over 2,000 guests.

Diocese moving in the right direction

Arua Diocese Bishop Sabino Ocan Odoki, while highlighting some of his achievements and long-term plans for the diocese for sustainable self-reliance, assured that the diocese is moving in the right direction.

Among the sustainability plans lined up by the bishop for the self-reliance of the diocese include, buying more shares at Centenary Bank on top of the current two percent shares owned by the diocese, the construction of a house for Centenary Bank's Koboko branch.

Others include the construction of a warehouse for rent for National Medical stores and the construction of a hostel at Muni University.

Sr Mary Ajio from the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus congregation and manager of Christus Centre said the celebration is a motivation that there are blessings in doing God’s work which has encouraged her to work even harder in the ministry hoping to one time celebrate her day of silver jubilee.

She recalled the bishop’s administration in the dioceses for the teamwork and the level of praising God from the grassroots Christian associations.

Likewise, Sr Edrid Katwakire, the missionary sister of Mary mother of the Church from Lira, said celebrating 40 years in priesthood and service of God is encouraging to her and many other believers who sacrifice themselves for the service of God amidst the worldly pleasures saying it is a day worth celebrating.

Ediofe cathedral in Arua City

• Odoki was born at Layibi Village in Gulu district on August 8, 1957.

• He went to Holy Rosary Primary School, in Gulu. He was then admitted to Aboke Minor Seminary in Aboke, Kole district for two years.

• He continued with minor seminary at Lacor Minor Seminary, in Gulu, for another two years, completing there in 1975.

• In 1976, Odoki was admitted to Katigondo Major Seminary, in present-day Kanungu District, to study Philosophy, spending there three years.

• In 1980, he transferred to National Major Seminary Ggaba, in Ggaba, Kampala, where he studied Theology, for the next three years.
  
  He was admitted to the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, in Nairobi, Kenya, where he graduated with a Licentiate of Sacred Theology and a Doctor of Sacred Theology in 1987 and 1992, respectively.
  
  As priest

He was ordained priest on 10 September 1983 at Gulu Roman Catholic Cathedral, in Gulu. He served as priest of the Archdiocese of Gulu until 22 July 2006.

As bishop

He was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Gulu on 22 July 2006, by Pope Benedict XVI and ordained bishop on 21 October 2006 at Gulu, by John Baptist Odama, Archbishop of Gulu, assisted by late Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala, Cardinal-Priest of Sant’Ugo and the Apostolic Nuncio in Uganda at the time, Archbishop Christophe Pierre.

He was appointed as the Apostolic Administrator of Arua Diocese, on 19 August 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI and later confirmed as the Bishop of Arua Diocese.

He was installed as Bishop of Arua Diocese on 18 December 2010, at Ediofe Cathedral, Arua.