Sabino Ocan Odoki (born 8 August 1957), is a

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

prelate, who serves as the Bishop of the

Roman Catholic Diocese of Arua The Roman Catholic Diocese of Arua () is a diocese 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 O ...

, in Uganda. He was installed as Bishop of Arua Diocese on 18 December 2010.

Background and education

He was born at Layibi Village,

Gulu District Gulu is a Districts of Uganda, district in the Northern Region, Uganda, Northern Region of Uganda. The regional headquarters are located in the city of Gulu, which is also the administrative capital of Northern Region, Uganda, Northern Uganda. ...

, in the

Acholi sub-region The Acholi people ( , also spelled Acoli) are a Nilotic ethnic group of Luo peoples (also spelled Lwo), found in Magwi County in South Sudan and Northern Uganda (an area commonly referred to as Acholiland), including the districts of Agago, Amu ...

, in the Northern Region of

Uganda Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the ...

, on 8 August 1957. He attended ''Holy Rosary Primary School'', in

Gulu Gulu is a city in the Northern Region of Uganda. It is the commercial and administrative centre of Gulu District. The coordinates of the city of Gulu are 2°46'54.0"N 32°17'57.0"E. The city's distance from Kampala, Uganda's capital and large ...

. He was then admitted to ''Aboke Minior Seminary'' in

Aboke Aboke is a town in the Kole District of the Northern Region of Uganda. It was the location of the Aboke abductions in October 1996. Location Aboke is located in ''Akwiridid Parish'', Aboke sub-county, Kole District, in the Lango sub-region, ...

Kole District Kole District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kole, where the district headquarters are located. Location Kole District is bordered by Lira District to the east, Apac D ...

for two years. He continued with minor seminary at ''Lacor Minor Seminary'', in Gulu, for another two years, completing there in 1975. In 1976, he was admitted to ''Katigondo Major Seminary'', in present-day

Kalungu District Kalungu District is a district in Central Uganda. It is named after the main town of the district, Kalungu, where the district headquarters are located. Location Mukoko North Kalungu District is bordered by Gomba District to the north, Buta ...

, to study

Philosophy Philosophy ('love of wisdom' in Ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, Value (ethics and social sciences), value, mind, and language. It is a rational an ...

, spending there three years. In 1980, he transferred to ''National Major Seminary Ggaba'', in Ggaba,

Kampala Kampala (, ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Uganda. The city proper has a population of 1,875,834 (2024) and is divided into the five political divisions of Kampala Central Division, Kampala, Kawempe Division, Kawempe, Makindy ...

, where he studied

Theology Theology is the study of religious belief from a Religion, religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an Discipline (academia), academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itse ...

, for the next three years. He was admitted to the

Catholic University of Eastern Africa Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) is a multi-campus private university in Kenya. It is accredited by the Commission for University Education in Kenya. Location The main campus of the university is located along Bogani East Road, in ...

, in

Nairobi Nairobi is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Kenya. The city lies in the south-central part of Kenya, at an elevation of . The name is derived from the Maasai language, Maasai phrase , which translates to 'place of cool waters', a ...

Kenya Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...

, where he graduated with a

Licentiate of Sacred Theology Licentiate in Sacred Theology (; abbreviated LTh or STL) is the second of three ecclesiastical degrees in theology (the first being the Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology and the third being the Doctorate in Sacred Theology) which are conferred ...

and a

Doctor of Sacred Theology The Doctor of Sacred Theology (, abbreviated STD), also sometimes known as Professor of Sacred Theology (, abbreviated STP), is the final theological degree in the pontifical university system of the Catholic Church, being the ecclesiastical equ ...

in 1987 and 1992, respectively.

As priest

He was ordained priest on 10 September 1983 at ''Gulu Roman Catholic Cathedral'', in

. 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 The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Gulu () is the Metropolitan See for the ecclesiastical province of Gulu in Uganda. History * 1923.06.12: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Nilo Equatoriale from the Apostolic Vicariate of Bahr el-Ghazal ...

on 22 July 2006, by

Pope Benedict XVI Pope BenedictXVI (born Joseph Alois Ratzinger; 16 April 1927 – 31 December 2022) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 19 April 2005 until his resignation on 28 February 2013. Benedict's election as p ...

and ordained

bishop A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...

on 21 October 2006 at Gulu, by John Baptist Odama, Archbishop of Gulu, assisted by Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala, Cardinal-Priest of Sant’Ugo and Archbishop

Christophe Pierre Christophe Louis Yves Georges Pierre (, born 30 January 1946, is a French Catholic prelate and diplomat who has served as Apostolic Nuncio to the United States since 2016. He previously served as apostolic nuncio to Mexico, Uganda and Haiti. H ...

, the Apostolic Nuncio in Uganda at the time. He was appointed the Apostolic Administrator of Arua Diocese, on 19 August 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI and confirmed as the Bishop of Arua Diocese. He was installed as Bishop of Arua Diocese on 18 December 2010, at Ediofe Cathedral, Arua.

Succession table

References

External links