Gulu | Archbishop Raphael Wokorach P’Mony was Friday installed as the 2nd Metropolitan Archbishop of Gulu in a colourful and joyous ceremony held at St Joseph’s Cathedral.
The Cathedral, located in Gulu City, is the headquarters of Gulu Archdiocese in Gulu City.
Presided over by His Excellency Luigi Bianco, the Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda, the event gathered thousands of the Christians, Clergy and dignitaries including the Vice President of Uganda Maj (Rtd) Jessica Alupo.
Others were Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny Dollo, NRM’s Secretary General Richard Todwong, NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, among others.
Archbishop Wokorach, 63 was appointed by His Holiness Pope Francis on March 22, replacing now Archbishop Emeritus John Baptist Odama.
Odama retired after 25 years of dedicated and remarkable service at the Archdiocese established in 1999.
Before his appointment, Archbishop Wokorach, a member of the Comboni Missionary, has been Bishop of Nebbi Catholic Diocese since March 2021.
On June 29, 2024, Archbishop Wokorack arrived safely in the Vatican to receive his Pallium (symbol of authority) from the Pontiff during a special mass presided over by Pope Francis to allow him to be installed as the Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese.
In his maiden homily to the thousands of Christians who turned up for the ceremony, the 63 year old Archbishop thanked his predecessor for the great work done at the Archdiocese without getting tired.
“You have been retired by age, but you can still do much in the Ministry. You are here and we shall minister together to the people whom you have served for all these 25 years. We pray for the Archdiocese and the sustenance of God to keep you in the Ministry,” said Archbishop Wokorach.
He asked the Christians to continue praying for him as he assumed the new responsibilities of leading the faithful in the Gulu Archdiocese.
“I will continue to carry on with the Court of Arms…… service with Humility which has guided my path of ministry since I was Bishop of Nebbi diocese,” he added.
After his installation, the Apostolic Nuncio Luigi Bianco also announced Archbishop Wokorach had been appointed by His Holiness Pope Francis as an apostolic administrator of the Nebbi Diocese until a new Bishop was appointed.
Archbishop Emeritus Odama told the congregation in his remarks that his service in the Acholi sub-region for the past 25 years has been a significant milestone to which he attributed the success he gained to God.
He asked Christians in the Archdiocese to pray for the newly installed Archbishop to have good health and a successful Ministry that will promote evangelization, peace; unity, love, reconciliation, and the promotion of interreligious groups.
“Embrace love regardless of race, tribe, political affiliation just like I loved and still love you,” said Odama.
Archbishop Emeritus Odama also asked the new Archbishop to work towards the reduction of violence within families and communities in the metropolitan area of Gulu.
He asked for forgiveness from those whom he might have wronged in the past 25 years of service, arguing that he too has forgiven those who wronged him.
Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo Chigamoi, however, told the newly installed Archbishop to fit in the shoes worn by his predecessor, arguing that Archbishop Emeritus Odama left a legacy in his 25 years of leadership.
“Your Grace, you finally took the shoes left behind by John Baptist Odama, he put on a size 15. So, the challenge is for you your grace to match the high standard set by the first Archbishop,” he said.
Dollo also noted that the new Archbishop assumed office at a time when the region was facing a burden of socio-economic insecurity and asked him to join the fight to restore the lost glory of the sub-region.
He lauded Archbishop Emeritus Odama for his services as a peace icon and described him as a person the majority of the leaders relied on in the past for his spiritual and moral leadership.
In a letter read by Vice President Rtd Major Jessica Alupo, President Yoweri Museveni congratulated Archbishop Wokorach upon taking the new responsibility at Gulu Archdiocese.
Quoting from the Bible [Samuel 16:7], the President likened the appointment of Archbishop Wokorach to how God chooses leaders not just from their outward appearance but from invisible characters.
“Leadership is a crucial pillar to the success of any institution including the church. I call upon all believers to pray for the new archbishop as he commences his new role,” said President Museveni.
In the same letter, Museveni also commended Archbishop Emeritus Odama for his tireless efforts in fighting for peace and poverty eradication, recognizing that he set an excellent example for all spiritual leaders.
“On behalf of the NRM government, I commend Odama for using his position to promote unity and development among his people. He has worked with the NRM government to bring peace in Northern Uganda and fight poverty and efforts to create wealth through the growing of cassava.”
President Museveni equally made a donation of shs20 million towards the installation ceremony and gave the new Archbishop a brand-new car, a Toyota G-X-R Land Cruiser 2023 model to easen his ministry as he traverses his jurisdiction.
His journey to the Archdiocese of Gulu ahead of his installation commenced Thursday morning from Nebbi Diocese where he held mass and bid farewell to Christians at Immaculate Heart of Mary Nebbi Cathedral in Nebbi Nebbi Municipality.
He later attended a brief prayer at Our Lady of Trust Pakwach Catholic Parish in Pakwach Town Council.
On his way, Archbishop Wokorach made numerous stopovers at parishes where hundreds of Christians waited to welcome him at Anaka Parish, and Koch Goma Town Council in Nwoya district.
In Gulu City, hundreds of Christians welcomed Archbishop Wokorach at Customs Corner in Bardege-Layibi Division where they made a procession and escorted the entourage to St. Joseph’s Cathedral, the headquarters of Gulu Archdiocese.
He was later received at the official Archbishop’s residence by Archbishop Emeritus Odama and Arua Diocese Bishop Sabino Odoki.
What you need to know
His Grace Raphael P’Mony Wokorach, the second Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese was born on January 21 1961 in Arua.
He attended his Primary education at Ragen Primary School. He later joined St. Peter Paul Pokea Minor Seminary in Arua between 1975 to 1979. From 1980-1992, Archbishop Wokrach went to St. Joseph Ombachi for his advanced-level education.
Between 1983 and 1987, Wokorach joined Uganda Marty’s National Major Seminary in Gulu where he studied Philosophy and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, Italy.
From 1989-1993, Archbishop Wokorach enrolled at Tangaza College in Nairobi Kenya, and studied Theology.
Archbishop Wokorach was ordained as a priest on September 25, 1993, at Wadelai Parish under Nebbi Diocese by Bishop Emeritus, Martin Luluga.
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