After a spell of about five years without a bishop, Pope Francis on March 19, 2019 appointed the Rev Fr. Joseph Eciru as the new Soroti Diocese head.
Before his appointment, Bishop Eciru was teaching at St. Mary’s National Major Seminary, Ggaba.
Born in Gweri village and Madera Sub-county in Soroti diocese on August 1, 1970, Bishop-elect Eciru attended Gweri Primary School and completed his Ordinary Level education from St. Peter’s Minor Seminary in Soroti before heading to St. Pius X Seminary in Tororo district for A-Levels.
In 1995 Rev Eciru joined the National Major Seminary St. Thomas Aquinas of Katigondo in Masaka diocese to study philosophy which he competed in 1998. In 1999 he joined St. Paul’s National Major Seminary in Kinyamasika, Fort Portal diocese to study theology which he completed 2003 and he was ordained a priest on 9th August 2003 for the Diocese of Soroti.
Since his ordination from 2003 to 2004, Rev. Eciru saved in severally offices as a Parish Vicar at St. Patrick’s Parish in Madeira and, a Latin teacher in St. Peter’s Minor Seminary of Soroti. He was also a Formator at St. Paul’s Major Seminary, Kinyamasika from 2004 to 2006.
He holds Licentiate in Sacred Scripture which he studied from Pontifical Biblical Institute of Rome (2006-2009) and in 2009 he joined Pontifical Urban University in Rome for a Doctorate in Biblical theology and completed it 2012. In that same year, he became a Formator and professor of Sacred Scripture and Hebrew at St. Mary’s National Major Seminary Ggaba up to now.
Since 2016 he is also responsible for the Bible Desk at the Secretariat of the Episcopal Conference. (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 20/03/2019).
Currently, Soroti diocese is under Most. Rev. Emmanuel Obbo, AJ, Archbishop of Tororo who has been running it since 2014.
According to Fr. Alfred Rayan D’Souza, the in charge of affairs at the Apostolic Nunciature Uganda, Most. Rev Obbo will remain acting as Apostolic Administrator of Soroti until the day of the canonical possession by the new Bishop.
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