Bishops of Soroti Diocese
Bishop John Keith Russell Assistant Bishop of the upper Nile
John Keith Russell (14 August 1916; 1 September 1979) was a British Anglican bishop who served in Uganda during the second half of the 20th-century. Russell was educated at Shrewsbury School; Christ’s College, Cambridge; and Ridley Hall, Cambridge. He was ordained deacon in 1940 and priest in 1941.
After a curacy in Southampton he was a Lecturer at Buwalasi College, Uganda from 1946 to 1948; and Rural Dean of Masaba from 1948 to 1952. Russell was Education Secretary, for the Mbale Archdeaconry from 1948 to 1955; and Assistant Bishop on the Upper Nile from 1955 to 1960. He was the Bishop of Northern Uganda from 1961 to 1964. Returning to England he was Vicar of Tunbridge Wells from 1965; then Rector of Hever with Markbeech from 1973 until his death; he was also an Assistant Bishop of Rochester throughout his time in Kent.
Bishop stephen salonga tomusange, first bishop of soroti diocese
Stephen Salonga Tomusange was an Anglican bishop who served in Uganda during the second half of the 20th-century. Russell was educated at King’s College Budo and Buwalasi Theological College. He was ordained deacon in 1936 and priest in 1938. He served in the Diocese of the Upper Nile and was its Assistant Bishop from 1952 to 1961 (he was also Archdeacon of Teso from 1959). He was translated to Soroti in 1961; and again to West Buganda in 1965 (where he was also Dean. Tomusange retired in 1974. In 1961 when Soroti diocese is created out of the upper Nile diocese Ngora becomes the Diocesan Centre and the translation of the Bible in to Ateso is completed. 1963 Soroti becomes the diocesan seat and diocesan offices are transferred from Ngora to Soroti and St. Peter’s Cathedral is completed and begins to be used.
Bishop asanasio maraka, second bishop of soroti diocese and first etesot bishop.
Asanasio Maraka was an Anglican bishop who served in Uganda during the second half of the 20th-century. Maraka was ordained deacon in 1946 and priest in 1948. He served with the CMS from 1946 to 1951; and in the Anglican Diocese of Kumi from 1952 to 1960; and in Soroti from 1960 to 1963. He was Archdeacon of Teso from 1963 to 1965 when he was consecrated the Bishop of Soroti to succeed bishop Tomusange who was transferred to West Buganda.
1973 Ngora and Soroti archdeaconries created with Ngora Archdeaconry under Canon Enos Odiit and Soroti archdeaconry under Canon John Wheatley Price.
Bishop geresom ilukor , the third and longest serving bishop of soroti diocese
Geresom Ilukor (1935-2013) was an Anglican bishop who served in Uganda during the last third of the 20th-century. Born in 1935, into a humble home in rural Teso district, in north-east Uganda, where the family grew their own food, he learned to cultivate crops and herd goats. His bed was a cowhide on the floor, and his mother taught him to read and write. He went to primary school, aged nine, and then worked briefly as an accounts clerk.
In 1957, he married Lois, always a loyal tower of faith and love. Seven of their children are alive today, and 23 grandchildren. After more work as a church teacher, he returned to Buwalasi for ordination training.
Geresom Ilukor was educated at Buwalasi Theological College after which he was ordained and made deacon in 1964 in St Philip’s Pro-Cathedral, Ngora, by Bishop Stephen Tomusange, the first Bishop of Soroti. The diocese had been created in 1961, when the diocese of the Upper Nile was divided into three. Geresom was curate in Serere under Canon Ongola, one of the first Iteso to have been ordained, and he was ordained priest in Soroti Cathedral in 1966, by Bishop Asanasio Maraka.
In 1967, Geresom became Diocesan Treasurer and in 1972 was appointed Diocesan Registrar and Secretary. He was consecrated Bishop of Soroti on 11 January 1976 by Janani Luwum, Archbishop of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Boga-Zaire, at Namirembe Cathedral
Bishop Geresom Ilukor was enthroned new bishop of Soroti diocese succeeding the late Bishop Asanasio Maraka who died in office. In the same year 1976, karamoja diocese created out of Soroti.
Bishop charles bernard obaikol ebitu, the fourth bishop of soroti diocese
In 2001 bishop ilukor retired after 25 years as the bishop of soroti diocese and was succeeded by bishop charles bernard obaikol ebitu who became the 4th bishop of soroti. At the same time kumi diocese was curved from soroti diocese and bishop thomas edison irigei became the first bishop of kumi diocese. With the creation of kumi diocese the archdeaconries of kumi , ngora and bukedea become part of kumi diocese leaving soroti with 8 archdeaconries of kaberamaido , amuria ,kalaki, kapelebyong, serere, kasilo, usuk and soroti. He served for 9 years from 2001 to 2009
Bishop obaikol was very development and empowered structures to work and it is during his tenure as bishop that cou teddo was born from sddo, a sponsorship programme called teso educational sponsorship scheme was also started, new schools and institutions like bethany girls s.S, st. Thomas girls s.S. St. Paul comprehensive s.S, bishop ilukor girls s.S, st. Peter’s theological college among others were built. He also built the bishop’s guest house known as white house and cou girls hostel now rented by kyambogo university. As an educationist himself he emphasized training of church manpower and encouraged many professionals to join ordained ministry.
Bishop george william erwau the fifth bishop of soroti diocese
Bishop rt. Reverend george william erwau was the fifth bishop and replaced bishop bernard obaikol. He was elected by the cou house of bishops on the 22nd june 2009 after serving as a diocesan secretary. His official consecration followed on the 6th september in the st. Peters cathedral in soroti. He also served for 9 years from 2009 to 2018 when he retired handing the diocese to be cat taken by bishop nichodemus engwalas okille from 12th 2018 to 16th june 2019 when bishop kosea odongo was consecrated and enthroned as the sixth bishop of soroti diocese.
Among other memorable achievements credited to bishop george william erwau is the starting of the construction of the new st. Peters cathedral in 2017. The structure is now at roofing level.
Bishop kosea odongo
The rev. Captain odongo kosea was elected the 6th bishop of soroti diocese and consecrated and enthroned as bishop on 16th june 2019 at st. Peter’s cathedral, soroti. He succeeded the rt. Rev. George william erwau who retired in july 2018 handing over the diocese to bishop nicodemus okille who was the caretaker bishop of soroti, providing episcopal leadership on behalf of the archbishop.
Bishop kosea odongo was born on 12th january 1971 in amuria district. He holds a master of theology from uganda christian university, mukono, a bachelor of divinity from uganda christian university, a higher diploma in theology from carlile college, nairobi.
He was born again at the age of 17 on 5th june 1988 at st. Peter’s cathedral while staying in soroti town during the time of insurgency in teso. The gospel of salvation was preached and, he said, “pointed to me directly as a sinner.”
Bishop odongo kosea before worked as diocesan mission coordinator, soroti diocese, diocesan discipleship coordinator, soroti diocese, deputy principal, priest in charge emmanuel church, parish priest, and curate. He also serves as a board chairman for the amuria district development agency and in many other capacities within church related structures.
Prior to his appointment as bishop of soroti diocese, he served as the chaplain to the archbishop of the church of uganda. He is married to grace acen odongo and god has blessed them with four children.
His election was made by the house of bishops of the church of uganda sitting at lweza training and conference centre on 20th february 2019.
