Hon. Ariko Edmond, the Chairman organizing committee for the consecration of Soroti new Bishop elect, Rev. Dr Joseph Eciru Oliach has confirmed that Teso is ready and prepared for the consecration of the Bishop.
In a phone interview with Monday Times Uganda, the Soroti Municipality Legislator said that his organising team has put in place everything that’s required for the event.
“We have organised everything that’s required for this ceremony. There is ample parking space at the golf course, we have also prepared a sitting capacity that will accommodate 20,000 people and the security is going to be tight,” he said.
He added: “We expect so many pilgrims across the country and beyond the borders and also all Bishops in Uganda and outside Uganda.”
The new Soroti Bishop elect, will be inaugurated and Consecrated on Saturday (tomorrow) May 25th.
On March 19, Pope Francis appointed Dr Oliach as the 3rd Bishop of Soroti Catholic Diocese.
The diocese has been vacant since 2007 after Emmanuel Obbo was elevated to Archbishop of Tororo Archdiocese.
The ceremony is expected to be graced by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
Early on Wednesday hundreds of Christians flocked Fika Salama – a border point between Bukedea and Mbale districts to welcome the Bishop-elect of Soroti Catholic Diocese, Rt Rev Dr Eciru ahead of his much anticipated consecration on Saturday.
Christians described the homecoming of Bishop Eciru as a blessing to Soroti Catholic Diocese that had spent over 5 years without a substantive Bishop.
He is the first Catholic Bishop of Teso origin to work in his native Soroti Catholic Diocese.
Who is Rev Fr. Dr. Joseph Eciru Oliach?
He was born to Mr John Francis Oliach and Anna Maria Aguti (both deceased), Fr Eciru is the last of eight children.
He went to St Aloysious Primary School in Ngora for his primary education, St Peter’s Minor Seminary Madera for his O Level, St Pius X Seminary Nagongera for his A Level.
He thereafter joined Katigondo National Major Seminary in Masaka for philosophical studies and St Paul’s Major Seminary Kinyamasika in Fort Portal for theological studies.
He thereafter pursued post graduate studies leading to a licentiate in sacred scripture in 2009 and a doctorate in Biblical Theology at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome in 2012.
Fr Joseph Eciru has been a lecturer at St Mary’s National Major Seminary Ggaba in Kampala.
He has also been chaplain to the catholic communities working and living in Kampala and neighboring towns.
