EDITORIAL
Bishop Sanctus Lino Wanok of Lira Catholic Diocese has been elected Chairperson of the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC), while The Most Rev. Lambert Bainomugisha, Archbishop of Mbarara, will serve as Vice Chairperson.
Wanok takes over from Bishop Joseph Antony Zziwa of Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese, who first became chairman in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022. Wanok had served as Vice Chairman since 2022, when he replaced Bishop Robert Muhiirwa of Fort Portal. Bainomugisha now succeeds Wanok in that role.
The elections took place on Thursday during the UEC Plenary Assembly at St Augustine Institute Nsambya in Kampala. The bishops also chose members for the Conference’s ten pastoral commissions, which will serve for the next four years including:
- Health Commission
- Education Commission
- Priestly Formation
- Lay Apostolate
- Charismatic Movement
- Caritas
- Justice and Peace
- Doctrinal Commission
- Finance and Administration
- Pastoral Commission
- Social Communication Commission
- Personnel Board
The appointments set the leadership and committee structure of the Catholic Church in Uganda for the coming term, with a Mbarara prelate joining the Lira bishop in the Conference’s senior leadership.