KAMPALA, Uganda – 13 November 2026
The Catholic bishops of Uganda have elected Rt. Rev. Sanctus Lino Wanok, Bishop of Lira Diocese, as the new Chairperson of the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC). He succeeds Rt. Rev. Joseph Antony Zziwa, Bishop of Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese, who has led the conference since 2018.
The leadership change was confirmed following a plenary assembly of the bishops. Most Rev. Lambert Bainomugisha, Archbishop of Mbarara, was elected Vice Chairperson. The new executive will serve for the next four years and will guide the pastoral, social, and administrative work of the Catholic Church across Uganda’s dioceses.
Bishop Wanok previously served as UEC Vice Chairperson from November 2022.
Born on 7 April 1957 in Ukuru Pamach Village, Zombo District, he was ordained a priest in 1986. Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Bishop of Nebbi in 2011, and Pope Francis transferred him to Lira Diocese in 2018; he was installed as the fourth Bishop of Lira on 9 February 2019. He has represented the Ugandan Church at international gatherings, including the Synod of Bishops at the Vatican, and previously chaired the UEC Education Commission.
Bishop Zziwa, who first took the chairmanship in November 2018 and was re-elected in 2022, hands over after a period that also saw him serve as Chairperson of the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda. Archbishop Bainomugisha has led the Archdiocese of Mbarara since 2020, having previously served for 15 years as Auxiliary Bishop of the same archdiocese and chaired several UEC commissions.
The Uganda Episcopal Conference, founded in 1960 and headquartered at the Uganda Catholic Secretariat in Nsambya, Kampala, is the official assembly of the Catholic hierarchy in Uganda. It coordinates the Church’s pastoral activities, social services, and engagement with national development issues.
The election marks a smooth transition in the leadership of the Catholic Church in Uganda at a time when the bishops continue to address matters of peace, education, social justice, and interfaith cooperation. Further details of the full executive board are expected to be announced in due course.
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