Bishop Sanctus Lino Wanok of Lira Diocese has been elected the new Chairperson of the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC), succeeding Bishop Joseph Antony Zziwa of Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese, who has held the position since 2018.
Bishop Wanok, who previously served as Vice Chairperson of the Conference from 2022, will now lead the national body that brings together Catholic Bishops from across Uganda.
His election was confirmed by Rev. Fr. Philip Odii, Executive Secretary of the Uganda Catholic Secretariat’s Social Communications Department, following a plenary sitting held at St. Augustine Institute.
Archbishop Lambert Bainomugisha of Mbarara Archdiocese was elected Vice Chairperson.
Bishop Wanok takes over from Bishop Zziwa, who was first elected Chairperson in November 2018, succeeding Archbishop John Baptist Odama of Gulu Archdiocese. He was subsequently re-elected in November 2022.
During his tenure, Bishop Zziwa also served as Chairperson of the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda earlier this year, providing leadership in promoting dialogue, understanding and cooperation among religious institutions.
Founded in 1960 and headquartered at Nsambya in Kampala, the Uganda Episcopal Conference is the official assembly of Catholic Bishops in the country.
The Conference coordinates the Church’s pastoral activities, social services and contribution to national development across Uganda’s 19 Catholic dioceses.
