ARUA DIOCESE ORGANSING COMMIITTEE APPEALS FOR FULFILMENT OF ORDINATION SUPPORT

C.O.C during the 6th ordination meeting on Saturday July 18, 2026 at Christus center. (PHOTO BY EREMA)

By Erema George

Arua City

The central organizing committee (C.O.C) for the 2026 diocesan ordination for Arua diocese has appealed to the Christians and the faithful to intensify efforts of supporting the function by fulfilling their financial contributions as the days to the function draw closer.

During their 6th meeting on Saturday July 18, 2026, held at Christus center Arua, Ronald Toko, the finance sub-committee chairperson of the function revealed that only 31% of the total budget proposed has been achieved raising concerns on the high funding gap in the budget;

“Accordingly as of July 18, 2026, we have total collections of 16 million and this is out of our estimated budget of 52 million. The actual collection of 16 million presents 31% of our total budget. Therefore the funding gap remains 69%.” Toko noted.

Cat. Christopher Nyakuni, the central organizing committee chairperson, appealed to the Christians and people of good will to make their contributions in order to bridge the funding gap.

“I am afraid that we’ve raised only 16 million of the 52 million, meaning that we have a bigger gap of 69% of the budget to be realized and so this calls for all of us, the Christians, people of good will to join hands in making these contributions. I know it has been challenging for Arua Diocese with a number of issues but I cry to Christians to make their contributions in the next few days,” Nyakuni pled.

On a similar note, the vocations director of arua diocese, Rev.Fr.William Abukua, who chairs the liturgy sub-committee, confirms that the liturgy is halfway planned and calls for prayers for the candidates as well as financial resources;

“As far as the liturgy is concerned I can say we are about 50% prepared. Now this is a great day in our diocese, a great blessing for all of us to have servants in the vineyard of the lord. We pray for them and we also pray to god to show us the way so that we get the resources to celebrate the lives our children are sacrificing to do the will of God.” Fr. Abukua said.

The Bishop of Arua diocese, Rt. Rev. Sabino Ocan Odoki announced banns for priestly and diaconate ordination of nine candidates to be ordained priests and seven candidates to be ordained deacons on August 1st, 2026 at the cathedral as part of the annual event to produce more shepherds to serve the catholic church in the  diocese.