Luke Orombi the evangelist, orator

 

The Governor, Bank of Uganda, Emmanuel

Mutebile hands over a gift to

Archbishop Luke Orombi

 

By Elvis Basudde

He is phenomenal, vibrant and motivated. He is unforgettably humorous with a distinguished personality. His eloquence is his distinction that whoever hears him minister cannot easily forget his powerful sermons. He is confident and does not compromise his integrity.

Henry Luke Orombi, the Archbishop of the Province of the Church of Uganda, has received various international awards. An example is the prestigious “Kairos Award,” given to people who have won the admiration of the public for their service. The award came with $25,000 (sh50m), which he used to start the renovation of the office building at Namirembe.

Rev. Canon Mwesigye, the provincial secretary, says Orombi is honest, principled and hardworking.

 

Profile
Orombi’s life can be summed up in the words of Prophet Jeremiah: “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

Surprisingly, Orombi did not have the desire to join the ordained ministry. However, his Bishop at the time, the late Janani Luwumu, then Bishop of Northern Uganda Diocese, spotted his talent and encouraged him to enroll for training so that he could learn more.

Luwum took Orombi to the Diocesan headquarters in Gulu as assistant diocesan youth worker and religious education adviser in 1973. A year later, he was sent to Bishop Tucker Theological Training College, Mukono, for a diploma in Theology from 1975-78.

“I joined with the objective of learning, but after four years of theological training, it was only logical that I was ordained. I was ordained Deacon in January 1979 and priest in December the same year,” he recalls.

Orombi was born on October 11, 1949 to the late Luka Odongo Jalobo and the late Susana Nyandukla in Pakwach district.
He attended primary and junior education at Pajobi Junior Secondary School until 1965. In the same year, he was admitted to Elgon Technical College.

Unfortunately, his father could not afford the fees. He sent him to Arua Teachers Training College (TTC), saying it is what he could afford.

It was at Arua TTC that Orombi became a born-again Christian. He completed his course in 1969 and was posted to Ambalal P.7 School in Lira Town, where he began teaching in 1970. Two years later, he married Phoebe.

Orombi started active preaching when he was a teacher in Lira. As an accomplished guitar player, he composed many gospel songs that became popular among youth conferences countrywide. The present Bishop of Lango Diocese, Rt. Rev. John Charles Odurkami, who was converted through his preaching at that time.

 

Theological training and expanded ministry
When he was a second year student at Bishop Tucker College, Lango Diocese was formed out of Northern Uganda Diocese in 1976. The Langi students at Mukono became the responsibility of Lango Diocese and Acholi students reverted to Northern Uganda Diocese.

Orombi, a Jonam-Alur, was asked to choose between Northern Uganda and Lango. He was in a dilemma because either choice would have alienated one from the other. Then the late Archbishop Silvanus Wani, Bishop of Madi/West Nile Diocese at the times posted him to Madi/West Nile so that Northern Uganda and Lango Dioceses could have peace.

Perhaps, his most successful ministry as a youth evangelist was in Arua. His home in the diocesan compound in Mvara was the “youth headquarters”.
Thereafter, Orombi got a scholarship to study at St. John’s College, Nottingham, in the UK, where he studied from 1980 to 1983, graduating with a degree in Theology. When he returned to Uganda, he resumed his work with the youth till 1986.

 

A year later, he was appointed the Archdeacon, of Goli Archdeaconry, which he developed to become Nebbi Diocese. He was consecrated and enthroned as its first bishop in 1993. In the 10 years he was bishop, Orombi transformed Nebbi from a young, rural and underdeveloped diocese into one of the fastest growing in the Church of Uganda. It has a vibrant Christian witness, expanding modern infrastructure and facilities with extensive national, regional and international partnerships.

Pheobe Orombi, the Archbishop’s wife, has been a unique companion. She is the quiet tower of strength and, together, they have four children: Helen Acen, Robert Ogenrwoth, Daniel Jalobo and Deborah who passed away in England in 1983.

Orombi was elected by the House of Bishops on July 4, 2003 and enthroned as Archbishop of the Church of Uganda on January 25, 2004, at the Provincial Cathedral of St. Paul’s, Namirembe. On February 1, 2004, he was elected sixth bishop of Kampala Diocese at All Saints. He succeeded Rev. Livingstone Mpalanyi Nkoyoyo who led the Church from 1995 to 2003.