Mbale Diocese is one of 34 dioceses in The Province of the Church of Uganda (Anglican). It is located in Eastern Uganda, and currently comprises of the three administrative districts of Mbale, Manafwa and Bududa. The Diocesan Headquarters are located in Mbale Town. The Cathedral (Bishop’s Throne) is in St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Mbale. Currently the diocese has six Archdeaconries of St Andrew’s Cathedral, Namunsi, Nabumali, Bubulo, Bupoto and Bulucheke. Under these Archdeaconries are 45 parishes, ministered to by ordained priests, and 385 sub parishes under the leadership of lay readers.

HISTORY
Mbale Diocese is this year marking its 50th anniversary since it was inaugurated on the 22nd January 1961, when the former Upper Nile Diocese was subdivided. At the time of its inception, Mbale Diocese consisted of the administrative districts of Bugisu, Bukedi, and the Town of Mbale in the Eastern Province of Uganda. The then Bugisu district comprises of the current districts of Mbale, Sironko, Manafwa, Bududa, Sebei, Bukwo and Kween; and Bukedi district was made up of the current districts of Tororo, Busia, Pallisa, Budaka, Butaleja and Kibuku.

The first Bishop of the Diocese of Mbale was the Rt. Rev Lucian Usher Wilson, (M.A), who had been the Bishop of Upper Nile since 1936. So after the Diocese of Mbale was curved off, Usher Wilson was enthroned as its first Bishop. Meanwhile, the then Northern Uganda was taken over by Bishop Keith Russell as its first Bishop and Teso Diocese by Bishop Stephen Tomusange as the first Bishop.

It was on the Passion Sunday, the 19th day of March 1961 that the Rt. Rev. Lucian Usher Wilson was enthroned in St. Andrew’s Church, Mbale. The Deed authorising the division of the Diocese of Upper Nile, signed and sealed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, was read by the then Diocesan Secretary, the Rev. K. Sharpe. The Bishop then was led to his throne by the Venerable A. Malinga, who was the Archdeacon of Bukedi, and was blessed by the Venerable E.K Masaba, M.B.E the Archdeacon of Bugisu.

The first Synod of the diocese (which is the Governing Body of the Diocese) met on the 20th March 1961. It was during this first Synod that Ven. E.K Masaba was elected the first Chairman of the House of Clergy and Mr J. Aryada, the first Chairman of the House of Laity. This first Synod meeting made rules of procedure in the event of the vacancy in the See. Rt. Rev. Lucian Usher Wilson was Bishop of Mbale from 1961-1964.