of Vura Opi (Royal clan) in the then Gulu Diocese. He was the second born of the family of seven children; however, he had to take up responsibility as first born since the first born died at infancy. He was from a simple and modest family. His father was a World War I veteran who later became a catechist. Sebastian Asili worked as a headman in charge of the Catechumens recruited by the Comboni Missionaries, ` who evangelized in Northern Uganda. The father’s military and religious background set up a strict disciplinary family in which everyone had to do whatever work it took for the common good of the family. Therefore, at an early age, the young Asili had to learn   to take discipline, responsibilities and hard work.

          Bishop Caesar Asili after Consecration                  

He started his formal education at St Dominic Savio Maduga Primary School in Moyo up to primary four, after which he joined Lacor Minor Seminary in Gulu at the age of 14 years in 1938 where he continued with his prerequisite studies before joining the Major Seminary for his philosophical and theological studies.
Since at that time Major Seminarians had two periods of Pastoral work, after Philosophical studies, Asili spent the first year at Pakele Parish, in the Seminary and at Nyapea Parish before he was admitted to Theology. He did his second year of probation after completing his Theology at Angal Parish and Lodonga Parish.

Priestly Ministry
For some reasons, towards the end of his Theological studies, Asili was kept in probation causing some delay in his ordination. However, having disapproved the queries about him, he was given an accelerated promotion and was installed a Sub-deacon/serious candidate on the 6th April 1955. He was ordained a deacon on the 23rd April 1955 and a priest on the 5th June 1955 at Moyo Parish. After his ordination, he was appointed to Uleppi Catholic Parish as Curate, with Msgr Isidore Alule, Parish Priest. While in Uleppi Parish, Fr. Asili discharged his responsibilities diligently with passion and love for his parishioners. He was recognized for his particular interest in grooming aspirants to the priesthood and religious life.

Studies in Rome    
Having served at Uleppi Parish as Curate for two years, Fr. Caesar Asili was sent to study Pastoral Theology in Rome, where he also took a course in Journalism, and Canon Law in the Pontifical Gregorian University.
Upon his return from studies in Rome, Fr. Caesar Asili was appointed Schools’ Supervisor in the West Nile region. In 1964 Bishop Angelo Tarantino of Arua Diocese sent him to study Education in Makerere University where he obtained Bachelor of Education, majoring in History and Religious Education.
After his studies he was assigned the responsibility of Rector of Sts. Peter and Paul Pokea Minor Seminary in Arua Diocese.


Appointment to Bishopric
On 12th July 1968 Fr. Caesar Asili was nominated as the first Bishop of Lira Diocese. He was consecrated Bishop of Lira Diocese on 27th October 1968 at Akii Bua Stadium by Laurent Cardinal Rugambwa of Bukoba, Tanzania. Bishop Caesar Asili worked tirelessly to set the foundation of what Lira Diocese is today. He established several parishes to extend the work of evangelization. He was a Shepard who identified with his flock always. This was evident during the war situation of 1979 and 1980’s in which he sheltered many people at his residence and Cathedral regardless of their faith or ethnic background.
In January 1971, Bishop Caesar Asili also founded a Missionary Institute of Mary Mother of the Church in Lira. Being a Founder of a Religious Institute, the Uganda Episcopal Conference also appointed him a liaison in charge of the Religious in Uganda.

His Death
 He suffered stroke as a result of Hypertension while celebrating Mass at the inauguration of the Hostel of the Association of Religious in Uganda (ARU) at Nsambya on 12th September 1988. He later died at Nsambya Hospital on 12th October 1988. He was laid to rest at Uganda Martyrs Cathedral in Lira after a requiem Mass at Akii Bua Stadium, the same ground on which he was consecrated a Bishop. By the time Bishop Ceasar Asili died, the Missionary Institutes of Mary Mother of the Church had grown in number and their missionary activities were spread in most parts of Uganda and the bordering countries.

Catch up in the next series…Thank you