Polish Archbishop Tomasz Grysa appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda

The Holy Father has appointed Poland’s Archbishop Tomasz Grysa as the new Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda, strengthening diplomatic and ecclesiastical ties between the Holy See and the East African nation.

The appointment was officially announced on Thursday afternoon by Rev. Fr. Georges Kwami Kouwonou, Chargé d’Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature, in a brief statement released to the media at exactly 1:00 p.m.

“The Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, has appointed His Excellency Tomasz Grysa, Titular Archbishop of Rubicon, as the new Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda,” the statement read.

Born in Poznań, Poland, on October 16, 1970, Archbishop Grysa was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Poznań in 1995. He holds a doctorate in Canon Law and joined the diplomatic service of the Holy See in July 2001.

He succeeds Archbishop Luigi Bianco of Italy, who served as Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda from February 2019 until mid-2025, before Pope Leo XIV transferred him to Slovenia.

The position of nuncio places him as the Pope’s ambassador to Uganda, responsible for fostering relations between the Vatican and the Ugandan government, while also maintaining close collaboration with the local Catholic Church.

Diplomatic relations between Uganda and the Holy See were formally established in 1966, shortly after Uganda attained independence. Before the establishment of a resident mission in Kampala, Uganda fell under the Apostolic Delegation for Eastern Africa based in Nairobi.

Archbishop Grysa, who holds the titular see of Rubicon, brings extensive diplomatic experience to the role. He previously served as Apostolic Nuncio to Madagascar, the Seychelles and Mauritius, and as Apostolic Delegate to the Comoros Islands, with additional responsibilities in Réunion.

The first papal representative resident in Uganda was Archbishop Amelio Poggi, who served as Apostolic Pro-Nuncio from 1967 to 1969. Other early papal envoys included Archbishop Luigi Bellotti of Italy (1969-1975) and Belgian Archbishop Henri Lemaître (1975-981), followed by notable diplomats such as Archbishop Karl-Josef Rauber and Archbishop Luis Robles Díaz.

His appointment reflects the Vatican’s continued emphasis on experienced diplomatic leadership in regions where the Church plays a significant social and pastoral role.