The Diocese of Uromi was formally created by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI on the 14th December, 2005. The diocese was carved out of the Archdiocese of Benin City. Thereafter, on the 25th February, 2006, Uromi Diocese was canonically erected with Most Rev. Dr. Augustine Akubeze as its first bishop.

Prior to its creation and carving out from the Archdiocese of Benin City, the geographical area that makes up Uromi Diocese was for a long time the focus of early missionary endeavour. The advent of Catholicism in esanland began in the early part of the twentieth century through the activities of European explorers and missionaries. Both the French and British merchants and adventurers first settled in Lokoja in 1884 and later moved to Asaba in 1888.

During this period, an Apostolic Prefecture of the Upper Niger was created with Msgr. Carlo Zappa as its first Vicar Apostolic. It was Msgr. Zappa who in 1908 sent two French fathers - Frs. Clement Bannwarth and Joseph Corbeau to Ubiaja and Ukoni respectively to propagate the Catholic faith. Fr. Corbeau also inaugurated another station in Uromi, the seat of the diocese. From then on, the faith gradually took firm root in esanland.

After the pioneering missionary efforts of the French SMA Fathers, the Irish priests continued with the work of evangelization. The Irish SMA fathers established schools which became great instruments of evanglezation. Great emphasis was also laid on the training of catechist and teachers to further the work of evangelization. The SMA were led very vibrantly in this effort by Bishop Patrick Kelly of blessed memory. To this day, the great efforts of the SMA are still visible on the ground in the diocese, and indeed the Society of African Missions is still represented by Rev. Fr. Michael Wall, SMA.