By Richard Onapatum
In a daring move to reclaim what rightfully belongs to them, the Kumi Diocese has initiated an operation aimed at retrieving churches and land seized by the Reformed Anglican faction, led by the controversial Bishop Charles Okunya Oode.
Under the strategic leadership of Archbishop Samuel Stephen Kazimba Mugalu and Bishop Michael Okwi Esakhan, the campaign kicked off on March 8th, 2024, sending shockwaves through the local communities of Kumi and Ngora districts.
The Archbishop’s presence in Kumi marked the beginning of a four-day pastoral visit, during which he oversaw the triumphant reclaiming of three churches, culminating in the commissioning of St. Stephen CoU Oladot in Mukungoro Archdeaconry. Other notable recoveries include St. Peter’s Kanyum CoU, Aterai CoU, and Onyakelo CoU in Kumi district.
The operation, accompanied by security forces and local government officials, witnessed the eviction of priests and lay readers associated with the Reformed Anglican Church from the church premises, amidst fervent support from the faithful.
Adams Sadiiki, the CoU Communications Officer, affirmed that this crusade would persist until all 34 churches seized by Bishop Okunya and his faction are returned to their rightful owners.
Archbishop Kazimba, in a fiery speech during the operation, denounced the egregious conduct of Bishop Okunya and his cohorts, labeling their actions as a flagrant display of indiscipline and calling for their immediate repentance.
Bishop Okunya’s tumultuous journey began when his bid for the leadership of Kumi Diocese was thwarted in 2020 due to allegations of misconduct. Subsequently, he defected from the Church of Uganda, founding the Reformed Anglican Church and assuming leadership of the West Nile Diocese.
In a brazen act of defiance, Okunya’s followers, predominantly members of the Kumi Diocese, unlawfully seized churches and property belonging to the CoU, citing dubious claims of ownership traced back to their ancestors.
Despite the subsequent appointment of Bishop Esakhan to the Kumi Diocese, tensions between adherents of the CoU and the Reformed Anglican Church have persisted, often erupting into violent altercations and legal disputes.
As the dust settles on this latest chapter of ecclesiastical turmoil, the Kumi Diocese stands resolute in its quest to reclaim its heritage, echoing the timeless adage: “justice delayed is justice denied.” Only time will tell if Bishop Okunya and his followers will heed the call to reconcile and restore what they’ve wrongfully taken.
