Anglican Church celebrates 100 years in West Nile

Harold Acemah

What you need to know:

  • Way forward. Should the Church keep quiet, fold its hands and do nothing when the people of God are suffering and their human rights are violated with impunity by callous, incompetent and selfish leaders?

Today is the climax of events which began one week ago to celebrate 100 years of the Anglican Church in the West Nile sub-region which borders DR Congo and South Sudan. West Nile, which was previously part of the Belgian Congo colony, became part of Uganda in 1915.
The celebrations provide a golden opportunity for believers to renew their faith in God, our Father in heaven, and His Son Jesus Christ.
According to a comprehensive programme for the big occasion, today is the highpoint of celebrations which began on June 16. A mega thanksgiving service will be held today at Ezuku in Vurra Parish beginning at 9am. The main celebrant of the service will be the Archbishop of the Province of the Church of Uganda, the Most Rev Stanley Ntagali.

The Bishop of West Nile Diocese, the Rt Rev Charles Collins Andaku, has expressed deep gratitude to God for the first 100 years of the Anglican Church in West Nile and noted that the seed which the first missionary to the sub-region, Frank Gardner, planted in June 1918 at a place called Ovisoni has grown into a tall, strong and resilient tree which had weathered all sorts of storms, including a tsunami which blew across West Nile from 1979 - 1985.

The name Ovisoni in Lugbara means “struck by lightning” which is comparable to what happened to the Church of Uganda on February 16, 1977, when a cruel and evil dictator martyred then Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, St Janani Luwum. May his soul rest in eternal peace!
West Nile sub-region has produced two distinguished archbishops namely, Archbishop Silvanus Wani (RIP), 1977-1984 and Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi who was prelate from 2003-2012.
Bishop Andaku posed a pertinent and timely question which deserves answers from both clergy and laity. “How should the Church of Uganda look like in the next 100 years?” He prayed to God to unveil His Kingdom in Uganda and open new frontiers for the Church to grow during the next 100 years.

He paid glowing tribute to the missionaries of the Africa Inland Mission who did a wonderful job by empowering Christians spiritually.
At a personal level, I can relate to the powerful message of the Bishop who was a student at Wandi Primary School where my father, Rev Canon Enoka Yada (RIP), was headmaster before he was ordained a priest in 1965. My father served the Lord diligently as parish priest of Wandi until he retired in 2002, but continued to assist his successor until he passed on in August 2006.
Like Bishop Andaku, my father practised what he preached. I believe he is in heaven praising and worshipping our God.

The way forward
So what is the way forward for the Church of Uganda? In answering this question it is important to bear in mind the Lord’s Prayer, especially where it says, “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.”
Against this background, can the Church afford to be silent when lawlessness, gross abuse of power, corruption and immorality are desecrating the God’s kingdom and people in Uganda?

Should the Church keep quiet, fold its hands and do nothing when the people of God are suffering and their human rights and fundamental freedoms are violated with impunity by callous, incompetent and selfish leaders?
The Church must not keep quiet. In my opinion, the Church must play an active and leading role in efforts by men and women of goodwill to build a peaceful, prosperous and just society in Uganda and elsewhere in Africa. The Church must stand up shoulder to shoulder with the poor, oppressed, marginalised and silent majority of Uganda.

As a great hymn proclaims, “stand up for Jesus and put on the Gospel armour, each piece put on with prayer; when duty calls or danger, be never wanting there.”
On this auspicious occasion, may the good Lord Bless and make His face shine upon Christians of West Nile. May the Lord have mercy on His people and be gracious to them. And may the peace of God which passes all understanding be with Ugandans today and always!