Museveni hails late Bishop Ojwang
Benjamin Ojwang
Kitgum- President Museveni has described Benjamin Ojwang, the deceased former bishop of Kitgum Diocese, as champion of peace in northern Uganda.
Bishop Ojwang, 67, succumbed to high blood pressure and diabetes on Monday at Kiruddu Hospital in Kampala, a week after he had been transferred from Gulu Regional Referral Hospital.
In a message read by Lands minister Betty Amongi during the burial at All Saints Church in Kitgum Town yesterday, the President said the deceased will be remembered for fostering peace talks between Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels and the government.
“Bishop Ojwang will be remembered for his eminent and active roles as a peacemaker who worked tirelessly in mediating between government and the LRA rebels to ensure that peace returns to northern Uganda,” the message read in part.
In May 2004, two years after his installation, Bishop Ojwang was abducted by the LRA rebels from his residence in Kitgum. He was a few hours later rescued by the UPDF after an exchange of gunfire, a few kilometers from his home.
The Anglican Bishop was part of the delegation of the botched Juba peace talks between LRA rebels and government of Uganda in 2005.
The President also contributed Shs20 million towards the burial expenses. The money was handed to the widow, Ms Margaret Ojwang.
Northern Uganda Diocese Bishop Johnson Gakumba, who presided over the funeral service, tasked government to find jobs for the children of the deceased bishop.
“Government should consider employing his children, they have all studied but none of them have a reasonable job to have supported their father while he was sick. This will also be one way of government appreciating and rewarding him,” Bishop Gakumba said.
The late bishop is survived by a widow and eight children.
