Wilson Kitara: The bishop students ‘ordained’ 30 years before his time

Kitgum. He was named ‘bishop’ long before he would actually earn the title three decades later.
More than 30 years ago, his amiable character and commitment to Jesus Christ saw Kitgum High School students ‘baptise’ him bishop.

The Rev Kitara, now Kitgum Diocese bishop, says those he studied with from Senior One to Senior Four between 1989 and 1992 named him so because of his unwavering commitment as chairperson of Scripture Union, an Anglican students and youth ministry.
“Sincerely, this is not a joke. My OBs in Kitgum High School; you could ask whoever says he is my OB, had already nicknamed me a bishop,” he jokingly says.

Mr Lawrence Oketayot, currently working with World Vision, a charity organisation, is one of the OBs.
“He was nicknamed bishop because at that time, he could conduct a full service with us students like an ordained minister of God,” Mr Oketayot says.

“The Rev Wilson Kitara was very prayerful and spent most of his private time in God’s ministry. I remember he was our vibrant leader of Scripture Union,” he recalls.
Mr Oketayot also remembers Kitara as a student who never indulged in any chaotic lifestyle like other students.
“He was one student who played reconciliatory roles among students whenever there was conflict, say, in dormitory or classroom,” he adds.

But a bigger challenge now awaits Rev Kitara, who succeeds Archbishop Stanley Ntagali, who has been acting bishop of the diocese for more than two years since Bishop Benjamin Ojwang was forcefully retired.
Retired Bishop of Lango Diocese Charles Odur-Kami has been caretaking the diocese on behalf of the archbishop.

The Rev Kitara takes over the mantle of the diocese that is still reeling from acrimonious split that tore apart both the clergy and the flock into two bitter rival camps. It was such fights that forced Bishop Ojwang to resign three years shy of his tenure, prompting the province to take over the diocese.

But the Rev Kitara promises to pursue reconciliation as soon as he takes over the See. He seeks to bring all the conflicting parties to live as one Christian family again.
He notes that since some of the conflicts occurred when he was diocesan secretary, it gives him privy knowledge and better understanding of the causes and working out solutions to the conflicts.

“Fortunately, I was in the system. That is the good part of it all. I am not trying to say, ‘now you first clear your issues and then I come in’. I am saying, ‘let us clear our issues then we push’. Everybody had a stake in this. And now it is coming back to us who had a stake to push. And for the institution, I am sure we will push,” the Rev Kitara says.

So for the Rev Kitara, what started as a joke by fellow students naming him bishop came to pass on Sunday as he was consecrated and enthroned at All Saints Cathedral Mican in Kitgum.
Perhaps his humility calmed all. Even on the day he received information he was the successful one picked out of the two candidates, he humbly turned to God, saying: “Go, I thank you. If it is your will, let it be done”.

Childhood
Mr Oketayot, his OB, says he believes the then young Kitara behaved as a ‘good boy’ probably because of his strong Christian family background.
Rev Kitara was born to Petero Akengo and Mariel Lamunu on January 5, 1971 in Gem-Onyot Village, Acholibur Sub-county in Pader District. Both parents are deceased. But he is grateful to his uncle James Lumoro, the father of James Kidega, the Lamwo Resident District Commissioner, and his grandfather, then a local catechist at Okinga, for introducing him at an early age to the Christian faith.

“In Moroto, I was with my uncle who introduced me to church services as a Sunday school kid. That is where I started getting involved in the church. And then when I came back (home), my grandfather, who was a lay reader, really made sure that I went to church every Sunday,” Rev Kitara recollects.

He recalls that whenever he went home during school holidays, he would act as a catechist at the village church.
“Then when I would go back to school, I would continue with my studies and spiritual work there. So I think that has been the turning point of my spirituality,” Rev Kitara says.

Early education
Young Kitara started his nursery and primary studies at Moroto Nursery and Primary School until Primary Three. He relocated to his village in 1978 due to the insecurity during the Idi Amin regime.
He then completed Primary Five at Okinga Primary School before moving onto nearby Acholibur Primary School for Primary Six and Seven.

He then joined Sir Samuel Baker School for O-Level but because of Lord’s Resistance Army insurgency, he shifted to Kitgum High School, studying from 1989 to 1992, where he completed his O-Level education.
The Rev Kitara then rejoined Sir Samuel Baker School in Gulu for his A-Level education from 1993 to 1995.

He attained a Bachelor of Divinity from Bishop Tucker Theological College, now Uganda Christian University (UCU) Mukono, in 1998.
Rev Kitara also received a Master of Arts in Theology and Health Care Management from UCU in 2014. He also holds post-graduate diplomas in Education, Administrative Law, and Human Resource Management.

Pastoral work

Ordination. The Rev Kitara was ordained a Deacon on February 16, 1999, and ordained a priest in 2001.
Service. He has served as a parish priest, diocesan secretary from 2004 to 2009, school chaplain and head teacher at Kitgum Comprehensive College and at the Rev Jabuloni Isoke Memorial College, Kitgum, where he remains head teacher to date.
Family life. Kitara is married to Ketty Auma, a teacher with a Diploma in Education. They are blessed with three daughters.
Election. The Church of Uganda House of Bishops sitting at Uganda Christian University Mukono, on the August 22 elected the Rev Kitara the 3rd bishop of the Diocese of Kitgum.

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