A RIFT has emerged between the Kitgum Diocese bishop and a section of Christians in the district, prompting the Police to intervene.
A service led by bishop Benjamin Ojwang ended prematurely last Sunday when it was disrupted by members of Concerned Christians, prompting the Police to lock the church building until the dispute is settled in court.
The Christians have dragged Ojwang to court, accusing him of mismanaging church property.
Last year, another group of Christians and youth locked the office of the bishop, accusing him of lack of transparency and accountability and of being biased.
They also accused him of taking all church projects to Pader district, where he comes from.
The Kitgum deputy resident district commissioner, Sylvester Opira, said the Christians accused Ojwang of working with his relatives to mismanage the church property.
“The church is now under the custody of the Police and the keys are with me until I get clearance from the court,” he said.
Opira advised the Christians to go for prayers at All Saints Church.
The Kitgum Diocese secretary, the Rt. Rev. Wilson Kitara, explained that the Christians stormed the church building claiming that the court had ruled that it belongs to them.
“They wanted to remove the parish priest who was posted to the church by the diocese. The Police came in to rescue the situation. There is a process to resolve the conflict.”
Kitara appealed to the Christians to wait for the court ruling on the matter.
Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi, while touring the diocese last year, urged Christians to respect their leaders.
“You do not elect bishops. They are anointed by God. Bishop Ojwang may be weak, not sharp and not able to speak well, but God anointed him,” Orombi said.
