By KT Reporter
Teso’s well-known cultural initiation site has been rebranded as a place of worship, now renamed Bethel Altar (the House of God). On November 11, 2024, a team led by Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Peter Elwelu, the lead messenger of the House of the Almighty Father in Heaven Elohim, took action in Apuuton Village, Usuk Town Council, Katakwi District, destroying a revered Apuuton initiation site.
Elwelu, who also represents the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) in Parliament and formerly served as Deputy Chief of Defense Forces, said they cleared the area and burned ritual items because the site had been associated with practices contrary to Iteso beliefs and God’s commandments.
“Consuming animal blood has been against the will of our Lord and Creator for centuries,” said Elwelu, who also heads government monitoring in the Teso and Karamoja sub-regions. During eight days of prayer coinciding with the Feast of the Tabernacles, Elwelu said he received divine guidance to transform the site.
Following last year’s destruction of the traditional altar, Elwelu revealed that God instructed them to hold annual prayers every November 11 for seven years, a process intended to cleanse the site of ancestral wrongs. He said he does not blame the ancestors, who acted without knowledge of the implications, but noted that their actions had brought chaos, division, hatred, and other hardships upon the Iteso.
During this year’s prayers on November 11, 2025, worshippers gathered again at the now transformed site, which has two structures, a pit latrine, and access to water and electricity. Elwelu expressed optimism that the annual spiritual commitment would foster peace and unity among the people of Teso.
“I want to assure the people of Teso that this place will be a blessing for our community and all of Uganda. Individuals from diverse backgrounds will visit this powerful place of worship to witness the goodness of the Lord,” he affirmed. He added that the site is expected to attract tourism due to its historical significance. Seating and resting facilities have also been added to accommodate visitors.
Despite criticism over the destruction of a cultural site, Elwelu remains firm, insisting that any practice that contradicts divine teachings cannot be considered genuine culture.
Church Leaders Pray for Teso’s Transformation
Bishop James Israel Tukei of Light Resurrection Ministries–Soroti, representing Archbishop Dr. Moses Odongo, General Overseer of the National Fellowship of Born-Again Pentecostal Churches in Uganda, said the church gathered at the site on Monday for prayers that lasted until 1 a.m.
He added that the following day, prayers resumed at 10:30 a.m. and continued until 4 p.m., focusing on uplifting the land and people of Teso and seeking God’s blessings, favor, and protection. Tukei also prayed for the Iteso to be empowered to serve God and take on leadership roles in government and the private sector.
He explained that the former altar of Baal—where people previously sought jobs and leadership opportunities—has now been transformed into Bethel Altar, meaning the House of God, in line with Judges 6:25. “You may recall that last year, a large snake was killed here, representing the deity of this place. We destroyed it and have now established a godly altar, not an evil one,” he explained.
The bishop said that while the church respects culture, God calls for transformation toward a culture that honors Him, citing Exodus 20, which prohibits serving other idols.
Community Welcomes the Change
Residents such as Johnson Oriokot from Anyara Sub-county in Kalaki District said traditional rituals belong to the past and should no longer be practiced. Alice Merabu Ouco, a 65-year-old resident of Apuuton Village, agreed, saying the rituals were part of ancestral traditions that are now outdated.
“We believe that perhaps God has granted this generation the insight to guide us forward, rather than backward,” she said. Betty Aguti, one of the worshippers, supported the annual prayers, believing they would help free Teso from troubles linked to ancestral practices.
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