By KT Reporter
The Okol community in Kitgum District has been urged to rally behind their newly installed clan chief, Counsel Jude Ogik, as a way of fostering unity and attracting God’s blessings.
The call was made by Bishop Joshua Lwere, the General Overseer of the National Fellowship of Born Again Pentecostal Churches of Uganda (NFBPC), during Ogik’s coronation ceremony held at Lokol Central Village in Mucwini East Sub-county.
Bishop Lwere emphasized the spiritual importance of honouring leaders believed to be ordained by God, saying communities that open their leadership to God position themselves for divine blessings.
“The same way an individual can open his heart and the Lord comes into your life, the same way a chief can open his door to the Lord,” Bishop Lwere said. “When a chiefdom opens its door to the Lord Jesus, they invite all His blessings, and every member of that chiefdom benefits.”
Ogik’s installation has been surrounded by controversy, with a section of the Okol clan opposing his coronation.
The dissenting faction claims that Ogik does not belong to the rightful lineage of the Okol chiefdom and argues that the clan already has a chief, Joseph Nono Larem.
The opponents petitioned Ker Kwaro Acholi, the Acholi cultural institution, prompting the Paramount Chief, Rwot David Onen Acana, to advise that outstanding disputes be resolved with elders before the coronation could proceed.
Community members also convened a meeting where they rejected the coronation and later filed a case at the Kitgum High Court seeking a temporary injunction to block the ceremony. However, the court dismissed the case with costs, citing late filing.
Despite the objections, Ogik’s supporters maintain that he is the legitimate Okol clan chief, tracing his lineage to his great-grandfather Owiro Lokweromoi, who was arrested by the colonial administration in 1920 for resisting colonial rule and later died in prison after 11 years.
They argue that the chiefdom has remained without a substantive head for decades and that Ogik’s installation restores traditional leadership. Speaking after his installation, Jude Ogik said his installation marked a new chapter for the Okol Chiefdom.
The cheifdom is also commemorating 185 years since its formation. “For a long time, Okol chiefdom has been without its head, and today that comes to an end, marking a new beginning,” Ogik said.
He pledged to serve the community with dedication and integrity.
The newly appointed Prime Minister of the Okol chiefdom, Rogers Olanya Olila, urged community members to put aside differences and unite behind their leadership.
“We should not continue lagging behind because of leadership wrangles,” Olila said, calling for cooperation to advance development within the chiefdom. Bishop Lwere said his message was intended to promote peace, reconciliation, and unity among the Okol people, urging them to embrace dialogue and collective progress.
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