Members of the Kumi Mothers’ Union Pay their last respects to the Late Rev. Bishop Gershom Ilukor at St. Stephen Church of Uganda in Kumi
Teso members of parliament expressing their solidarity before the casket of the late Bishop Gershom Ilukor at st. Stephen COU, Kumi. They pledged to strengthen his economic abnd education legacies
By Emmanuel Okwii
Politicians in the Teso sub region have been blamed for poor political performance and disunity, factors that are said to have been retarding progress and development in the sub region in the last six decades. This blame was voiced out by the retired bishop emeritus for Bukedi Diocese, Rev. Bishop Nicodemus Engwalas Okile.
While speaking at the funeral ceremony of the late Bishop Gershom Ilukor on Friday, Okile said that most politicians had abandoned their roles and instead left what they ought to have done in the hands of the church leaders in the area to effect.
“When the likes of Ecweru and Omeda were fighting in the bush those days, the task to save the people was left in the hands of people like the late Bishop Ilukor and me. You should not say that you were there unless you were in a vacuum,” Bishop Okile said. He also added that the same disunity which was still amongst political leaders in Teso was a factor retarding development in the area.
“The late and I have been greatly involved in bringing politicians in Teso to around table but we can’t continue doing this every time. You should promote unity and work harder for a better Teso,” Bishop Okile said
He said that he himself participated in peace negotiations between the government and UPA rebels while most prominent leaders in the area had gone to sleep.
“You politicians simply want to talk a lot but you are not active. Bishop Ilukor was involved in the supply of food to the arrow boys while you able-bodied leaders in Teso simply watched. This is not god for development,” Okile went on.
However, the Minster of Teso Affairs, Hon. Christine Amongin Aporu said that although there were still pockets of disunity amongst the leaders in the area, they as Teso parliamentarians would work to promote peace and unity that the late bishop had often preached.
“We will promote what he started because he was not only a great adviser but a very good counselor to Teso parliamentarians,” Ms. Amongin Aporu said.
Hon. Musa Ecweru speaking at the burial of the Late Gershom Ilukor in Kumi
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