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Breakaway church warned over use of Anglican vestments, hymns
Currently, the Reformed Anglican has grabbed 47 churches that belong to the Anglican and the matter is at Soroti High Court.
Okunya (left) after being installed by their self styled Archbishop Jonathan Kyangasha. (Courtesy Photo)
By: Godfrey Ojore, Journalist @New Vision
The Church of Uganda has issued a stern warning to the breakaway Reformed Anglican Church, directing its leaders and followers to stop using Anglican clerical vestments, liturgical practices and hymns, saying the actions are misleading the public into believing the two churches are affiliated.
In a letter dated June 25, 2026, Provincial Secretary Rev. Canon William Ongeng expressed concern over what he described as the unauthorised adoption of symbols, traditions and attire associated with the Church of Uganda.
"The Province has noted with concern the use of vestments resembling those worn by clergy and bishops of the Church of Uganda, as well as the adoption of Anglican worship traditions and hymns in a manner that creates an impression of legitimacy," Rev. Ongeng wrote.
He warned that if the alleged misrepresentation continues, the Church of Uganda will pursue legal action to protect the integrity of Anglican doctrine, worship and identity.
"Reformed Anglican Church is not affiliated with, recognised by, or in communion with the Church of Uganda or the Global Anglican Communion. Any claims or representations suggesting otherwise are false and intended to mislead the public," the letter states.
The provincial secretary further noted that the wearing of clerical collars, cassocks, episcopal shirts, pectoral crosses, mitres, croziers and other ecclesiastical insignia by individuals who are neither licensed nor recognised by the Church of Uganda amounts to serious misrepresentation.
He urged Christians and the general public to verify the authenticity of anyone claiming to represent the Anglican Church.
"Genuine clergy of the Church of Uganda serve under duly constituted dioceses headed by bishops and are accountable to the Constitution and Canons of the Church of Uganda," Rev. Ongeng emphasised.
Roots of the dispute
The latest warning traces its roots to a long-running leadership dispute in Kumi Diocese that began in 2019.
The provincial secretary further noted that the wearing of clerical collars, cassocks, episcopal shirts, pectoral crosses, mitres, croziers and other ecclesiastical insignia by individuals who are neither licensed nor recognised by the Church of Uganda amounts to serious misrepresentation.
He urged Christians and the general public to verify the authenticity of anyone claiming to represent the Anglican Church.
"Genuine clergy of the Church of Uganda serve under duly constituted dioceses headed by bishops and are accountable to the Constitution and Canons of the Church of Uganda," Rev. Ongeng emphasised.
Roots of the dispute
The latest warning traces its roots to a long-running leadership dispute in Kumi Diocese that began in 2019.
The controversy erupted after the House of Bishops nullified the election of Rev. Charles Okunya as Bishop of Kumi Diocese after it was established that he had altered his year of birth from 1975 to 1970. The change reportedly enabled him to meet the constitutional minimum age requirement of 45 years for election as bishop.
Rev. Okunya challenged the decision in court, but his case was dismissed by Justice Musa Ssekaana, who ruled that he was constitutionally ineligible to contest for the episcopal office at the time of the election.
"The plaintiff, at the time of his nomination, was not qualified to be elected Bishop of Kumi since he had not attained the mandatory age requirement of 45 years," Justice Ssekaana ruled.
The judge observed that throughout Rev. Okunya's ministry in the Church of Uganda, his official records consistently indicated his date of birth as November 23, 1975.
"The plaintiff's life within the Church of Uganda as a clergy was premised on information he availed at the time of joining, and this was categorically reflected as 23rd November 1975," the ruling reads in part.
Justice Ssekaana further noted that changing the date of birth only three days before the episcopal election raised serious questions.
"The act of altering the date of birth three days before being nominated as a bishop becomes very suspicious and is not an innocent act by the plaintiff. I agree with the defendant's counsel that it was indeed fraudulent," the judge ruled.
Following the conclusion of the legal battle, the House of Bishops elected Rt. Rev. Michael Okwii Esakhan as the second Bishop of Kumi Diocese. He was consecrated and enthroned on March 6, 2022, at St. Philip's Cathedral in Ngora.
After exhausting his legal options, Rev. Okunya broke away from the Church of Uganda and established the Reformed Anglican Church, where he now serves as bishop.
Efforts to obtain a response from Bishop Charles Okunya or the Head of Laity of the Reformed Anglican Church, Stephen Asiata, were unsuccessful as their known telephone contacts were unavailable by the time of publication.
The latest warning from the Church of Uganda is expected to intensify tensions between the two church bodies, whose relationship has remained strained since the Kumi Diocese episcopal dispute first erupted six years ago.
Currently, the Reformed Anglican has grabbed 47 churches that belong to the Anglican and the matter is at Soroti High Court.
It's coming up for hearing on 3rd of September this year.
Rev. Okunya challenged the decision in court, but his case was dismissed by Justice Musa Ssekaana, who ruled that he was constitutionally ineligible to contest for the episcopal office at the time of the election.
"The plaintiff, at the time of his nomination, was not qualified to be elected Bishop of Kumi since he had not attained the mandatory age requirement of 45 years," Justice Ssekaana ruled.
The judge observed that throughout Rev. Okunya's ministry in the Church of Uganda, his official records consistently indicated his date of birth as November 23, 1975.
"The plaintiff's life within the Church of Uganda as a clergy was premised on information he availed at the time of joining, and this was categorically reflected as 23rd November 1975," the ruling reads in part.
Justice Ssekaana further noted that changing the date of birth only three days before the episcopal election raised serious questions.
"The act of altering the date of birth three days before being nominated as a bishop becomes very suspicious and is not an innocent act by the plaintiff. I agree with the defendant's counsel that it was indeed fraudulent," the judge ruled.
Following the conclusion of the legal battle, the House of Bishops elected Rt. Rev. Michael Okwii Esakhan as the second Bishop of Kumi Diocese. He was consecrated and enthroned on March 6, 2022, at St. Philip's Cathedral in Ngora.
After exhausting his legal options, Rev. Okunya broke away from the Church of Uganda and established the Reformed Anglican Church, where he now serves as bishop.
Efforts to obtain a response from Bishop Charles Okunya or the Head of Laity of the Reformed Anglican Church, Stephen Asiata, were unsuccessful as their known telephone contacts were unavailable by the time of publication.
The latest warning from the Church of Uganda is expected to intensify tensions between the two church bodies, whose relationship has remained strained since the Kumi Diocese episcopal dispute first erupted six years ago.
Currently, the Reformed Anglican has grabbed 47 churches that belong to the Anglican and the matter is at Soroti High Court.
It's coming up for hearing on 3rd of September this year.