Ex-army boss Elwelu turns renown cultural initiation site into God’s Alter
“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.
Former commander land forces Lt. Gen. (rtd) Peter Elwelu praying at the former initiation site on Tuesday. ( Photos by Delux Emmy Alomu)
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A well-known cultural initiation site in the Teso region has been reimagined as a place of worship, now called Bethel Alter (the House of God).
On November 11, 2024, a team led by former commander land forces Lt. Gen. (rtd) Peter Elwelu, who serves as the lead messenger for the worship centre known as the House of the Almighty Father in Heaven Elohim, took decisive action in Apuuton village, part of Usuk town council in Katakwi district. The initiative resulted in the destruction of a revered Apuuton initiation site.
Elwelu, a representative of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) in Parliament and former deputy Chief of Defense Forces, said they cleared the area and burnt the ritual regalia 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,” he said.
During a period of eight days of prayer that coincided with the feast of the tabernacle, Elwelu said he received divine guidance about the site’s transformation.
Following the initial prayers held after last year’s destruction, he conveyed that God instructed them to observe annual prayers on November 11 for the next seven years, a process meant to cleanse the site of ancestral wrongs.
Elwelu emphasised that he does not blame the ancestors; they acted without knowledge of the implications, yet their actions led to numerous issues for the Iteso people, including chaos, division, hatred and various hardships.
Some of the buildings erected at the former initiation place at Apuuton Village in Usuk Town Council, Katakwi. 
On November 11, 2025, during the second round of prayers at the now transformed site, which features two new structures, a pit latrine, and access to water and electricity, Elwelu expressed his belief that this annual spiritual commitment will 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 also noted that the site is expected to attract tourism, serving as a destination for those interested in the area's history, which is why they have added seating and resting facilities alongside the pit latrine.
Elwelu assured that anyone wishing to pray at the site is welcome.
Despite some criticism regarding the destruction of the cultural ritual site, Elwelu remains steadfast, asserting that "any cultural practice that opposes our Creator cannot be regarded as true culture, but rather as something negative".
James Israel Tukei, the bishop of Light Resurrection Ministries-Soroti, representing General Overseer of the National Fellowship of Born-Again Pentecostal Churches in Uganda, Archbishop Dr Moses Odongo, said the Church of Christ gathered at the site on Monday for prayers that lasted until about 1:00am.
He also prayed for the Iteso to be empowered to serve God and to take on significant roles in both government and the private sector.
He highlighted that this former altar of Baal, where people would seek jobs and leadership opportunities, has been transformed into the Bethel Alter, meaning the house of God, in alignment with the teachings from Judges 6:25.
"You may recall that last year, a large snake was killed here, representing the deity of this place. We completely destroyed it and have now established a Godly altar, not an evil one," he explained.
The bishop affirmed that while they respect culture, God desires a transformation towards a culture that honours Him and adheres to His ways, referencing Exodus Chapter 20, which instructs against serving other idols.
Residents like Johnson Oriokot from Anyara sub-county in Katakwi district voiced concerns that these rituals belong to the past and should no longer be practiced.
Alice Merabu Ouco, and another 65-year-old woman from Apuuton Village, echoed this sentiment, stating that such rituals were once performed by ancestors and are outdated in a world where people now pray directly to God rather than to ancestral gods.
“We believe that perhaps God has granted this generation the insight to guide us forward, rather than backward,” she remarked.
Betty Aguti, one of the worshippers, supported the annual prayers, believing that they will help free Teso from the troubles attributed to ancestral practices.