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The body of the Kumi Bishop Emeritus Thomas Edison Irigei has this evening arrived at his home in Kumi municipality.

Bishop Irigei died on December 5, 2023, at Soroti Regional Hospital after losing the battle to diabetes and hypertension.

Since then the body has been kept at Bethesda morgue till Friday evening when it was picked ahead of the burial next week.

Kumi bishop Michael Okwii Esakahn led the team of Christians to Soroti to pick the body. The retired bishop of Soroti diocese Dr Charles Bernard Obaikol Ebitu joined the team which held brief prayers before leaving for Kumi.

Irigei, a former provincial dean during the reign of Archbishop Stanley Ntagali, retired in 2019 after serving for 19 years.

Bishop Irigei (Pictured) died on December 5, 2023, at Soroti Regional Hospital after losing the battle to diabetes and hypertension. (All Photos by Godfrey Ojore)

Bishop Michael Okwii Esakahn who succeeded him announced his demise and confirmed that Archbishop Dr. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu will attend the burial where he will be the main celebrant of the day.

Burial arrangements

He revealed that the fallen prelate will be laid to rest on Monday next week at St-Philip Cathedral Ngora district. Kumi diocese comprises the districts of Ngora, Kumi and Bukedea.

“We would have buried him on Sunday but the archbishop will be consecrating the bishop of Namirembe Diocese. So, for that matter, he has requested us to have the burial held on Monday to allow him to attend,” Bishop Okwii told the meeting on Tuesday.

Irigei was admitted to ICU on Wednesday last week after developing breathing difficulties according to his son, Patrick Okwi.

“Daddy was a diabetic patient as well as hypertension. He had his leg amputated in 2019 and since then, he has been in and out of the hospital,” Okwii said.

The medics are yet to release an autopsy report regarding the cause of the death that cut short the life of the father of 10.

Kumi bishop Michael Okwii Eskahan praying in Soroti as his retired counterpart Charles Obaikol and the widow of the deceased look on.

He has rested after serving the Lord

“I'm happy that he has rested after serving his Lord with all his energy and also after raising all his children. I release him and pray that one day I will join him in heaven,” said his widow, Jeniffer.

Bishop Okwii commended his predecessor for setting a solid foundation through the building of churches and preaching salvation.

“We shall remember him for building churches and preaching the word of God. He also served well as the provincial dean,” bishop Okwii remarked.

Retired bishop of Soroti Obaikol described Irigei as a humble servant of God that worked with him closely for the development of the two dioceses.

“He was a humble and friendly bishop who worked with me well. Sadly, he has departed before enjoying the fruits of his hard work,” Obaikol said.

Retirement riddled with problems

However, bishop Irigei did not enjoy his retirement as expected as he battled health challenges as well as church wrangles that saw the diocese embroiled in fights for two years.

The fights stemmed from the cancellation of the election of Rev. Charles Okunya to succeed him over his age. In 2019, Rev. Okunya was 44 years old instead of 45 the church laws provide for one to become a bishop.

People view the body of deceased Bishop Okwii.

Efforts by Rev. Okunya running to court to secure the juicy job hit a snag when Justice Musa Ssekana dismissed his case with costs.

In his 20-page ruling, Justice Ssekana concurred with the House of Bishops' decision to revoke Rev. Okunya’s appointment after ascertaining that he had not made the mandatory age requirement of 45 years to be elected a bishop.

“The plaintiff (Okunya) at the time of his nomination was not qualified to be elected a Bishop of Kumi since he had not yet made the mandatory age requirement of 45 years, '' the judge said in his ruling.

The judge noted that when Rev. Okunya wanted to stand for election as a Bishop, only three days before the election, he swore a statutory declaration to indicate that he made a mistake when he was registering for his National Identity Card.

“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 November 23, 1975. This fact is not in dispute but the plaintiff now wishes to alter his date of birth by claiming that the actual date of birth earlier indicated on all his personal documents was a mistake or an error,” the ruling read in part.

“The act of altering the date of birth three days to being nominated as a Bishop becomes very suspicious and it is not an innocent act by the plaintiff, and I would agree with the defendant’s counsel that it was indeed fraudulent,” the judge ruled.

In April 2022, Okunya delivered his resignation letter from the Anglican Church. He later joined Reformed Anglican where he was consecrated a bishop.

That paved the way for the election of Bishop Okwii who is now one year old in office.
Who was bishop Irigei?

Born in 1954, Bishop Irigei pioneered the Kumi Diocese that was carved out of Soroti in July 2001. Before its creation, it was bishop Dr Charles Obaikol Ebitu who was the bishop. Irigei was consecrated by Archbishop Livingstone Mpalanyi Nkoyoyo (RIP) on July 22nd 2001.

He is married to Jeniffer Irigei to whom the lord blessed them with ten children. His parents are Surubaberi Okia and Esther Agwang from Mukongoro in Kumi district.