Cancelled wedding stirs trouble in Lira

Christians from St. Mathias Church of Uganda in Erute North under Lango diocese are on strike and refused to pay tithe and other church contributions following decision by church leaders to call off a marriage of their children.

The protest that has taken nearly two weeks stemmed from a cancellation of a holy matrimony between Jimmy Awany and Stella Awany that was scheduled for April 13 but was canceled at the last minute by the archdeacon of Ogur Archdeaconry Rev. Van. George Ario.

Rev. Ven. George Ario  in a letter dated April 3, 2018, said the marriage was cancelled on grounds that the followers from the church had defied a mandatory contribution of sh330,000 meant to fund January convention held at Boroboro, the diocesan headquarter.

However, following the unfolding events, the Christians in retaliation have vowed to cut off any monetary submission to their parish until their grievances are addressed.

Alfred Ogwal , one of the church elders says the behaviors of their spiritual leaders are questionable.

"How can you call off a church marriage for a mere monetary gain?"Ogwal said. He added that the Christians  finished contributing the sh300, 000 long ago and currently owe the diocese nothing in monetary terms.

Jacinta Opio, 49, observed that there is need to secede from Agweng parish unless the diocese transfers the current parish priest, Rev. Obonyo.

Collins Okot blames Rev.  Obonyo peddling intrigue in the church by selling false allegations against them to both the archdeaconry and the diocese that resulted into the cancellation of holy matrimony they had organized.

"I think Obonyo has some ill motives against us," she said. Okot said she still recall that in January threatened to cancel baptism and presiding over any requiem mass,  something she said is un acceptable in the church.

When contacted for comments, Rev. Deacon Denis Obonyo could not accept or defend the allegations has he simply says: "I think it is better for us to meet and discuss the matter."

However, Rev. Van. George Ario said that he would comment later.

The Bishop of Lango diocese Dr. Alfred Olwa s in a telephone interview recently said  he was not aware of the protest but promised to crosscheck and respond.

"In relation to this, I have not yet received any clue but we have a procedure. We always receiver reports monthly but for this case, never," Dr. Olwa said.

He added: "The channel is from the catechist to the parish priest, the archdeacon and lastly the report reaches the diocese."