By Mike Rwothomio

The Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Adjumani District, Mr. Taban Peter Dada, imposed an immediate suspension of all religious activities in Nyumanzi Refugee Settlement due to heightened inter-communal tensions and leadership disputes within the refugee community.

The conflicts primarily involve pastors from St. John and St. Mark churches, predominantly from the Dinka community, centered on competing ecclesiastical affiliations.

Some pastors have resisted oversight by the Madi and West Nile Diocese, seeking instead to align with bishops from South Sudan, exacerbating factionalism and threatening community cohesion.

The decision followed a multi-stakeholder security and reconciliation meeting chaired by RDC Taban, attended by over 50 participants, including the Deputy RDC, Senior Superintendent of Police Ayesigomwe Dick (District Police Commander, Adjumani), the Refugee Focal Officer from the Office of the Prime Minister, refugee pastors from various settlements in Adjumani, Madi, and West Nile diocese, the Secretary of the Diaspora, and other key actors.

Leaders after the meeting.

To mitigate the conflict and restore stability, the RDC issued the following directives, effective immediately:

Suspension of Religious Activities: All church operations in Nyumanzi Refugee Settlement are suspended for two weeks. No church may resume activities unless it is formally recognized and consecrated by a bishop from the Madi and West Nile Diocese, with pastors duly appointed by Ugandan diocesan authorities.

Regulation of Non-Anglican Churches: Any group seeking to establish a church outside the Anglican denomination must register with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) in compliance with national laws.

Removal of Conflicting Pastors: Pastors implicated in disputes or factional activities will be relieved of their duties to facilitate de-escalation and promote unity.

Prohibition of Unauthorized Foreign Clergy: Bishops from South Sudan are barred from conducting religious activities in Uganda without explicit authorization from Ugandan authorities.

Compliance with National Laws: All churches in the settlement must adhere strictly to Ugandan legal and regulatory frameworks.

The West Nile Regional Police Spokesperson, Superintendent of Police Collins Asea, stated that the Madi and West Nile Diocese has been mandated to convene a reconciliation forum for all pastors to foster dialogue, education, and unity.

Authorities underscored the importance of preventing factionalism and cliques to safeguard peace and social harmony within the settlement.

The meeting concluded at 14:50 hours, with the RDC and security stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to maintaining peace, security, and social cohesion in the refugee community.

Monitoring and enforcement measures will remain in place to ensure compliance with the directives and to prevent further escalation of tensions.

Mike Rwothomio is news editor at zoomer Africa