By Mike Rwothomio

The four newly ordained deacons of Nebbi Diocese Church of Uganda have been urged to serve God diligently and avoid seeking personal promotion, instead allowing divine promotion at the appointed time.

Isaac Rwothomio aka Bible Son, a gospel artist from Nebbi Urban, Solomon Ubedgiu from Goli Deanery, Patrick Okirwoth Eliot from Paidha Town Parish, and Filda Akumu from Parombu were ordained on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at St. Stephens Cathedral Goli in Nebbi Diocese. 

They took their oaths of canonical obedience during the service.

The ordination was presided over by the Bishop of Nebbi Diocese, Rev. Pons Ozelle Awinjo, who administered the extensive oaths and blessed the new clergy.

In his sermon, Ven. Alfred Ogenmungu, Archdeacon of Goli Central Archdeaconry, delivered the charge while also witnessing the canonization of Lay Leader Gilbert Ocokuru of St. Paul Church of Uganda, Paidha Town Parish, into rural ministry.

Drawing from Luke 2:41, which speaks about the life of Jesus, Ven. Ogenmungu told the newly ordained priests, “Don’t look for promotion, God will promote you.”

He further advised them to allow God to use them, noting that they would encounter all categories of people in the church and must therefore live a prayerful life. “Love God and love the people you are working with; without love, you will not manage,” he added.

The colorful ceremony attracted clergy from various archdeaconries and parishes across the diocese, along with hundreds of believers who gathered to witness the historic event. 

Nebbi Diocese was carved out of the Madi and West Nile Diocese in the 1990s.

The Diocesan Synod that met in April this year had approved Bishop Awinjo to canonize Gilbert Ocokuru as a Canon in rural ministry.

The Bishop prayed for God’s blessings and protection over him in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and presented him with the instruments and guidelines for his new role. He urged Ocokuru to be guided by the Bible in preaching the gospel.

Related Article: Church of Uganda Launches Humanitarian Aid Mission for Nakivale Refugee settlement

Following the canonization, the Bishop conducted the ordination of the four new clergy. After publicly confirming there were no impediments to their ordination with strong support from the congregation the service proceeded.

Bishop Awinjo described the four as matured in Christ and deserving to serve as God’s servants. He asked the congregation whether they would accord them maximum support, to which the believers unanimously responded, “We shall support them.”

The Bishop presented each new priest with a New Testament Holy Bible as their primary tool for ministry. 

At precisely 11:34 AM, he handed them certificates authorizing them to preach the Word of God across the diocese.

LThe new priests have been given mandate to preside over all sacraments in the Church of Uganda. 

Their final deployments will follow recommendations from the diocesan advisory board.

Tentative Deployments:

Patrick Okirwoth Eliot: Chaplain at Koch Awinga Secondary School 

Isaac Rwothomio: Chaplain at Afere Church of Uganda, Nebbi Progressive, and assisting at Nebbi Secondary School  

Solomon Ubedgiu: To wait at St. Stephens Cathedral, Goli  

Filda Akumu: Chaplain at Max Foundation School in Parombu West, waiting at Parombu

The Bishop, had just returned from official leave and officially resumed duties.

The Anglican ordination ceremony followed the standard liturgical structure of the Church of Uganda, including presentation and examination of candidates, invocation of the Holy Spirit, laying on of hands, and presentation of symbols of ministry such as the Holy Bible.

Newly ordained priests pose for a group photo with the Bishop of Nebbi, Rev. Pons Ozelle, at St. Stephen's Cathedral, Goli, on Sunday.

Mike Rwothomio is news editor at Zoomer Africa, your number one grassroot information hub for African stories trends and updates