By Mike Rwothomio

The body of Rev. Sam Akenda, a faithful servant of God and senior clergyman in the Nebbi Anglican Diocese, was laid to rest today, Monday, 29 June 2026, at his home in Goli Trading Centre.

He passed away on Monday, 22 June 2026, at Mulago National Referral Hospital.

The late Rev Sam Akenda, aged 74, was serving as Parish Priest of Kivuje Parish in Jonam Archdeaconry at the time of his departure to be with the Lord.

Hundreds of mourners from all walks of life gathered at Goli Women Vocational Training Centre in Jupangira Sub-county to bid farewell to this devoted lover of God’s work.

Delivering a spirit-filled sermon drawn from the Gospel according to St. John on the theme of resurrection, His Grace the Retired Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Dr. Henry Luke Orombi, urged the faithful to put their trust in the power of the resurrection.

“All of us are heading towards the same direction,” the Archbishop declared, calling upon believers to renew their faith, remain vigilant, and prepare their souls, for death knocks at any time.

He assured the grieving family: “All of us will die, but if we believe in Jesus, we shall die and resurrect again. Your father is alive in Christ; God will not abandon you.”

As the Archbishop concluded his message of hope, a solemn atmosphere descended upon the gathering.

Amidst the soul-stirring hymn “Till We Meet Again,” wreaths were laid and the body of the departed servant of God was conveyed to his final resting place at his home in Goli.

Fellow clergy, in a moving display of brotherly love and grief, personally transported their senior colleague in a truck, seated side by side as they offered a final farewell to one who joined the priesthood in the early 2000s.

The home-call of Rev Sam Akenda has left a painful void in the Nebbi Anglican Diocese, which in recent years has lost several dedicated shepherds.

These include the late Bishop Alphonse Wathokudi (2021), Retired Rev William Pounegi (2024), and Canon Lusania Kasamba, who passed on last week, among other faithful leaders.

The family of the late Rev Sam Akenda expressed deep gratitude to the Church and all who stood with them in this season of bereavement.

Speaking on behalf of the family, his daughter, Sunday Kayom, thanked the Diocese for its steadfast support and commended believers and the public for standing strong with them.

“My father went through a lot,” she said. “Results from the hospital indicated he had serious heart complications that eventually claimed his life.”

The late Rev Akenda served the Lord with diligence in several parishes within Nebbi Anglican Diocese, including Abanga Parish, Parombu Town Parish, Mvuranyi Parish, Nyarwodho Parish, and Angol.

According to the Rt. Rev Pons Ozelle Awinju, the Bishop of Nebbi Anglican Diocese, even after retirement, he was recalled to active service due to the shortage of clergy, and he continued to labour in the Lord’s vineyard until his final days.

May the soul of Rev Sam Akenda rest in eternal peace in the presence of the Almighty God, and may the Lord grant comfort and strength to his family and the entire Diocese.

Fellow clergy, in a moving display of brotherly love and grief, personally transported their senior colleague

Family Members address the gathering

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