Rt. Rev. Michael Okwii Esakhan has been consecrated and enthroned as the second bishop of Kumi Diocese.
The new bishop was consecrated at St. Phillip’s Cathedral in Ngora district in the presence of thousands of Christians from Kumi and other dioceses, in a ceremony presided over by the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, His Grace Dr. Samuel Stephen Kazimba Mugalu.
Kumi Diocese has been under the See of the Archbishop who appointed the former Bishop of Lango Diocese, Charles Odurkami to caretake the diocese since December 29, 2019 when the founder bishop, Thomas Edison Irigei retired.
On February 9, 2022, the House of Bishops elected Rev. Okwii as the next bishop of the diocese that had registered violent scenes following the cancellation of the consecration and enthronement of Rev. Charles Okunya Oode, who was first elected to replace bishop Irigei in 2019.
Although there were efforts to block the consecration of Rev. Okwii, the matter was resolved after the court ruling on Thursday.
Before the consecration, the Kumi Diocese Chancellor, Emmanuel Ilukor said that the diocesan synod sat on December 27, 2021 at St. Stephen’s Church in Kumi to commence the process of electing the new bishop.
Ilukor added that under minute 5 of January 31, 2022, the nominations committee identified two names (though the second person was not revealed) that were forwarded to the Province for consideration by the House of Bishops.
Bishop Odurkami, who has been the caretaker bishop of Kumi said that it has been a tough journey for him in Kumi in the last two years.
“We thought we would just caretake Kumi for six months or at most one year but things turned stormy,” he said while handing over office. “At some point, I would think of quitting but I thank my wife and family who kept encouraging me to move on. We are finally here today. Thank you Papa Archbishop for entrusting me with the huge responsibility.”
The new bishop pledged to prioritize reconciliation, restructuring and inspiring Kumi and the world for Christ.
“I come with an open arm to reconstruct the Church of God,” he said before requesting Rev. Okunya and the team to join hands in continuing the ministry. “I invite all the Christians and people of goodwill to help in rebuilding the house of God. Let’s move Kumi forward for Jesus, as a team and forget the past.”
Bishop Okwii implored the Christians of Kumi Diocese to get over any form of bitterness, greed and slander against the church but allow the Holy Spirit to intervene in all situations.
According to Okwii, one of his major tasks is to produce clergy with high moral values and strong educational backgrounds. He revealed that a minimum training for the clergy will be diploma and priests shall only be ordained after attaining a degree.
The caretaker bishop, Odurkami earlier revealed that most of the clergy in Kumi Diocese were ill-trained.
Rev. Okwii comes from Atoot Sub County in Ngora, one of the three districts making up Kumi diocese. The other districts are Kumi and Bukedea.
