KATAKWI - In a mission to restore Teso's glory and eliminate poverty and disunity, Gen. Peter Elwelu of Elohim Ministries Church led a two-day deliverance prayer camp at Apuuton Village, Usuk. The goal of the event was to break the lineage of poverty, division, and bloodshed associated with cultural practices in the region.
The camp focused on Ongima initiation site (Asapan), also known as Airiget Ongima, one of the largest initiation sites in Teso. The site has been traditionally used by the Iteso Cultural Union for initiation rites and by certain political figures, who perform rituals such as spearing a live bull and consuming its blood as part of their initiation.
Gen. Elwelu, the overseer of Elohim Church, referred to Ongima as an “altar of darkness” where supernatural powers are allegedly used to enthrone ICU leaders. He believes that while the Iteso are a chosen people, they are held back by witchcraft practices managed through cultural shrines.
During a seven-day prayer session, Elohim Ministries reported that God revealed the location of a large shrine in Teso. According to the prophecy, this shrine perpetuates a cycle of poverty, division, and bloodshed within the community.
Gen. Elwelu criticized certain cultural practices, including the use of Emuria grass and other traditional customs, as being harmful to the Iteso people. He urged politicians to distance themselves from shrine rituals while in office, emphasizing that through prayer, the Iteso can experience peace, prosperity, and sound leadership.
Bishop Israel Tukei of Light Resurrection Ministries encouraged all church denominations, including Pentecostals, to continue praying for Teso, with a particular focus on the Usuk Ongimakol and Okolimo initiation sites.
Apostle James Adupa of Christ Disciple Church in Ngora called for unity within the Iteso community, drawing from scriptures such as Genesis 11:1-5, Judges 20:1-8, and 1 Corinthians 1:10, all of which emphasize the importance of solidarity.
Rev. Fr. Patrick Acedu Opio, Dean of Katakwi Denary and parish priest of St. Ann Usuk, expressed gratitude for the deliverance prayers. He highlighted the recent demolition of several initiation sites, including Okolimo in Usuk, following a month-long prayer camp.
In addition to Ongima, other significant ICU initiation sites in Katakwi include Akwang in Apolin and Operemo in Magoro. Rev. Fr. Acedu Opio expressed concern over political leaders who continue to engage in shrine practices, urging them to seek church blessings for leadership instead.
Archbishop Moses Odongo, overseer of Ugandan Pentecostal churches, advocated for replacing “evil altars” with altars dedicated to God, as referenced in 1 Samuel 15:21. He urged all church denominations to remove demonic shrines across Teso, emphasizing that this transformation does not restrict true cultural practices.
The camp concluded with a startling discovery: the killing of a 20-meter, two-headed snake of various colors. This strange sight only heightened residents' concerns about the area. Some residents disclosed that elders and political figures, including cultural leaders such as former LC5 Katakwi Walter Elakas Okiring (also known as Ongimakol) and the late Emorimor Augustine Osuban Lemukol had conducted rituals at this site.
Additional source credit : TNN
