Bishop Alfred Olwa with some of the elderly women on Thursday. Photo by Frank Oyugi.
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Last Updated on: 25th December 2020, 09:06 pm
“I was a little boy and I would assist my grandmother in her shrine as she saw patients…. and my role involved that of trickery and pretending to be a ‘god’ and ‘foreseer'”, Rt. Rev. Dr Alfred Olwa told elders his story on Thursday.
Lira—25, December 2020: The Bishop of Lango Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Dr Alfred Olwa on Thursday afternoon met with elders in Lira City East Division.
The Man of God sent a fully packed room of elders laughing with his hilarious words of advice and encouragement. This was at Uganda Christian School of Nursing and Midwifery (UCIPD).
The elders were drawn from different villages like Gwengabara, Boroboro in Lira City East Division where the Institute is located. The Management of the institute invited the elderly persons to interact with the Bishop and later gifted them with Christmas packages.
As a Chief Guest, Bishop Olwa took to the podium and as he addressed and counselled the elders, the servant of God kept cracking ‘legitimate jokes’ and folk stories that kept the elders laughing throughout the occasion.
First, Bishop Olwa told a story about his past and of his ancestral home in Aromo, Lira district, where he was born. According to him, his grandmother was a traditional healer, or a ‘witch-doctor’ also commonly known in Lango as ‘ajoka’.
“I was a little boy and I would assist my grandmother in her shrine as she saw patients….and my role involved that of trickery and pretending to be a “god” and foreseer”. This story caused laughter in the room as he practically described how he would conduct business at the shrine.
But he said this childhood experience, and the story is a testimony that anyone can serve the Lord. “Who knew that an assistant to a witch-doctor in a shrine would later be ordained to serve the Lord?” he asked.
Just as he was later called on to God’s service, Bishop Olwa observed that it is worthwhile that the elderly persons live a Christ-like life and to be closer to the Church.
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While underscoring the importance of elders and the need for the young generation to provide for them and look after their welfare, Bishop Olwa noted that he has been approached severally by elders who are mistreated by their family members and said such a vice should be discouraged.
According to the Bishop, some daughters-in-law unjustifiably labels their mothers-in-law as “a witch” and would not want her children to be close to their grandmother, causing emotional torture and distress to such an old woman.
He also appealed to older persons to be a blessing to their children and families by being calm, peaceful, and to always have loving hearts.
“To those whom God has still kept them in marital union, please don’t separate rooms and beds, stay as one under one blanket as you discuss matters of your family and grandchildren,” Bishop Olwa again got the “ribs” of the elderly persons “cracking” as he nailed this last point.
The elderly persons numbering over 70 received a gift comprising five kilograms of beans, a bar of soap, posho and sugar.
Mr Sam Omara, the director of Uganda Christian Institute of Professional Development (UCIPD) told TND News that they felt it prudent to invite the elders around the community because they are often a forgotten group.
He said the Christmas package is part of their corporate social responsibility to reward the community.
UCIPD offers a course in Nursing and Midwifery at its main campus in Gwengabara, while the other campus at Lira LPC offers courses in humanities.
