Gulu, (UG): The Member of Parliament for Aswa County in Gulu District, Hon Wokorach Simon Peter has embarked on building churches in communities as a means to restore confidence among the body of Christ.
Drawing a calling to serve from the Book of Haggai Chapter 8, which reads “Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord. 9 You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty.
MP Wokorach says the deteriorating level of ruin of many houses of worship in the village continues to discourage Christians from fellowshipping with one another.
Eric Omara, the deacon of Fountain of Restoration International Ministry (FORIM), says they have been using tarpaulin to provide shelter but it became inadequate and many people started getting discouraged after encountering worse experiences on rainy days. During rainy moments, he says the congregation would run to the pastor’s hut which could not host even 50 people.
Over the last few months, the area MP has so far distributed about 250 iron sheets to various churches across Aswa County. Among the churches in receipt of the supplies include; Awor Nyim Church of Uganda, Cwero church of Uganda, Olano, Lacor, and FORIM in the Atiya sub-village among others.
With the recent release of the election roadmap for 2026 by the Electoral Commission, Wokorach just like many other politicians in the region has also intensified his community engagement with the electorates through massive mobilization for the community uptake of the government programs-Parish Development Module, which is still at zero percent uptake in Palaro Subcounty.
According to the National Resistance Movement legislator, the initiative is to respond to some of the cries of the people of Aswa which were not prioritized by his predecessor, the Forum for Democratic Change diehard and former MP Ronald Reagan Okumu, for 25 years.
Komakech David Lawoko, vice chairperson of Palaro subcounty is hopeful that the church will transform the lives of the youth to become productive and this will help to reduce alcoholism and drug abuse. The most common crime in the areas is said to be theft, robbery, defilement and assault.
Kenneth Lubangakene, a political enthusiast says building churches in areas like the Atiya sub-village which is so disconnected from the administrative unit of Palaro Subcounty in Labworomo will bring changes through reducing petty societal disputes and crimes by instilling good moral among the youths.
Benson Oloya Mutundawano, the pastor of FORIM told DailyExpress they are in negotiation with Favour of God Ministries a Christian organization operating in Northern Uganda and South Sudan, to build permanent church structures together with Preschool for the community.
According to Oloya, they are streamlining their leadership structures, land ownership status to give Favour of God Ministry a leeway for the mega development partnership to kickstart.
Fountain of Restoration International Ministry Church in Atiya seats along the main road connecting Atiak and Palabek that crosses through Apyeta bridge on the Aswa River. For a year plus, the church has been organizing prayer matches under the trees with attendants of approximately 150 people.
Komakech Michael, the District Councilor for Palaro Subdcounty says curbing crimes in Oroko village especially the sub-villages of Aitya and Apyeta is a big challenge due to absence of policing. The nearest Police Post to Atiya Paaro Labworomo which is approximately 20 kilometers away. This makes it hard for police to respond to incidences.
With the low revenue collection Palaro Subcounty is witnessing, Komakech attributes the stifled service delivery to limited funds. However, the legislator delivered a handful of iron sheets for setting up a semi-permanent shelter.
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