Children mourned their mothers in unison; they described how she loved each of them, despite the age bracket.
Jesse John Muto described her late grandmother with Song. Once, you surprised her with a visit. An pe Angeyo kit ma myero Amari Kwede Luganda bed Icwinya wek amide ki maro in.
Gulu Christ Church Choir sang the hymns: Guide me, O thou great redeemer, pilgrim through this barren land; I am weak, but you are mighty: Hold me with thy powerful hand. Bread of Heaven, feed me now and evermore.
Mego Awinyo Esesa was born on 24, 12, 1936 in the place called Lawiyewum, Atede village, now Pader District. Her father was Omoro Erija Laraa of the Lamala clan from Olal; her mother was the late Awilo Okac of the Palaro Okpt clan.
Awinyo Esasa: they gave Awinyo to remember the great grandmother of Lamala, who was called Awainyo Nyakany, who was the daughter of the Paikat clan. She was born with her siblings. Called Julia Acan Nyaga, Lucira Akello, Lapwony Saulo Okech, Esesa Aminyo, Lakwoko (Lakwo) and the late Lino Okuya, the lastborn, from a family of six.
Mego Esesa Aminyo she is Christian without moving from Church to church, she was God-fearing, with deep grace and faith. She enjoyed Godly was with all her household, including her children. She founded two churches, Lakwatimer Church of Uganda and later Abole Catholic church, all along her time, she invited clergy to her home.
We thank God for giving her all that time; she passed away at 90 years old, believing in God and having faith in Jesus Christ.
Awinyo Esesa, she had luck because her father, Erija Laraa, was Councilor of Rwot Elijah Aboga of Puranga. When Christianity was introduced and reached Awere by Rwot Elijah Aboga, the church missionary went to Rwot Aboga’s palace. They were received by the Rwot of Puranga; they were given a place of worship, the CMS church was built, which was called the Native Anglican Church (NAC), the sign post is still there up to today.
In 1944, the first Jiri the bible reading was introduced; the Catechist began to teach them Jiri and mathematics. She studied Kiceka, then later she joined a primary one class in 1944 among boys.
Reading among the boys was not easy, since the boys who had reported to begin school were already adolescents; it was not easy for her, because older boys were bullying her. However, Awinyo had her uncle called Livingstone Odwar, who protected her from the arms of a monster.
By that time, boys protected their sisters from bullying and teasing by boys; this gave her time to pursue her education dream. In 1951-1951, Awinyo Esesa went to Gulu Primary School, where she sat for her Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), and she passed well in Grade One. Later, she was admitted to pursue Teachers’ Education Training at Boroboro (TTC), Lira, in the years 193-1955 where she qualified.
Mego Esesa began to teach in Parabongo Primary School, and later she was transferred to Lalogi Primary School, where she met the late Oryem Nimulodi Greeson of Koch P’ Acenge Agonga Lukutu, Nwoya District.
Esesa Awainyo God gave children: three boys and seven girls, with 33 grandchildren.
They are as follows: Lamunu (Deceased at infancy), Latigo Bernard Aruka (Deceased), Chana Charles Lamony (Deceased). Oyela Catherine, Ayot Irene Dora, Nyero Alfred, Awilo Lilian, Amito Grace Aget, Akwir Betty and Akulu Joselyn
The church preaching was conducted by Canon Rev. Ayela Okot Natinel, the retired Discussion Secretary of Northern Uganda Dioceses, who preached about the words of God, giving reference to when Christ appeared to Saul on his way to Damascus.
When Saul was prosecuting Christianity, killing them in the thousands, Lord Jesus appeared to him and said, “Saul, why are you prosecuting my people?” “You are hitting your legs on a sharp object like a sword; stop prosecuting my people.
The eyes of Saul became blind; from that, Saul changed his name to Paul, and I warn you, those people who you are fighting and grabbing Church land. Especially Church land in Awere, the money that God gives you instead of grabbing Church land go and buy land elsewhere. Rev. Cannon Ayella warned.
However, the family of Thomas Okwee and the family of Ocoko Simay drugged Awere Church of Uganda to the Gulu High Court, and they won the cases, and when the Church of Uganda, Northern Uganda Diocese, appealed, the ruling was a decree. Church of Uganda lost the cases.
Our Correspondent contacted Luke Orach, the head of the Okwee family, to seek his view on why, after they won in court, they still want to pursue a legal battle. Luke Orach says they are not after a legal battle because they met the Bishop of Northern Uganda when they were summoned, and they agreed that both Lawyers meet and write back to the court to resolve the dispute.
“We were called by the Bishop of Northern Uganda, Rev. Godfrey Loum, and we agreed to iron out the court issues. We are not interested; we want to live in harmony with the Awere Church of Uganda, Anglican Church. Before the bishop, we agreed that both Lawyers sit down and write back to both parties. But we were shocked to see the letter from the Lawyer of the Church of Uganda writing to us that the matter has been dissolved; the Church of Uganda Lawyer cannot sit down without meeting our Lawyer.” Luke Orach insisted.
Our Correspondent also contacted the Ocoko Simay family through the head of family Jr. Bongomin, who is the Country Director of UNICEF based in Khartoum capital Sudan. The Church of Uganda, Northern Uganda Diocese also claim part of the land where they have constructed Health Centre II.
However, Our Correspondent time and again has been unable to get any response from Jr. Bongomin.
Joe Lamong, head of Laity of Northern Uganda Diocese, relayed his feared that Church of Uganda Awere Archdioceses is facing land grabbing, the west of School and the East of School, citing reasoned that way back, part of Church land was housing the Reverend who live side by side with Thomas Okwee, who was also the founder Catechist of Awere Church of Uganda which was founded in 1940.
Joe Lamony revealed that when the then Catechist Thomas Okwee retired, he settled in the current homestead where his children live, but they encroach on Church land.
Our Correspondent talk Dr. Yalom Okech, from the United Kingdom, asked him the same question: why he and his brother cannot give part of the land belonging to Awere Church of Uganda?
Dr. Yalom Okech responded that they are not against Kanisa, only that there are individuals within the church who are against the dialogue with them. They are willing to drop the matter.
