Lira, Uganda | The Church of Uganda (COU) has warned Christians in Northern Uganda against a group calling itself the Reformed Anglican Church, describing it as a misleading movement founded on falsehoods.
The COU Provincial Secretary, Rev. Canon William Ongeng said the church does not recognise the group and urged believers to remain vigilant as it reportedly expands into the Lango Subregion.
In a telephone interview on Thursday, Ongeng alleged that the group, operating as the Reformed Anglican Church of the Upper Nile Diocese, was started by Rt. Rev. Charles Okunya Oode, a former bishop-elect of Kumi Diocese.
According to Ongeng, Okunya’s election was nullified after it emerged that he had misrepresented his age and date of birth. He added that although Okunya challenged the decision in court, the case was dismissed, effectively ending his path to the episcopacy.
Ongeng said that Okunya had continued operating because he feared losing the title of bishop, claiming that the group had emerged out of dissatisfaction following the court ruling.
He further alleged that some of Okunya’s followers had caused unrest within Kumi Diocese by refusing to vacate their parishes and that the group had since been spreading into other areas.
Ongeng said that reports indicated the group had reached parts of Lango, including Lira City and Otuke District, although he noted that some of the information was yet to be independently verified.
He stated that the group is grounded in protest and disobedience to church leadership and could not lead Christians to eternity, adding that its foundation was not on Christian principles but on self-exaltation.
He cautioned believers against joining the movement, saying that its intentions remained unclear and warning that such developments could mislead the faithful.
However, the Reformed Anglican Church defended its presence and mission in the region. Rev. Sam Erik, who identified himself as Archdeacon in charge of Lango Subregion, confirmed that the group is operating in the area, though he said that its members are facing threats.
He described the church as a reform movement within Anglicanism rather than a breakaway sect, arguing that Anglicanism is a broad Christian tradition with roots in Rome and later development in England.
He stated that their focus is on renewing doctrine, expanding mission outreach, and encouraging personal accountability in faith.
Rev. Sam added that the church promoted a holistic gospel aimed at empowering believers spiritually, socially, and economically while emphasising a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
He argued that Christianity could not be based purely on institutional identity when individuals are not accountable in their faith.
He also stressed that the church sought to reach all people, including those often marginalised, noting that Christ had come for sinners and that the church should not exclude those who fell short.
He rejected claims that the group is a sect, saying that it operates within the historic Christian and Anglican theological tradition, albeit as a distinct body.
Meanwhile, DL Okello, spokesperson of Lango Diocese, said the diocese is not aware of any Anglican church that had officially broken away from COU.
He stated that the only known breakaways were Pentecostal churches.
Okello also questioned the identity of Rev. Sam Erik says that a person by that name had previously served in the diocese but had retired on medical grounds due to vision problems.
He explained that the individual had no longer been in active service and added that if he had started a movement, then it is not part of the Anglican Church. He further said that it is unclear whether the individual currently leading the group is the same person.
The Reformed Anglican Church (RAC) of the Upper Nile Diocese is a breakaway faction of the Church of Uganda, officially established in Kumi, Uganda, on April 24, 2022, by Bishop Charles Okunya Oode, a former Kumi Diocese priest whose appointment as bishop was revoked due to age-related irregularities. It is led by Rt. Rev. Charles Okunya Oode as its first bishop, consecrated on June 26, 2022, under the Reformed Anglican Church Province of Uganda headed by Most Rev. Prof. Jonathan Kyangasha. The diocese began with about 27 parishes, 26 clergymen, and seven archdeaconries and has expanded to around 168 small churches in Kumi, Ngora, and Bukedea districts, with ongoing outreach into regions including Lango, West Nile, and Acholi, while promoting a mission of holistic living, Evangelical–Apostolic–Sacramental doctrine, and adherence to the Five Solas and historic Christian creeds.
