By Fred Kiva
Rt Reverend Benjamin Ojwang, the former Bishop of Kitgum Diocese has died.
Bishop Ojwang died on Monday at Kiruddu General Hospital in Kampala at around 11am. The widow Margaret Ojwang says the deceased was over a week ago admitted at Gulu regional referral hospital with high blood pressure and diabetes. His condition deteriorated necessitating transfer to Kiruddu General Hospital where he died.
Ojwang was installed as the second Bishop of Kitgum Diocese in 2002 replacing McLeod Baker Ochola. He dies after years of a protracted court battle with the Church of Uganda and outgoing Archbishop Stanley Ntagali. He accused the Church of Uganda and Ntagali for his unfair removal from office in 2014 yet he had not yet clocked the mandatory retirement age of 65 years in 2017.
The court battle saw the diocese run without a substantive bishop for over three years after Gulu High Court issued an order blocking Ojwang’s removal from office. It was until November last year that dust settled after consecration of Rt Rev Wilson Kitara as the new Bishop.
Bishop Ojwang's forceful retirement followed accusations against him by the clergy and parishioners.
At the time of filing the story, Bishop Onjwang’s body was still at Kiruddu General Hospital mortuary pending funeral arrangements.