Drama at Abim Church as reverend, LC 2 chairperson fight during service

What the report says

A Sunday service at All Saints Church of Uganda in Abim Town Council, Abim District, was disrupted after a disagreement between a local council leader and a reverend escalated into a physical confrontation, according to The Independent Uganda and URN. The incident reportedly happened around 9:00 a.m. when Innocent Oyo, the LC2 chairperson of Wiawer Parish, asked Rev. Can. Richard Ongom for permission to make an announcement during the service.

The report says the reverend told Oyo to wait until prayers ended or pass the message through the church media team. Eyewitness accounts described the exchange becoming tense, with Oyo moving toward the altar and the two men allegedly trading blows. The article also says Ongom’s wife became involved in the scuffle. Oyo said he had been asked to share a security-related message from a local commander and believed he should have been allowed to speak.

The dispute has since been taken to police. Mt. Moroto regional police spokesperson Mike Longole said both sides reported the matter at Abim Town Council Police Station, and officers opened two counter-cases of assault and issued medical forms for examination. No arrests had been made at the time of publication, and inquiries were continuing.

The incident matters because it disrupted worship and raised concerns about conflict resolution in a place of worship. More broadly, disputes involving community leaders and religious figures can quickly become public and affect trust in local institutions.