The Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese, Raphael P’mony Wokorach, has described the homecoming of Lieutenant General (Rtd) Charles Otema Awany to his community after 47 years in military service as a blessing and a symbol of the peace that now prevails in northern Uganda.
Speaking at a thanksgiving ceremony held at Kaunda Grounds in Gulu City on August 28, Archbishop Wokorach said Lt Gen Otema’s safe return after decades of military service and involvement in conflicts was a moment that should not be taken for granted.
“After all the tireless struggles and wars, Lt Gen Otema has returned home alive. This is a gift from God that we cannot take for granted,” Archbishop Wokorach said.
The Archbishop used the occasion to urge communities in northern Uganda to protect the peace achieved after years of conflict and use it as a foundation for economic and social transformation.
He commended President Yoweri Museveni, the Commander-in-Chief of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), for what he described as sustained efforts to pacify the region.
“The region is now experiencing economic and social development at a steady pace. We should not take this peace for granted. We must guard it jealously so that we do not slide back into turmoil,” he said.
The call came against the backdrop of Lt Gen Otema’s own military journey, which included service during some of the most turbulent periods in northern Uganda’s history, particularly during the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency.
Representing President Museveni, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hon. Okello Oryem congratulated Lt Gen Otema on his retirement and commended him for the sacrifices he made in service to Uganda.
Oryem said the General served at a difficult time when relations between the military and communities in northern Uganda had been strained by the insurgency.
“These were bold steps that we, as government, rode on to attain the peace we are enjoying today,” Oryem said.
Representing the UPDF and ministers who attended the ceremony, Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Gen Wilson Mbasu Mbadi, also commended Lt Gen Otema for standing with the government during a critical period in Uganda’s history.
Gen Mbadi linked the General’s military career to the broader pacification of northern Uganda and West Nile, urging communities to safeguard the peace and translate it into economic development.
He said Lt Gen Otema’s retirement also represented a generational transition within the UPDF, as younger officers take on greater leadership responsibilities and build on the foundations laid by their predecessors.
The NRM Secretary General, Hon. Richard Todwong, speaking on behalf of the family and elders, highlighted the personal sacrifices that accompanied Lt Gen Otema’s military career.
He noted that military service frequently kept the General away from his family for prolonged periods, at times without communication, while his family continued to support him and pray for his safety.
The Paramount Chief of Acholi, Rwot David Onen Acana II, who attended the ceremony, commended the government for its role in pacifying northern Uganda and thanked Lt Gen Otema for what he described as a distinguished military career.
Rwot Acana said the General had carried the Acholi identity beyond northern Uganda through his service in different parts of the country.
For Lt Gen Otema, the ceremony marked more than a retirement celebration. It was a homecoming to the community he left as a young man nearly five decades ago.
He described the occasion as an emotional and culturally significant moment after a career defined by duty, discipline, sacrifice and service to Uganda.
The retired General expressed particular gratitude to the elders, relatives and community members who welcomed him home, singling out his mother for the role she played in blessing his entry into military service.
During his 47 years in the UPDF, Lt Gen Otema rose through the ranks to hold several senior appointments, including Commander of the UPDF Reserve Force and Chief of Logistics and Engineering. He also participated in major military operations, including efforts to pacify northern Uganda during the LRA insurgency.
With his military career now behind him, Lt Gen Otema said he intends to begin a new chapter centred on contributing to the economic transformation of northern Uganda.
He identified farming, animal husbandry, hospitality and wealth creation among the areas through which he hopes to continue serving his community.
The ceremony brought together officials from the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs and the UPDF, government officials, Members of Parliament, Gulu District and City local government leaders, cultural leaders, relatives and other guests.
