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Bishop Godfrey Loum (Center in purple cassock) and other clergymen pose for a photo session with a congregation after a thanksgiving and blessing prayer for the new executive Makome Bus at the bus terminal in Pece, in Gulu City, December 23, 2024. The bus will ply the Gulu-Kampala Highway. (Photo credit, Uma Patrick).
Bishop Godfrey Loum of Northern Uganda Diocese, encouraged the Executive Director, Charles Okot Kit to build up a strong empire foundation for Makome Bus Company to make sure it does not collapse.
“Why do most businesses which were started in Acholi sub region in the past collapse, yet other businesses from Eastern, Western and Central regions survive and thrive?” “Why do they fail to see transition from the founding body to the next generation?” the prelate asked.
GULU CITY-MONDAY 23, DECEMBER 2024
By Livingstone Okumu Langol
The Executive Director of Makome Bus Company mobilized a congregation for a big get together prayer to bless a newly acquired 52-seaters executive bus in Gulu City.
Rev. Godfrey Loum Bishop of Northern Uganda Anglican Diocese was excited during the thanksgiving ceremony to bless the new bus.
“I have decided to organise a thanksgiving prayer for Makome new bus. “I have invited Rev. Godfrey Loum, the Bishop of Northern Uganda Anglican Church of Uganda. Our executive bus services include surveillance CCTV camera and Internet Wifi. “We are so pleased to invite Bishop Godfrey Loum to use our services. “I wish you a Happy Christmas and a prosperous year 2025,” said Mr. Charles Okot Kit, the Executive Director of Makome Bus Services.
Gulu City Christ Church Choir sang “we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”
Mr. Okot Kit said the executive bus was bought in May this year 2024, but since Karuma Bridge was closed, they could not put the bus on the road. “I want you to bless the bus,” he told the prelate.
“The new bus was bought from China. “We had the pressure because our passengers from Acholi Sub Region were complaining,” Okot Kit said.
Rev. Godfrey Loum, thanked the executive director, saying knowing God is important, it brings luck and good fortune to the business. The bishop referred to the book of Psalm 123: that emphasizes that without God’s word nothing succeeds. “You may work from morning till evening but will never achieve peace in your life when there is no God in your life,” the prelate preached.
He said that there are people whose lives are full of struggles amidst fear of the unknown, they feel paranoid with the millions of monies or wealth that they have accumulated.
Kadi iti nicake wa odiko nio wa otyeno, kuc peke ka ce Lubanga peke I kwo ni, tye jo mogo ma caa ducu bedo ki lworo, the prelate emphasised in the Luo language.
“I want to thank Mr. Charles Okot Kit for inviting me, but you have invited the whole Church of God. “We come on behalf of the living God.” I don’t know if there is any truth in the allegations that some people go under water to acquire spiritual power, that make them wealthy, but God does not live under water.” “If it is true, then they would be dealing with evil spirits. “If the true God does not stand with us then nothing is possible,” the prelate emphasised.
The Bishop said he was not happy about the way businesses owned by people hailing from the sub region collapse, citing COVMO, Vita Foam, Vaculug among others that have either ceased to be or no longer vibrant.
“Megwa pe dongo pingo?” meaning our own businesses do not grow, why?
He said one thing that people from the sub-region lack seems to be customer care. “For us Acholi, we fail to do business because when a customer comes to buy goods from our shop, or a traveler comes and asks you about the bus fare, instead of using the language of customer care, we tell them that we don’t eat at their home,”
“Acamo igangi, cente ni aye akwo kwede?” meaning do I eat at your place, do I live on your money?
“Charles Okot Kit, maintain your bus company business, because when sons and daughters from this subregion get stranded in Kampala, your duty is to transport them back to Acholi land,” the prelate counselled.
“Once upon a time, there was a man called Forget Olanya Jacob. He went to attend Namugongo Martyrs Heros Day, which happens on June 3, every year. “But, Forget got lost. “He shouted to whoever could listen that ‘you Acholi who are in Kampala, Forget is now lost, when I die, the blame will go to you that you failed to transport Forget back to Gulu.’ “Immediately someone responded and gave him transport back to Gulu.” “It is your duty to help such people,” the prelate counselled Kit further.
Bishop Godfrey Loum derided the bus operators for failure to keep time. He revealed that one day when he booked one of the buses in Kampala, the time for departure for the bus was supposed to be at 6:00 p.m. but when he reached out to board the bus, the departure time was changed to midnight. He could not wait to board that bus, because if the bus left at midnight, by the time they reach Gulu City, it would be the wee hours when the street gang Aguu would be very active waiting to take the opportunity to rob their vulnerable subjects.
“I had paid. I demanded that my funds for bus fees should be returned to me, but my pleas were rejected. I had to book another transport and I still keep the receipt for the bus fare that never helped,” the prelate narrated.
He praised bus operators in Arua for good time keeping, saying in Arua, there are exact times for booking tickets and departure times.
“If a ticket is to be booked at 6:30 p.m., all the booking will take place at that time. “When departure time is at 1:00 p.m., all the passengers will be expected to enter the bus 10 minutes before that time. There is no sitting in the bus to waste customers’ time,” the prelate said.
Odong Simayo, an octogenarian, and area Local Councilor in Nakasero Vanguard, applauded Mr. Okot Kit for inviting Bishop Godfrey Loum and Gulu Christ Church Choir who doled out heart-rending hymns for the occasion.
He echoed the same calls made by Bishop, that customers are key in business, we must respect them. “We know our business people and customers are always in loggerheads but we must maintain good customer care” the elder counselled.
“I must tell you that what you have done to invite the man of God and the Choir was wonderful. “You are the only person who has done this kind of thing in my life. “I am also going to invite the man of God and his choir soon to bless the opening of a business in my home,” a visibly impressed Odong Simayo said.
