During the event, The Rt. Rev. Professor Alfred Olwa, Bishop of Lango Diocese, preached from Isaiah 61:1-8 and declared that the Spirit of the Lord had called and anointed Bishop Pons to preach the good news of Jesus at this time in history, especially in Nebbi.
The Rt. Rev. Pons Ozelle has been consecrated and enthroned as the 3rd Bishop of Nebbi Diocese. He replaces the 2nd Bishop of Nebbi, the Rt. Rev. Alphonse
Watho-Kudi, who died in January 2021 from COVID-19.
Rev Ozelle was enthroned
on Sunday, January 16, 2022, by the Archbishop of the Province of the
Church of Uganda the Most Reverend Dr Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, in a ceremony held at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Goli on Sunday, January 16, 2022.
During the event, The Rt. Rev. Professor Alfred Olwa, Bishop of Lango Diocese, preached from Isaiah 61:1-8 and declared that the Spirit of the Lord had called and anointed Bishop Pons to preach the good news of Jesus at this time in history, especially in Nebbi.
The newly consecrated Bishop Pons Ozelle also based his Charge on the same passage from Isaiah 61, summarized as “Restoration through Jesus Christ from whom tangible healing, repair, and hope will come.”
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pons…
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out...Bishop Ozelle Awinjo Pons.”//
In his maiden speech, the new Bishop pledged to skill the youth, strengthen the family ministry
and minister to the wider community. Bishop
Pons also stressed the need for registration of land, promoting SACCOs
and tree planting at both household and institutional levels, promoting
dedication, especially retaining Primary Teacher Training Colleges in
the Diocese and upgrading clergy education.
He also appealed to young people to
embrace dialogue in seeking support for their challenges.
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towards…
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your challenges.”//
Meanwhile, Archbishop Kaziimba in his
speech reiterated the Church position in regards to admitting pregnant and breastfeeding girls back to school. He says there is a need for government to
work with the Church to forge a way forward on how to integrate teenage
mothers into school without compromising the values that the Church holds so dear.
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our discussion.”//
Vice President Jessica Alupo who represented President Yoweri Museveni at the event, urged the Church to skill
the youth to address the challenge of unemployment. She
also pledged the support of the government as a development partner and
presented a new car to the Bishop to facilitate his movement in the
Diocese.
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that Uganda…
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church activities.”//
Rev. Ozelle was born on August 17, 1969. He
earned a Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Theological College in
Singapore. He also has a Certificate in
Administrative Law and a Bachelor of Divinity from Uganda Christian University,
a post-graduate Diploma in Teacher Education from Kyambogo University, and a
Diploma in Business Studies from Uganda College of Commerce, Pakwach.
Rev. Ozelle was born again at the age of 24 on
December 19, 1993.
His salvation followed the death of two of his friends, an experience that left him shaken and in his own words, he heard the voice of God telling him that he would surely
die at a young age if he did not repent of his
ungodly ways.
He has ordained a deacon in 2000 and then made a priest on November 18, 2001. He has served as Diocesan Secretary and Diocesan
Administrator of Nebbi Diocese, Archdeacon of in Jonam and
Padyere Archdeaconries in Nebbi diocese between 2006 and 2012, parish
priest, and Chaplain of several schools.
Rev. Ozelle has also served with World Vision, taught at
Uganda College of Commerce and Paidha Primary Teachers’ Training College, and
Chaired the Boards of Governors for Uringi Secondary School and Pakwach
Secondary School. Rev. Ozelle is married to Edna Owila, who teaches at
Uringi Secondary School, and God has blessed them with four children.
William Mugisha
Freelancer