Official entry
Alfred Barclay Buxton of Bible Church Men’s Society (BCMS) who already had Christian Mission in Central Africa roamed the areas surrounding Karamoja including Lake Turkana. They were looking for places and peoples who had not heard the Gospel of Christ. The two requested BCMS to allow them to take the Gospel to Karamoja. The Bishop of Upper Nile Diocese Usher Wilson gave his consent.
Alfred Barclay Buxton’s portion of scripture was the call to Gideon, “Go in this thy might”. Gideon’s might was his realization of his weakness and dependence upon God“. “We can expect as complete a victory as Gideon had”, Buxton emphasized.
The two entered Karamoja by the striking mountain gateway at Iriir. Prayer claiming the land to God was said; they were cordially received by the District Commissioner locally named Acholimatar of Karamoja District.
Arriving at Kangole they found Lokong Apacapa who was later baptized Israel; with him, they climbed Morulinga hill to spy out the land and pray for it.
Guided by a government chief who sent Lokong Apacapa to lead the vistors, and Psalms 132:6, ‘We found it (Lotome) in the fields of the woods’, they chose a site where a generation before, hippopotami had roamed by the Omaniman River. It was and is in the midst of the small Tome section, and called Lotome, the place of elephants. Lomanat, the County chief of Bokora told the Sub-county Chief of Lotome , Lokol Apoomomwo, to give them all possible assistance.
Alfred Barclay Buxton and Hamilton Paget Wilkes officially put down Christian roots in Karamoja on Saturday 3rd, May 1929.
“We had 12 men to push the car through mud. It was a great joke to the naked
Karamojong. We arrived at about sunset we waded through the last two miles;
40 dusky women in their antelope skins and huge wire necklaces (ngalagia) and bracelets (ngasuwa) helped us. Such was the bizarre beginning.”
In their own minds, the pioneers were breaking new ground, bringing about an epochal event that would rouse the people from their ancient sleep. Yet for Karamojong this was another batch of Europeans coming to hunt game with their superior firearms. Gaining Permission...
