Archbishop Emeritus Henry Luke Orombi addressing the gathering

By : Brenda Achen

Archbishop Emeritus Henry Luke Orombi has called for greater attention to the empowerment of the boy child, warning that neglect and limited support expose boys to school dropout, drug and alcohol abuse, street life and crime.

Bishop Orombi said communities should adopt a balanced approach to child development by addressing the unique challenges facing boys while sustaining efforts to empower girls in education and other areas of life.

He made the remarks during a thanksgiving service for Elly Aswa at St. Peter’s Church of Uganda in Paidha Town Council, Zombo District, on Sunday, October 25, 2026. Aswa was thanking God after surviving three road accidents within a period of about one month.

Bishop Orombi, who was the main celebrant, said the boy child was increasingly being overlooked in discussions about education and social development.

“When the devil wants to erase a tribe, he starts with the boy child,” he said, citing accidents, school dropout, street life, drug and alcohol abuse, and petty crime as some of the challenges affecting boys.

He questioned the long-term implications of neglecting boys while girls continue to receive support to pursue education and other opportunities.

“Our daughters are wise and study hard and complete their education, but who will marry these well-groomed ladies?” he asked, arguing that boys who lose interest in school early risk undermining their own future and that of their communities.

According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics’ 2024 National Population and Housing Census, females account for approximately 51 per cent of Uganda’s population of about 45.9 million people.

Bishop Orombi also linked Aswa’s survival through repeated accidents and other life-threatening experiences to God’s mercy and divine protection. He drew from Psalm 103, which speaks about God’s forgiveness, compassion and enduring love.

Aswa recounted surviving three road accidents between February 19 and April 2, 2026, in addition to four earlier accidents. He said the experiences had strengthened his gratitude to God, particularly because his family and clan had lost relatives in road accidents.

Among those he named were his uncle, Pius Okaba, who died at Alwi; businessman Tanislau Wanok, who was knocked down near Ayuda Corner; and Lieutenant Raymond Kasamba, who died at Goli.

Aswa also recalled a near-death experience during the COVID-19 pandemic when he tested positive for the virus and was admitted to Arua Regional Referral Hospital.

He said his oxygen levels dropped so severely that medical personnel reportedly declared him dead and transferred him to the mortuary, where he was tagged as deceased as hospital staff traced his family contacts.

“All this time, I could hear what was happening, but I could not speak,” Aswa recalled.

He said an argument later arose over whether he was dead or alive, after which he was returned to oxygen support and monitored for three days.

Aswa further recalled that on the fourth day, the hospital’s standby generator failed, affecting patients who depended on oxygen. He said he survived the ordeal, which he attributed to God’s intervention.

The thanksgiving service also featured a fundraising drive to support the acquisition of land for St. Peter’s Church of Uganda in Paidha Town Council.

The event attracted district officials, politicians and members of the business community from greater Nebbi and neighbouring districts.

Aswa serves as the West Nile Coordinator for the Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment (SAGE) programme and is a board member of Life Concern (LICO).