In a heartwarming and somewhat perplexing turn of events, a special memorial service was organized to honor the memory of William Ojangole, aged 72, who met his end in Ethiopia last week and was laid to rest in the very land where he sought refuge from the impending doomsday. It appears that Ojangole, a devout member of the Christ Disciples Church in Teso, was among the 273 faithful who decided to make a hasty exit to Ethiopia in anticipation of a doomsday prophesied to start from the Serere district.
This bizarre chapter in Ojangole’s life began two decades ago when he relocated to Serere, citing the need for ample land to accommodate his remarkable brood of 22 children. Whether the land was meant for farming or simply to house his expansive family remains a mystery. What is not in question is the fact that he made a swift exit from the region he originally called home, convinced that the Serere district would be ground zero for the impending apocalypse.
In a heartfelt display of devotion and gratitude, Ojangole’s family gathered on Wednesday at his ancestral home in Ojogol village, Omoo parish, Kobuin sub-county, Ngora district, to pay their respects. They decided to hold special prayers to commemorate the man who had departed this world. His son, Joseph Okuda, explained their reasoning, stating, “Since we did not get an opportunity to bid him farewell, we have resolved to mourn him today and extend thanks to God for his grace to keep Daddy for 72 years.”
The memorial service was a solemn affair attended by hundreds of mourners. Portraits of the departed were meticulously placed throughout the area in tents and trees, providing an almost surreal atmosphere for the gathering. The images of Ojangole served as a poignant reminder of the man who, in a twist of fate, sought refuge from doomsday.
Daudi Otinget, the LC1 chairperson of Ojogol, fondly remembered Ojangole as a peaceful man who maintained cordial relationships with those he encountered. Despite his departure to Serere, Ojangole’s visits back to his hometown were marked by warmth and affection. Otinget lamented the inability to view Ojangole’s body but offered prayers for his eternal rest.
It is indeed a tale of faith, fate, and the human spirit’s capacity to weather life’s most extraordinary storms, even if those storms might ultimately turn out to be nothing more than wild predictions of doomsday.
