By Sekaggya Seka Moses
Gulu, Uganda – The High Court in Gulu has issued a temporary injunction stopping the burial of Severino Kiberu Okoya, a 99-year-old self-styled prophet and father of former Holy Spirit Movement rebel leader Alice Auma Lakwena.
Okoya passed away on July 13 at his home in Gulu City after battling prostate cancer.
Alice Lakwena, born in 1956, was a prominent figure in Ugandan history, leading the Holy Spirit Movement (HSM) in the late 1980s.
She claimed to have received visions from the Holy Spirit and led a rebellion against the government of President Yoweri Museveni.
Her movement was known for its syncretic blend of Christian and traditional beliefs, as well as its use of spiritual rituals and practices in military campaigns.
Okoya’s death has sparked a dispute among family members over the burial site.
His son, Robinson Kaunda, had planned to bury him at their home in Latyeng village, while his eldest daughter, Doreen Adokorach, objected and wanted him buried in Pabit village, Unyama Sub-county, citing a will left by the deceased.
The court has ordered the family to engage in mediation, with a hearing set for Monday.
If an agreement is not reached, the matter will be brought before a high court judge.
Okoya was the founder of the New Jerusalem International Tabernacle Ministries, a church with over 10,000 followers that incorporated elements of both Christianity and Islam.
He had faced criticism and controversy throughout his life, including accusations of cult practices and arrests for erecting shrines illegally.
His body is currently lying at the Fourth Infantry Division morgue in Gulu city.
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