I was born on December 27, 1967. My father was William Okalang and my mother, Christine Justine Aguti. Both died by the time I was 9 years old. First my mother of cancer and in
1976 my father was brutally murdered by armed persons associated with Idi Amin. Nine of us were left without parents, 5 boys and 4 girls. The whole family was traumatized. Our oldest brother Peter and his new wife, Christine, began their married life with us helpless children caring for us in one round grass thatched hut without a window. There was only one bed for Peter and Christine, the rest of us slept on pieces of sack and old cloth.

Morning came early at 5am when we would go to the garden to cultivate the whole day with only one meal in the evening. I tried earning money by brewing and selling the local beer; making charcoal for fuel; working in people’s gardens, and offering myself as a laborer for various work for neighbors. My hope was to raise money for school and survival. But all these efforts failed because no one could afford to pay me and often took advantage of me. Once I did receive an old pair of trousers for payment which served as my daily and school clothes. School fees remained a problem. I feared there would be no future for me or my family. I have a distinct memory one day, at 1pm in the afternoon, when I was 14 telling my brother, Peter, I was leaving home to become a priest, having no idea how this would be accomplished. He said, “Try, if you fail please Charles do not fear to come back home. God will find us a way forward.”

That started my journey to the priesthood. On reaching my parish and announcing my intention to the parish priest I was welcomed but told to stay at home while I completed the interviews. I qualified and enrolled as a first year student in the diocesan minor seminary. I was among 10 seminarians and was first in my class. But due to my poor background my success was threatened. I only had my uncle’s old pair of trousers as my school clothes, and no shoes, slippers, blanket or towel. Being the poorest among very poor boys was a mental challenge.

One day I was called into the office of the priest- rector to be told I had no vocation and that I must leave. I probably was told this to help me save face because I could not afford to pay my way. My heart was sorrowing and trembling for fear of my future. I pleaded with the rector and he wrote to my parish priest, a missionary from Holland. At first he was reluctant to help but then agreed and opened his hands to help me for 2 ½ years. But then he returned to Holland and I was without financial help.

I was able to find some work, studied hard, and miraculously completed seminary school. I was informed that I could be ordained to the priesthood but I had no money for the necessary preparations to be ordained at the cathedral. I asked my bishop if he could come to my home parish of St. Theresa parish church to ordain me but that there were no funds for a celebration. He agreed to come on August 8, 1998. I was overjoyed.

On August 8, 1998 a miracle happened. On ordination day with Peter and Christine by my side to present me to the bishop my eyes filled with tears as before me were crowds of people who had gathered and had made grand preparations for me, their son and brother. That day we celebrated. In great humility I offered thanks and praise to God for his great graces.

Three months after ordination I was appointed parish priest of St. PancrasCatholic Parish in Toroma. 7 months later at around noon in June 1999, chaos broke out. Karamojong raiders attached our area killing, rustling cattle, raping, burning and abducting people and their property. This began my new life. For the next 5 ½ years I worked among the people who relocated for safety into refugee camps and were tormented by memories ofthese massacres.During this period, on Dec 17, 2001, I had a terrible car accident which fractured my spinal bones, skull and right jaw. By God’s grace I recovered.

Following my accident I felt called by God to do something about the many orphans in my parish who had lost parents due to AIDS and these insurgencies. I approached my bishop and said “I must do something.” He said, “Charles what can you do? You already serve in the poorest parish in a very poor diocese.” “Yes, bishop”, I said, “But the people I serve are fortunate to be in families. There are many children not in my church without anyone who need our help.” With little encouragement from the bishop I dreamed of how I might help.

In 2003 our area was invaded by insurgents associated with Joseph Kony, the rebel notorious for stealing children and forcing them to become his soldiers and slaves. My people were frightened of these children-soldiers and I had to encourage them to defend themselves as we received no help from the central government. I held a one week service of prayers, fasting and sacraments to give them courage to stand up to these attackers. Strengthened by this our people were able to chase off these intruders without the loss of life.

In 2002 I began my vision to help the orphans and children of my village in Akulony. A school was started with 4 classrooms and 252 children enrolled. Now the enrollment is 900 children served by 18 teachers. Among those 900 today I have by God’s grace 130 orphans in my care.

In 2005 a dormitory for the children was completed and by 2008 an additional dormitory for boys was constructed, a church for 500, and kindergarten building with offices for staff. A large generator to power the buildings and to provide lights in the evening was donated. The importance of this is that the children are now able to study when the sun sets which was not possible before. Children come from surrounding areas to take advantage of the light to study and prepare for national exams.

All of these miracles were made possible by donors from Germany, Seattle and Holy Rosary parish, and from our friends in Uganda. When my government education department saw what my community was accomplishing they provided more teachers. I applied for and received a Peace Corp volunteer to serve us between 2008 and 2010.

In 2008 a team from Holy Rosary Parish including Fr. John Madigan, Sue Stiller, Diane Cooper, Amanda Henry, Nicole Cesmat, Becky Cesmat, and Tim Law visited us. Together we gave thanks and celebrated all that God had accomplished. With these brief reflections, I know my life journey will be to care for the orphans and with God’s grace I feel “the River flowing out of you and me, setting all in various captivities of life, Free!

God’s blessings upon my friends of Holy Rosary--- Fr. Charles Osire