By Alexander Mackey Okori and Bondry Kilenga
A sombre mood griped Kotido Municipality residents on Monday, April 6, 2026, as the casket bearing the body of late Claverton Peter Lokiru, arrived from Soroti City where he died from on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
Mzee Lokiru died at Dr. Plaza Medical Centre in Soroti City at the age of 87 due old age related illnesses and other undisclosed complications.
By 3:30 pm, a large crown including; members of the community, political and religious leaders had gathered at Kotido Municipality roundabout to receive the body of Late Mzee Lokiru, which left Soroti City at 10:20 am.
At 4:00 pm, Mzee Lokiru’s body had finally arrived to Kotido Municipality through Moroto-Kotido road, sending mourners into wailing.
His body escorted by a fleet of vehicles was then ushered to Good Shepherd Cathedral in a procession led by Kotido Army School brash band for a Requiem Mass led by the Vicar General of Kotido Catholic Diocese Rev. Fr. Daniel Nabuya.
At 4:40, hundreds of mourners filled Good Shepherd Cathedral for a Requiem Mass held in his honor as hymns, prayer and testimonies were offered in remembrance of an elder whose death has left a significant void in religious and social fabric of Kotido District and Karamoja as a region.
Among the notable dignitaries present at the Requiem Mass included; Bishop Emeritus of North Karamoja Diocese, Rt. Rev. James Nasaka, Kotido Assistant RDC John Magezi, former Jie County MP and aspirant for Kotido Municipality MP in the 2026 polls Moses Bilibad Adome.
Reading the brief biography to the mourners, Joseph Lokolong said the late died last week at Dr. Plaza Medical Centre in Soroti City due old age related illnesses.
He said that the late Lokiru was the only surviving board member of Karamoja Development Agency (KDA) established by an Act of Parliament in 1987, as an affirmative action institution to spearhead development, manage projects such as water, agriculture, education, and health and rehabilitate the Karamoja sub-region.
Lokolong also added that the also served in various positions including; the district administrator, adding that a detail biography will be read on Wednesday, during the final sent off.
Presiding over the Requiem Mass, Fr. Rev. Daniel Nabuya eulogized the late as a devoted and humble Christian, urging Christians to emulate his legacy.
He further called on the mourners to stand together in solidarity with the family of the late in this difficult moment.
Some of the Christians offered their prayers to late Lokiru, asking the lord to forgive him for whatever sins he committed while on earth and grant him eternal life.
Eulogies
In his condolence message, Fr. Samuel Lotuk, the Parish Priest of Losilang Parish described the demise of Mzee Lokiru has a big lose not only to the Catholic Church but entire Karamoja Sub-region.
He eulogized him as a role model and an icon who lived in the era of tradition and modern times of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Rev. Fr. Philip Lokel, the former Vicar General of Kotido Catholic Diocese, acclaimed the deceased as a devout Christian who distinguished himself as both a statesman and a churchman.
Fr. Lokel said the late was a man of deep faith who looked forward to Sunday service, reminiscing times when he would take him the Holy Communion at his home.
Council to pay tribute
Emmanuel Lodio, the Kotido District Speaker said that the council will hold a special sitting on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at the late’s residence in Lomukura cell in honor of the late.
According to the Order Paper, the special sitting will begin at 9:00am and ends at 10:00am.
The session, according to Lodio, will serve as council’s official tribute to the late scholar and advocate for his great contributions not only to Kotido District, or Karamoja Sub-region but Uganda as a whole.
Among the dignitaries expected to attend the special council sitting in honor of late Lokiru are; Area Members of Parliament, LCV Chairperson Kotido, Peter Komol Lotee, District and Municipality councilors, Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Charles Ichogor, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Emmanuel Oyuku Ocen and the Kotido Municipal Town Clerk (T/C),Moses Lorika.
According to the tentative burial program, the late will be laid to rest at his ancestral home in Lomukura on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
