The Laroo-Pece Division Member of Parliament, Fr Charles Onen, has revealed plans to return to active Church ministry years after he was suspended for joining elective politics.
Fr Onen was suspended in 2020 by Archbishop Emeritus John Baptist Odama of the Gulu Archdiocese after expressing interest in contesting for the Laroo-Pece Division parliamentary seat in Gulu City, which he later won. His entry into partisan politics was deemed inconsistent with Church regulations governing clergy participation in political office under Canon Law.
In a circular dated October 5, 2020, addressed to priests and reverend fathers in the archdiocese, Archbishop Emeritus Odama declared that Fr Onen was no longer permitted to exercise priestly ministry. Fr Onen’s parliamentary tenure, however, is coming to an end after he lost the January 15 parliamentary election to Norbert Mao, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
In an exclusive interview, Fr Onen said he is at peace with the election outcome and holds no bitterness toward Mao. He dismissed suggestions of political rivalry, describing politics as a mental game rather than a lifelong career.
“On the first day you are sworn in, you must ask yourself: after Parliament, what next? Politics is not a do-or-die affair. It has no career,” he said, adding that his campaign focused on issues rather than personal attacks against opponents.
Addressing his fallout with the Church, Fr Onen clarified that his suspension was temporary and that he is willing to apologise, but only to the Church. However, he criticised the manner in which the suspension was handled, arguing that it was done in haste. According to him, Canon Law does not require an apology as a condition for lifting a suspension.
Fr Onen said the priesthood is permanent, emphasising that “a priest remains a priest forever.” However, he noted that his return to active ministry will not be immediate, stressing that he will not rush back to the Church simply because he lost the election. He explained that the priesthood requires genuine conviction and should not be seen as a refuge for those disappointed in politics.
Meanwhile, Monsignor Martin Agwee, the Vicar General of the Gulu Archdiocese, said that although Fr Onen has expressed interest in returning to the Church, he must first follow the established procedures. He emphasised that returning to active priestly ministry is not automatic unless the required Canon Law procedures are followed.
Monsignor Agwee said that while Fr Onen understands the procedures required to return to active ministry, he must first formally engage with the Archbishop and follow the established Church processes. He noted that Fr Onen, having studied theology, is aware of the proper steps, but emphasised that his return to priestly duties is not automatic and will depend on the outcome of the required canonical procedures.
Fr Onen is not the first Catholic priest in Uganda to be suspended for actively participating in politics. The late Fr Simon Lokodo, who served as Minister of Ethics and Integrity, represented Dodoth County in Kabong District in Parliament from 2006 until his death in January 2022.
Similarly, Fr Dr Jacinto Desudedit Ogwal of Lira Diocese was suspended in December 2010 after joining elective politics. He later won the Otuke County parliamentary seat in 2011 and served one term in Parliament.
