Police hunt for a scholar, Samuel Ojok
Ojok is now under suspicion for allegedly promoting views that are considered contrary to the local norms, particularly in Northern Uganda. The police have alerted the local council authority in Gulu City about his alleged activities and warned residents, especially the youth, to avoid associating with him and his family.
Police are hunting for Samuel Ojok, 39, a scholar at the center of a controversial investigation in Northern Uganda.
Ojok, who was widely regarded as someone who could transform his society with the education attained from Europe, has fallen from grace. His recent actions during a visit to Uganda sparked outrage among his family, community, and the local authorities.
According to the police, during a SACCO (Savings and Credit Cooperative Society) meeting in Gulu City, Ojok allegedly encouraged members, particularly the youth, to embrace gender diversity and gay rights in exchange for financial benefits.
This has led to widespread disapproval, with the community elders and members condemning his actions as a violation of the Ugandan traditional norms and law.
“Now, can he promote ideas that go against our cultural values and the framework of the SACCO?” Said one SACCO member, who chose to remain anonymous.
Ojok is now under suspicion for allegedly promoting views that are considered contrary to the local norms, particularly in Northern Uganda.
The police have alerted the local council authority in Gulu City about his alleged activities and warned residents, especially the youth, to avoid associating with him and his family.
“We will bring all of them to books as soon as our investigation is complete,” said a reliable local police unit that preferred to remain anonymous. Ojok’s case adds to the growing list of individuals targeted in Uganda’s ongoing crackdown on activities deemed inconsistent with the country’s traditional values. This crackdown has intensified following repeated condemnations of certain social ideologies by legislators and religious leaders who described them as foreign imports that contradict Uganda’s cultural heritage.
Ojok’s troubles began early this year when he was accused of what the authorities described as non-conforming social ideologies among farmers and youth members of the SACCO in Northern Uganda, where he holds a leadership role.
It is established that Ojok, who currently lives and works in the United Kingdom, travelled to Uganda between November and December 2024, during which he organised and facilitated several SACCO meetings in Gulu City. However, instead of focusing on the financial growth and savings of the SACCO, he allegedly introduced discussions on social issues, promising financial incentives to those who support his views. Authorities suspect that he has established a network to spread this idea among the SACCO members, particularly farmers and young people.
The police claim to have detailed information about Ojok’s alleged activities at the SACCO office. “No arrest has been made so far, but we will arrest all of them as soon as we gather all the necessary evidence,” a local police unit said.
Uganda has a long history of strict social conservatism, with legislation and cultural norms often clashing with progressive ideologies. The situation has become more tense in recent years, with increased scrutiny and persecution of individuals and groups advocating for LGBTQ rights.
Ojok’s case underscores the challenges faced by those who promote ideas that diverge from traditional values in Uganda.
