Defrocked Bishop Akurdid Ngong (left) and his successor Moses Anur. (Photo: Courtesy).

A fresh dispute has emerged between the rival bishops of the Episcopal Church in Jonglei State on jurisdiction over the church’s branches in the neighboring Uganda and Kenya.

Newly-appointed Archbishop of Jonglei Internal Province Moses Anur, and defrocked Archbishop Ruben Akurdid issued counter orders – rearranging and maintaining the branch offices of the church in the two neighboring countries.

On November 4^th, Bishop Moses Anur dissolved four of the administrations in Kenya and Uganda – reducing them to only three.

He directed that the pastors are responsible for their respective parishes, while the diocesans coordinate activities of the parishes awaiting new arrangements.

Speaking to Eye Radio on Monday, Bishop Moses said the church administrations in Kenya and Uganda are under his responsibility – as the head of Jonglei State Internal Province.

“The administrations of Kenya and Uganda are under the internal arch-bishop of Jonglei as we agreed in 2013 and 2016 when our people were displaced as refugees in Kenya and Uganda , so they are under archbishop,” Bishop Anur said.

Cleric Anur said he has taken the decision to resolve some issues in the church administration.

“That’s why I made that dissolution, so that every parish or every priest should remain in his or her parish until the administration of Jongeli internal province will solve that issue.

But his predecessor, Bishop Akurdit issued similar order maintaining the four administrations of the church on the previous arrangements.

The defiant Bishop Ruben Akurdid, who was dismissed in 2020, says Bishop Moses Anur’s decision was not procedural.

“It is actually is not procedural, because those who are there, they were assigned by the archbishop Ruben Akurdit who was in charge for East African Chapter,” said Phillip Maluak, the spokesperson of Bishop Akurid.

The embattled Bishop, Ruben Akurdid Ngong returned to Bor in July for the time since January, saying he had been permitted to resume his religious duties.

This was despite their summon to Juba by the office of the president following tension between their supporters in January.

Speaking to Eye Radio on Monday, Akurdid’s spokesperson Maluak said his boss, who was removed by Primate Justine Badi, is still the legitimate leader of ECSS in Jonglei.

“The case is still in the president office, and bishop Ruben Akurdit is the one assigned us in Kenya and Uganda chapter respectively and they have not officially handed the office to him, because bishop Ruben Akurdit still have problem with Justin Badi.”

Previously, the Primate of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan said former Archbishop of Jonglei Internal Province, Akurdid, was back to his community as a retired church leader.

The controversial church leader received heroic welcome by a huge crowd of supporters, in the state capital, Bor.