religion 21 March 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Pentecostals Are Bapentekoote, Not Balokole: Columnist Clarifies
Ugandan columnist Allan Tacca argues that Pentecostals should be called Bapentekoote rather than Balokole, a term implying moral reform that doesn't apply to all amid rising scandals in their churches. He highlights cases of alleged rape, fraud, and exploitation while noting that rogues persist across all faiths. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/columnists/allan-tacca/it-is-bapentekoote-not-balokole--5398488
Uganda’s Pentecostal churches are booming, drawing diverse followers who once rejected organized religion for direct Holy Spirit access. Yet, scandals plague their leaders, from a bishop on trial for raping and sodomizing a young barber to an apostle marrying a fraud-accused woman after abandoning his wife.
Pastors often peddle olive oil miracles, promising wealth to tithers and ‘seed’ donors, exploiting believers’ faith. Some complain that official statistics undercount their numbers, perhaps due to their loud services creating an illusion of dominance.
The term ‘Balokole,’ meaning reformed sinners in Luganda, doesn’t fit. It predates Pentecostalism, originating with Anglicans confessing sins for upright living. Human nature persists; labels don’t erase rogues.
As churches grow, all types join, including exploiters and cover-seekers. True Balokole are reformers across faiths, while Pentecostals are aptly Bapentekoote—like Bangirikani for Anglicans or Bakatuliki for Catholics.
Cheats may resist, but facts stand: not all Pentecostals are reformed.
Source: Daily Monitor