Okore Subcounty Sky Ignites As Ogwang Welcomes The New Year With Fireworks, Unity And Hope

 January 1, 2026   |    77 views

By Our Reporter | Ngariam Focus

OCWIIN TRADING CENTER,OKORE SUBCOUNTY-What is usually a calm and unassuming corner of Okore Sub County in Ngariam County erupted into colour, sound and jubilation as Ocwiin Trading Centre and Ocwiin Primary School became the epicentre of Katakwi’s New Year celebrations.

In a night etched with spectacle and emotion, Ngariam County MP and State Minister for Education and Sports, Hon. Peter Ogwang, treated residents to a breathtaking fireworks display that lit up the sky and lifted spirits across the district.
From early evening, streams of people poured into Ocwiin from neighbouring villages, drawn by anticipation and word of mouth. By midnight, hundreds—young and old, able-bodied and disabled—had packed the trading centre and school grounds, craning their necks and jostling for space as the first fireworks cracked open the night sky.

Gasps, cheers and ululations followed each burst of colour, transforming Ocwiin into a theatre of collective joy.
For many residents, the moment was deeply personal.
“I have never seen anything like this in my lifetime,” said Mzee Yorobwamu Okoel, his face lit as brightly as the sky above. “I am so grateful to my son, Hon. Peter Ogwang, for bringing fireworks to our home to celebrate the New Year.”

The youth, too, felt seen and celebrated.

“This is an amazing gift for me,” said Patrick Kedi (26), a newly married resident. “I will never forget welcoming the New Year like this.”
Beyond the spectacle, the fireworks symbolised something larger—a message of inclusion, unity and shared celebration.

Parents lifted children onto their shoulders, traders paused business to join the countdown, and elders watched on with quiet pride as Ocwiin briefly became the heartbeat of Katakwi.

The display capped a New Year marked by prayers, family gatherings and reflection across the district.

Earlier, Hon. Ogwang had called on residents to remain peaceful, hardworking and united, emphasizing education and sports as foundations for shaping a disciplined and productive generation.

The Ocwiin celebration brought those words to life—turning policy and leadership into a moment people could see, hear and feel.

As the final sparks faded and the crowds slowly dispersed, excitement lingered in conversations and smiles.

For a trading centre accustomed to quiet nights, Ocwiin had made history— welcoming the New Year not in silence, but in splendour.

For many in Katakwi, the fireworks were more than a show. They were a signal of hope, a gesture of closeness from leadership, and a bold reminder that even the most remote communities deserve moments of shared joy as they step into a new year together.