Enoch Olinga was the first member of the Teso tribe to declare his faith in Baha’u’llah in Uganda and one of the first three Africans to become Baha’is. As Mrs. Banani, wife of the Hand of the Cause Musa Banani, in whose home he declared his faith mentioned that he became a Baha'i through the prayers of the Guardian. While on pilgrimage the Bananis had asked the Guardian to pray for the success of a fireside which they were holding on a specific day. The Guardian had assured them that he would do so, and on that evening in Africa, Enoch Olinga made his declaration of faith.
Mr. Olinga was one of the few fortunate Africans of his time to receive a complete education and as a result was many times offered high positions in government. He refused post after post in order to consecrate his life to the Cause, and out of respect for the Baha'i principle of avoidance of involvement in politics.
In his first year as a Baha’i he brought many members of his family and tribe into the Faith, and then received the great distinction of being named by the Guardian a Knight of Baha'u'llah in recognition of his pioneering to the Cameroons in the Ten Year Crusade. Many of those he taught in Cameroon also pioneered, taking the Faith to other virgin territories in Africa. This brought Mr. Olinga the appellation "Father of Victories" from the Guardian.
In 1957, Enoch Olinga received the highest distinction the Faith could confer when he was appointed a Hand of the Cause of God. Mr. William and Mr. John Robarts were elevated to this same rank at that time, and the three men became close friends and collaborators. Mr. Olinga many times represented the Universal House of Justice at conferences throughout the globe and carried the banner of the Cause to the indigenous peoples of earth. In 1970 he came to Canada to visit among the native believers of the West and the Yukon.
(Baha’i Canada, vol. 2, no. 5, October 1979)