AFRICA/UGANDA - Cease fire announced in northern Uganda: Bishop of Odama issues statement to Fides

Kampala (Fides Service)- “We thank President Museveni and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) for this important step towards peace” Archbishop John Baptist Odama of the northern Ugandan diocese of Gulu, also chairman of the Acholi Religious Peace Initiative, told Fides with regard to a seven day cease fire agreement in a limited area of northern Uganda decided unilaterally by the President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni. “We call on political leaders at the local and national level and the international community to work to ensure that this new initiative leads to peace” the Archbishop told Fides.
The announcement of a cease-fire was the government’s reply to a call to negotiate peace launched about ten days ago by a spokesman of the LRA rebel group.
Moreover, last week a group of independent mediators said rebels were asking for peace talks, perhaps held in a neutral country.
Since 1989 the LRA, formed mainly of Acholi, has been fighting president Yoweri Museveni who took power in 1986 overthrowing a military junta of mainly Acholi officers. Former militia of this ethnic group fled to Sudan where they formed various guerrilla groups including the LRA.
The LRA ideology is based on religious syncretism, a mixture of elements of Christianity Islam and traditional African cults. This is why religious leaders in the area have been actively involved in a serious of initiatives to reach peace with the LRA leaders including the Acholi Religious Peace Initiative. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 15/11/2004 righe 25 parole 263)