Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Gulu (Agenzia Fides)- “Enough with war, peace is a gift of God which we are called to build day by day with prayer, dialogue and by accepting and forgiving our brothers and sisters ” said Archbishop Pierre Christophe Apostolic Nuncio in Uganda, during a special Mass on Friday 12 January to close a special Week of Prayer for Peace in Northern Uganda organised by the Catholic community (see Fides 11 January 2007). The Nuncio recalled Pope Benedict XVI’s teaching that peace is built through conversion of hearts and he expressed gratitude and appreciation for tireless efforts on the part of the Catholic community, particularly Archbishop John Baptist Odama of Gulu, to mediate the conflict in Northern Uganda.
“The Week of Prayer was an important event because its purpose was to involve people in the region in a process of reconciliation starting from grassroots, in families, with neighbours, villages, different tribal groups. People must realise that peace is built in the heart and person to person” local Church sources told Fides. This was the second such event, the first Week of Prayer for Peace held last year, concluded in Jumani. This year it concluded in Lira at the local Comboni Centre affiliated with Ugandan Martyrs University. Next year the venue will be Nebbi.
The event is organised by the Justice and Peace Commission of the dioceses of Gulu Arua, Lira and Nebbi. The diocese of Soroti was also invited to take part. All these areas are devastated by armed rebellion started by the militia Lord’s Resistance Army, as well as tribal land disputes and clashes.
“The initiative is organised by the Catholic Church as an ecumenical and interreligious event” the local sources told Fides. “At least 7,000 people participated, Catholics, other Christians of various confessions and Muslims. The experience which involved the entire Catholic community in the region was an example of concrete action to promote reconciliation and peace”.
Local Bishops of the organising dioceses, as well as many priests, men and women religious and lay people attended the various prayer meetings.
At the political diplomatic level there is growing concern since the LRA asked for the negotiations with the Kampala government to be moved from Juba in Southern Sudan to Nairobi, Kenya (see Fides 12 January 2007). The request was made after Sudanese president Omar Bashir said he was “determined to rid Sudan of the LRA”. According to the cease fire agreement LRA troops gathered in camps in areas in Sudan and Democratic Congo. The Ugandan government intends to continue negotiations but has threatened to consider the return of LRA combatants in Uganda as a resuming of hostilities.
“A transfer of the talks to Kenya would be complicated” say Fides sources. “The LRA leaders are wanted by the International Penal Court and Kenya signed the Convention with which the Tribunal was instituted. Therefore the leaders could be arrested by Kenyan authorities”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 16/1/2007 righe 46 parole 569)
