Acholi religious and cultural leaders led by their chairman, Archbishop John Baptist Odama, last week paid a solidarity visit to their counterparts in Lira to show their sympathy over rebel atrocities, writes Edris Kisambira.
A press statement issued by the Acholi Religious Leaders’ Peace Initiative said the visit was decided on after they heard of the atrocities committed by the rebel of the Lord’s Resistance Army during the last few weeks.
The statement said the delegation, which also included Bishop Baker Ochola, Sheikh Isak Kato and the Rwot of Payira, David Onen Achana, visited the site of the local FM, Radio Wa, which was burnt by the rebels on September 27.
The visit was also aimed at improving relations between the people of Lango and Acholi.
The statement said the leaders vowed not to allow anybody cause a rift between the neighbouring communities.
“We have a common problem of failure to return peace. We must work together to overcome this,” one of the Bishops said.
The delegation, including Lira Bishops, John Charles Odurkami and Joseph Onyanga, toured the suburbs of Ayago and Teso Bar.
The rebels burnt more than 150 homes and abducted several children in the two suburbs.
The Bishops prayed at the grave of a woman who was burnt to death in her hut.
Acholi religious and cultural leaders have organised a peace campaign of prayer and mass mobilisation to cover the month of October. Ends