Church, cultural leaders push for healing in northern Uganda

LIRA - Calls for truth, justice, reconciliation and lasting peace dominated the climax of the 20th Ganal Prayer Peace Week in Lira city, as religious, cultural and political leaders urged communities in northern Uganda to confront painful historical wounds and embrace unity for sustainable development.

The week-long gathering, hosted by the Lira Catholic Diocese under the theme, “Peace Be With You”, drawn from John 20:19, brought together bishops, cultural leaders, politicians, Muslims and Christians from across northern region and Karamoja.

At the heart of the discussions were powerful reflections on the region’s turbulent history of war, cattle rustling, displacement and political violence, alongside renewed calls for forgiveness, justice and collective healing.

Eng. Dr. Moses Michael Odongo Okune warned that Northern Uganda cannot achieve lasting peace without truthfully confronting its painful past.

Quoting the Bible verses Micah 6:8 and John 8:32, Okune said peace can only flourish where justice, mercy and humility prevail.

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free,” he said, adding that Lango and neighbouring communities must openly confront historical injustices instead of pretending they never happened.

He traced Lango’s historical journey from pre-colonial military expeditions to the devastating impacts of the 1971 military coup, Idi Amin’s regime, cattle rustling and the two decades of insurgency that ravaged northern Uganda.

“Nothing should take us back to the dark days when our people lived in internally displaced persons’ camps,” he said.

Okune particularly highlighted the unresolved disappearances, murders and destruction suffered by communities in the region.

“A Lango community whose two paramount chiefs, Yosafati Engur of Ococ Pur Iwor Clan and Otim Etura of Okarowok Malakwanga, were murdered by agents of the state and their bodies never recovered, knows no peace,” he said.

He also recalled the killing of Fr Oryang of Lira Diocese in 1979 during the violent years of the Idi Amin regime, saying such painful memories continue to haunt families and communities across Northern Uganda.

“Even a church whose clergy disappeared without trace and were murdered, that church knows no peace,” he said.

Catholic Church's role

At the same time, he praised the Catholic Church for its historic role in peacebuilding both globally and locally, saying the church has consistently stood at the forefront of reconciliation efforts.

“The Catholic Church pursues peace through interfaith cooperation, grassroots mediation, justice and prophetic guidance,” he said.

He also urged neighbouring communities, including Lango, Acholi, Alur, Kumam and the Ateker groups to preserve shared cultural and linguistic identities as a pathway to regional unity.

Won Nyaci, Engineer Dr. Moses Michael Odongo Okune addressing the gathering of Christians during peace week at Lango College ground hosted by Lira Diocese. (Credit: Hudson Apunyo)

Focus on peace and unity

Health minister and Lira City Woman MP Jane Ruth Aceng, who represented President Yoweri Museveni, delivered the President’s message focusing on peace, unity and wealth creation in Northern Uganda.

Aceng said President Museveni thanked the people of Northern Uganda for overwhelmingly supporting the NRM during the 2026 elections and commended the region for maintaining peace throughout the electoral period.

“He says the NRM government worked hard to bring peace to Northern Uganda and defeated all kinds of armed uprising,” she said.

The President, according to Aceng, said peace had created an opportunity for development and urged residents to embrace wealth creation programmes such as the Parish Development Model and commercial agriculture, especially coffee growing.

“He is happy that the people of Northern Uganda have embraced the Parish Development Model and are growing cash crops like coffee,” she said.

President Museveni donated shillings 20 million towards the Peace Week activities.

Aceng also personally contributed another 20 million in cash, part of which supported transport for bishops, food for pilgrims, bulls for communal meals, parish activities and the organising committee.

Let go

Aceng urged Northern Uganda residents to let go of painful memories of war and focus on rebuilding communities through peace and development.

“Many of us slept in camps, many lost children and families, but the Lord is doing a new thing,” she said.

She linked peace directly to health and productivity, arguing that a peaceful population is essential for national development.

The closing ceremony was presided over by Raphael P'Mony Wokorach, Archbishop of Gulu, who challenged Christians and all people of goodwill to become “peace messengers” in their homes and communities.

Archbishop Wokorach said the six-day gathering had become a “School of Peace” where participants learned the values of justice, dialogue, democracy, respect for human rights and reconciliation.

“We are going home with a lot of knowledge, skills and motivation to promote peace,” he said.

He warned against corruption, tribalism, hatred, revenge, greed and excessive materialism, describing them as modern idols that destroy peace and social harmony.

“Where there is corruption, there can be no peace. Where there is tribalism and favouritism, there is no peace,” he said.

The Archbishop also urged communities to embrace dialogue instead of violence.
“When we are not able to have dialogue, it is like we have lost our human nature,” he said.

The event ended with the adoption of detailed pastoral resolutions aimed at strengthening peacebuilding structures across Northern Uganda and Kotido Diocese.
Among the key resolutions were commitments to:

▪️Strengthen parish peace and justice committees;

▪️Promote family prayer and reconciliation;

▪️Combat tribalism, corruption, cattle raiding and gender-based violence;

▪️Support widows, orphans and vulnerable groups;

▪️Promote youth involvement in peacebuilding;

▪️Strengthen civic education and ethical leadership;

▪️Encourage trauma healing and psychological support for war-affected communities;

▪️Build collaboration between churches, cultural institutions and government agencies.

The resolutions also called on every parish to become “a centre of reconciliation,” every family “a school of peace,” and every Christian “a witness of justice, love and hope.”

The resolutions were adopted and signed by bishops from the Gulu Ecclesiastical Province and Kotido Diocese during the concluding ceremony at Lango College Grounds in Lira City.