UGANDA: Karamoja region holds Convocation on Ecumenical Peace Resolution
The month of
August 2015 was a month of great significance for Karamoja region and its
neighbors. Two peace meetings took place from August 17 to 21 and August 27 to
29 in Moroto and Kidepo Valley National Park respectively.
August 2015 was a month of great significance for Karamoja region and its
neighbors. Two peace meetings took place from August 17 to 21 and August 27 to
29 in Moroto and Kidepo Valley National Park respectively.
The
meetings, which were conducted separately, were held under the theme: The
Rennaisance of Karamoja: Karamoja Ecumenical peace convocation and ‘Cross
Boarder Peace Dialogue Meeting’.
meetings, which were conducted separately, were held under the theme: The
Rennaisance of Karamoja: Karamoja Ecumenical peace convocation and ‘Cross
Boarder Peace Dialogue Meeting’.
The Karamoja
Convocation in Moroto was convened by the bishops of the churches in the
Karamoja Sub Region including Rt. Rev. Damiano Guzzetti of Moroto diocese, Rt.
Rev. Giuseppe Filippi of Kotido diocese, Rt. Rev. Joseph Abura of Karamoja
diocese, Rt. Rev. James Nasak of North Karamoja diocese and Rt. Rev. George
Omara of Pentecostal Assemblies of God Karamoja region. President Yoweri Kaguta
Museveni was the Chief Guest and he was accompanied by the First Lady Janet
Museveni, who is also the Minister for Karamoja affairs.
Convocation in Moroto was convened by the bishops of the churches in the
Karamoja Sub Region including Rt. Rev. Damiano Guzzetti of Moroto diocese, Rt.
Rev. Giuseppe Filippi of Kotido diocese, Rt. Rev. Joseph Abura of Karamoja
diocese, Rt. Rev. James Nasak of North Karamoja diocese and Rt. Rev. George
Omara of Pentecostal Assemblies of God Karamoja region. President Yoweri Kaguta
Museveni was the Chief Guest and he was accompanied by the First Lady Janet
Museveni, who is also the Minister for Karamoja affairs.
Also in
attendance were Ministers, Members of Parliament, Civil and Political leaders
from all the seven districts of Karamoja. The main facilitator was Rev. Bishop
Joshua Lwere of Grace Assembly based in Old Kampala The convocation attracted
participants from all the different ethnic groups in Karamoja. Representatives
of the Dodoth, the Ik, the Jie, the Labwor, the Bokora, the Matheniko, the
Tepes, the Pian and the Pokot tribes took part actively through songs, dances
and drama. Delegates from neighboring regions and countries notably the Iteso,
the Sabiny, the Langi, the Acholi, the Turkana and people from
attendance were Ministers, Members of Parliament, Civil and Political leaders
from all the seven districts of Karamoja. The main facilitator was Rev. Bishop
Joshua Lwere of Grace Assembly based in Old Kampala The convocation attracted
participants from all the different ethnic groups in Karamoja. Representatives
of the Dodoth, the Ik, the Jie, the Labwor, the Bokora, the Matheniko, the
Tepes, the Pian and the Pokot tribes took part actively through songs, dances
and drama. Delegates from neighboring regions and countries notably the Iteso,
the Sabiny, the Langi, the Acholi, the Turkana and people from
South Sudan
were also present.
were also present.
In his
sermon Bishop Lwere said, “There is need to consolidate the current prevailing
peace and stability in the region and to accelerate development as a vehicle
for launching the rebirth of a new Karamoja.”
sermon Bishop Lwere said, “There is need to consolidate the current prevailing
peace and stability in the region and to accelerate development as a vehicle
for launching the rebirth of a new Karamoja.”
He added
that the process entailed the need to make the convocation a moment of communal
repentance for the violence meted out against fellow Karimojong and their neighbors.
He called upon the people of Karamoja to seek for God’s forgiveness and from
all the
neighboring districts most of which have over the years borne the brunt of
Karimojong acts of violence.
that the process entailed the need to make the convocation a moment of communal
repentance for the violence meted out against fellow Karimojong and their neighbors.
He called upon the people of Karamoja to seek for God’s forgiveness and from
all the
neighboring districts most of which have over the years borne the brunt of
Karimojong acts of violence.
In his
speech President Museveni dwelt on various issues such as importance of peace,
land, infrastructure, and food security among others. The high moment came when
he put his signature to a final declaration in which he pronounced Karamoja as
peaceful, free and open to development before going ahead to unveil a huge
wooden plague of the map of the new Karamoja. Meanwhile, all the bishops from
Karamoja also signed on the same declaration.
speech President Museveni dwelt on various issues such as importance of peace,
land, infrastructure, and food security among others. The high moment came when
he put his signature to a final declaration in which he pronounced Karamoja as
peaceful, free and open to development before going ahead to unveil a huge
wooden plague of the map of the new Karamoja. Meanwhile, all the bishops from
Karamoja also signed on the same declaration.
The two
meetings also reviewed previous resolutions and resolved to implement some of
them as soon as possible as a way of promoting peace along the common border of
Uganda and South Sudan.
meetings also reviewed previous resolutions and resolved to implement some of
them as soon as possible as a way of promoting peace along the common border of
Uganda and South Sudan.
By Msgr. Philip Lokel (Vicar
General – Kotido diocese); UEC; NEW
CONTACT August-September 2015 ISSUE 6
VOL 3
General – Kotido diocese); UEC; NEW
CONTACT August-September 2015 ISSUE 6
VOL 3
