UGANDA: Bishop of Lira Appeals for Education of Children Faced With Effects of LRA War In The Diocese
Rt. Rev. Sanctus Lino Wanok The Chairperson of Education Commission at the Uganda Episcopal Conference
The Chairperson of Education Commission at the Uganda Episcopal Conference Rt. Rev. Sanctus Lino Wanok has urged Christians to support Children in Northern Uganda who missed out formal Education due to the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel hostilities that lasted for two decades.
He made the appeal in an exclusive interview in Kampala, having observing that many children in northern Uganda have been flung into life-threatening poverty because of insurgency, adding that it is appropriate for people to join hands and work for the progress of society.
Rt. Rev. Sanctus Lino Wanok, Bishop of Lira Diocese asked Christians to put aside their differences and focus on educating Children recovering from the brunt of insurgency in a move to produce future responsible citizens.
Filled with sympathy about the situation of some children who cannot afford to go to school, he reiterated the need for people to solicit massive support for children from poor family background so as to facilitate their education and uplift the standards from the miserable state of life and work to enable them earn a living.
He added, “Education is an expensive enterprise. If the family does not support the agenda, it becomes very difficult to educate the child in today’s world. The government, together with civil society organizations, and the Church in particular, we all have to find ways to support their education.”
While sharing his pastoral experience for the little time he has spent in office as the Ordinary of Lira Diocese after taken full Canonical possession on the 9th February 2019, he said among the many children who missed out formal education, some are being taught and learning on job, adding that this may continue if nothing is done to rescue them from the miserable state of life imposed on them after the war.
“The coming of vocational schools and other initiatives should be the efforts so as to reach out to the children who are completely in dire needs, to teach them practical skills that can make them earn a living,” he said.
Reflecting on the consequences of conflict in the region that reduced the society into ‘displaced camps’, the Bishop appealed to all Ugandans to see education as the pillar of evangelization of the people faced with adverse effects of conflict in the region.
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By Isaac Ojok, St. Mary’s National Seminary Ggaba.
