UGANDA: Gulu Archdiocese Vicar General Receives Presidential Recognition for Peace Promotion
The Vicar General of Gulu Archdiocese Monsignor Matthew Odong has received the Presidential Medal in recognition of his outstanding contributions towards peace building in Northern Uganda during and after the war.
The medal was awarded to Monsignor Odong on the occasion of the International Labour Day celebration held in Akwe Primary School in Agago town Council, Northern Uganda where President Museveni was the chief guest.
The medal was awarded in honour of his contributions to the people of Northern Uganda when he erected learning institutions to offer quality education, and other humanitarian assistance to war victims during the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency that went on for almost two decades in the region.
President Museveni cited schools like “Archbishop Flynn” Secondary School located in Pader district as a learning institution built to offer holistic education to the children recovering from the brunt of insurgency in Northern Uganda.
The Presidential medal was also awarded to Monsignor Odong for his vision when he established the modern farms for agriculture in Acholi land, an initiative that enhanced the aspirations of people towards food production in the region.
Monsignor Odong, the co-founder of Acholi Religious Leader’s Peace Initiative shall be remembered for leading the peace mediation process during the tough times of insurgency between the LRA rebel leader Joseph Kony and the Government of Uganda in Juba South Sudan.
Through “HOPE FOR UGANDA” a United States based charity organization working in the area, Monsignor Odong is currently offering a face-lift to vulnerable children especially orphans whose parents were either killed or abducted by the LRA.
Monsignor Matthew Odong the Vicar General of Gulu Arch Diocese and Most. Rev. John Baptist Odama the Archbishop of Gulu have been recognized worldwide for their outstanding contributions to peace-building in Northern Uganda.
∽End∽
By Isaac Ojok, St. Mary’s National Seminary, Ggaba
