UGANDA: Archbishop Odama Appeals for Peace among the Youth in Northern Uganda
Arch Bishop Emeritus John Baptist Odama flanked by other Bishops and the priests in group photo at the climax of Peace and Prayer Week in Gulu city
Fr Isaac Ojok
The Archbishop Emeritus of Gulu Archdiocese Most Rev John Baptist Odama has appealed to the population in Northern Uganda to be engaged in promoting peace and unity among them.
He appealed while opening the 17th annual Provincial Peace and Prayer Week that began on 22nd April 2024 to 26th April 2024 in Gulu City.
Arch Bishop Odama mentioned the need for people especially the youth to refrain from actions such as hatred, aggression, killings and the numerous cases of theft of property being registered in the region.
He stressed the need for the youth in Northern Uganda to listen to the voice of the church and use their energies for production to enable them transform their lives.
According to the Arch bishop, it is timely for the youth in the region to remain responsible in taking the mantle of leadership in the church, politics and in the cultural institutions spread across the region.
“Young people this region we are soon handing it over to you in peace, so be ready” the Arch bishop Emeritus said in a statement.
The prelate mentioned the need for the people in the region to walk together in a bid for the people in the region to live in peace as guided by the theme, “Building a Synodal Church in Communion, Participation and Mission for Peace”.
He called for unity, love among the different religious denominations, political parties and cultural institutions across Northern Uganda to be agents of peace in a move to promote peaceful co existence among the people.
“People in Northern Uganda would be the best in Uganda and Africa only if love, unity, forgiveness and reconciliation were earlier promoted”, he further added in a statement.
For peace to flourish, he said people should live as the first community who practiced the same faith in Jesus Christ and that they shared their lives, property, joy and sorrows in common under the leadership of the Apostles and the guidance of the Holy Spirit saying it is the direction that the current community should be taking.
The Peace and Prayer week initiative started in 2006 and it was held on 10th January in Arua diocese under the guidance of Most Rev John Baptist Odama as a way to bring peace, forgiveness and reconciliation in Northern Uganda following the insurgency of the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels led by Joseph Kony that lasted for almost two decades.
The initiative gathers together thousands of people from the Arch diocese of Gulu and other dioceses of Lira Nebbi and Arua including people from other Ecclesiastical Provinces who come to share and celebrate to joy of living together and to foster peace and love where they are lacking.
This year’s peace and prayer week was held in Gulu city and was attended by Most Rev John Baptist Odama the Arch Bishop Emeritus of Gulu, Rt Rev Sabino Ochan Odoki of Arua diocese, Rt Rev Sanctus Lino Wanok and Rt Rev Giuseppe Franzelli the Bishop Emeritus of Lira diocese including the priests, religious men and women, political, civil and the cultural leaders as well as representatives from the refugee settlement camps in Palabek.
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