FROM SCRATCH TO CASH A TRUE STORY

Beatrice Atuku formerly abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army is one of the many who benefited from the sewing machine scheme. She is currently teaching in a vocational School and at the same time a tailor.

Ocwer Esther is one of the most successful beneficiaries of the sewing machine, she is in Gulu Town and they are making bags for export to European Countries

Most of the students at the Women Development Centre had no proper source of income for survival before their training. Some of the students were abducted by the Rebels of the Lords Resistance Army. And as a result, they missed formal education, parental care, and came back child mothers or even disabled. After training at the women development centre for one year, the students are ready to start earning a leaving. For about two weeks the o-coordinator Women Development Centre Rev.Willy Akena took his time off to visit some of the former students of the women Development Centre. He compiled the pictorial presentation of a few of them, as seen in the pictures.

Every day I get up, I am sure of at least 2000 (two thousands shillings), Said Esther who is now hiring a small room in the town. In their room which is about 4 meters by 3, Esther and her three occupants (all tailors) are very busy making hand bags. The bags are made of local materials. According to Esther, their bags are exported to European Countries. Here, I also met a former students Aya Sarah, who although has not benefited from the sewing machine from the Women Development Centre, but has got a sewing machine. Currently a sewing machine can be hired at a monthly fee of 8,000 (eight thousand shillings only). When asked why they are able to export the bags, Esther said some Europeans just make orders.
We wish to thank very much Elsabeth and her Church in Denmark for their contributions towards the sewing machines for the students at the Women Development Centre. So far a total of 42 Students have benefited from this scheme. We hope more will continue to benefit. At the moment we have 56 Students at the Centre and they are due to finish their course at the end of this month. The idea is that the students provide at least 25% of the total cost of the machines. As I write now, 10 students have already paid their 25% cost share for the machines. Attached is the list of the students and their location as well as some telephone contacts.

LEADING THE WAY IN CHURCH TRANSITION

Bishop Nelson, Bishop Elect Canon Johnson Gakumba and Brenda talking over tea.

Bishop Joel Obatia and Bishop Nelson shares light moment after the opening address at Emmanuel Cathedral Arua Thursday 15, 2009



By Rev. Willy Akena
The Bishop of Madi West Nile, Rt. Rev. Joel Obatia has commended Bishop Nelson for his exemplary leadership during this period of transition. Bishop Joel was on Thursday 15 October addressing members of staff from the Diocese of Northern Uganda who were in Madi West Nile Diocese for a three days retreat. The theme for the retreat is “Best approach to Transition”. The Bishop Elect, Rev. Canon Johnson Gakumba is being introduced to the staff and the activities carried out and plans for the coming years. The staff pledged their commitment to work with their new Bishop just like they did with Bishop Nelson. In his key note address, Bishop Joel said during transition, different reactions is expected, some people will be excited, others disappointed, and others just pull away. Bishop Joel said, “Nelson led the diocese during the most traumatic time” and that the New Bishop is coming at a time when Northern Uganda is entering into a new life. The bishop concluded by saying that the Diocese of Northern Uganda is leading the way in transition and that Madi West Nile should follow. On his part Bishop Nelson appealed to his brother bishops not to forget about the retired bishops. A total of 34 Staff attended this retreat

If he could touch inmates, he can touch the wounded north

The story below appeared in the Observer of Wednesday 26 August 2009
Just to let you get information about our Bihsop Elect. A must read.


The Bishop Elect will certainly minister to people like this family in the picture

Interview

Written by Michael Mubangizi
Wednesday, 26 August 2009 22:37
If Rev. Canon. Johnson Gakumba had a choice, he would have voted someone else as Bishop of Northern Uganda Diocese, but the House of Bishops, considered the humble Gakumba the right man for the job.

The House of Bishops on August 8, 2009, elected Gakumba Bishop of Northern Uganda. He will be consecrated on December 20, 2009 at St. Philips Cathedral, Gulu replacing Rt. Rev. Nelson Onono Onweng.

Currently a Vicar at the Church of the Resurrection, Bugolobi Church of Uganda, Gakumba told The Observer, “I never expected it; in fact I prayed against it. There are people with Masters and higher qualifications than me,” says Gakumba who has a bachelor’s degree in Theology.

Because of that, Gakumba says he was hesitant to submit his CV and only yielded at the insistence of the Diocesan Secretary of the Northern Uganda Diocese.

“Serving as a Bishop in a place like Northern [Uganda] is not easy but I can’t betray the confidence of the House of Bishops and I am sure by God’s grace I will do the work.”

Gakumba likens his reluctance to be a Bishop to an aversion expressed by people like David, Moses, and Jeremiah who according to the Bible tried to evade God’s calling.

“I think it is human to always give excuses. You remember Jeremiah and Moses said they didn’t know how to speak.”

Although he has served in Kampala diocese for the last seven years, Gakumba says he has since his ordination been a staff of Northern Uganda Diocese where he was installed as a canon. Gakumba is a humble, soft-spoken man. During the interview, I had to be extra attentive not to miss a word because he spoke in low tones.

CHILDHOOD MEMORIES

Born in 1959 in Masindi, Gakumba lost his father at an early age and was raised by Mr and Mrs Leuben Kyenkya.
“My father died when I was young, I am unable to know how old I was when he died,” says Gakumba, who was hesitant to talk about his early life.

He however recalls that he started smoking at an early age copying Kyenkya (RIP) whom he kept referring to as his father during the interview. “He always sent me to light his cigarettes. That is how I became addicted to smoking to a point where I couldn’t sleep without smoking.”

Gakumba’s education was often disrupted because he lacked school fees. This explains why he has no ordinary level certificate. Because Kyenkya couldn’t afford fees, after his primary education, Gakumba went to Kenya with Kyenkya’s daughter who had offered to educate him there.

But this was never to be as she lost her husband in an accident which ended Gakumba’s academic pursuits.
Gakumba had to look for his school fees and upkeep. “That is how I resorted to all ways of surviving. I did all sorts of jobs including being a shamba boy in Kenya.”

It is this lifestyle that Gakumba says exposed him to, “moving out in discos, drinking, sexual immorality…” However this was short-lived as he got saved in 1979 which he says was a triumph over these vices.

JOINING PRIESTHOOD

He later returned with Rev. Modicum Okello, a priest from Northern Uganda who was a Deacon at St. Christopher Church (Nakuru-Kenya) where Gakumba served as a Sunday school teacher.
It was upon his return in Gulu that he joined priesthood.

He joined Archbishop Janan Luwum Theological College (Gulu) for a provincial certificate in Theology where he wrote an entry examination because he had no O level certificate.
His entry into priesthood was a dream come true.

“I wanted to be a pastor because I thought men of God are holy. I also wanted to put on a collar.” But after his years of priesthood, Gakumba says not all church ministers are holy.
“I have discovered that not all of them are holy. Some of them preach what they don’t practice.”

This has also been educative.
“It has taught me that no human institution is perfect, including the church.”
Gakumba also holds a diploma and degree in Theology.

Gakumba recalls serving as Deputy Principal at St. Janani Luwum Theological College Gulu when he only had a Diploma, to the chagrin of people with more qualifications.

In fact his degree programme was sponsored by some of the white tutors at the college, who were impressed by his work and wanted him to overcome that academic shortcoming.

NO CHILDHOOD DREAM

As kids grow up, they have childhood dreams but this wasn’t the case with Gakumba because of a difficult childhood.
“I was struggling to survive, meeting immediate needs, how could I have long term dreams? I had left that to chance.”

Gakumba however says because of his calm, peaceful, non-confrontational demeanour, people often said he would make a good pastor.
He adds that when he stopped joining colleagues for drinking sprees, some of them remarked rather prophetically, “leave him, he wants to be a bishop.”

Gakumba also talks of a lady who always addressed him as Rt. Rev., a prefix for Bishops, which he now holds.
“I never took them seriously but now I think people can prophesy. So there is power in tongues.”

After his ordination in 1984, he was posted to (All Saints Church Kitgum) as a deacon for one year. He has also served at Christ Church Gulu from where former Archbishop Livingstone Mpalanyi Nkoyoyo in May 2002 transferred him to Luzira Prisons as a Chaplain until his transfer to Church of the Resurrection Bugolobi Church of Uganda last year.

“Before my posting, people looked at being transferred to Luzira as a punishment but I left it attractive to serve in Luzira.”
He however admits its problematic preaching to inmates without offending them.

He was however consoled by Bible stories about prisoners, “we are all prisoners of sin that is why Jesus said, He would come to set captives free.”
Noting an unforgiving heart between inmates and people they allegedly wronged, Gakumba started a peace making course which he said yielded forgiveness between inmates and their accusers.

OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGES

He says he will take this gospel with him to Northern Uganda where he foresees need for reconciliation.
He also says people need to engage in income generating activities to overcome poverty.
This is part of his challenges, “I will have to look after myself, my clergy and the flock who are poor because they have spent many years in camps.”

But he also sees opportunities in his posting. He says the restoration of peace and the displaced peoples’ return to their homes is an opportunity, “for evangelism and ministry.”

REFLECTIONS

So will he fit in out-going Bishop Onono Onweng’s shoes?
“I will go with my shoes. He has done his best and I will be judged after my tenure.”
Onono has in his numerous roles also been involved in the South Sudan mediated Juba peace talks under the Acholi Religious Leaders’ Peace initiative.

Gakumba says he is not new to the peace process. He says he was part of the religious leaders that formed the “Acholi for Peace and Reconciliation Movement” which transformed into the Acholi Religious Leaders Peace initiative.
Gakumba is married to Christine Oroma, the mother his six children.

Nicholas Kisakye, the Head of the Laity at the Church of the Resurrection Bugolobi Church of Uganda says they will miss Gakumba.
“He has been a wonderful pastor, a team player, a listener and problem solver.”

Kisakye adds that Gakumba identifies people’s gifts and talents and either advise them on how to exercise them or give them opportunity to use them which he says will make him a good Bishop.

Gakumba believes his deprived childhood has been a blessing in disguise.
“It has taught me to have a heart for the needy, orphans and to value people irrespective of their class.”

Looking at his journey from Shamba boy to Bishop, Gakumba is best placed to advise against judging people by their present stature.
mcmubs@observer.ug

Johnson Gakumba rises from orphanhood to bishop

Picture by Rev.Willy Akena
I found this article in the New Vision of Wednesday, 19th August, 2009 . Thought you might be interested to read
Willy




By Dennis Ojwee

Humility and joyous disposition are the most outstanding characteristics that strike you when you first meet him.

The joyous reception he gives you leaves you with no doubt that he is indeed a man chosen by God to serve his flock.

Rev. Canon Johnson Gakumba, 49, is the bishop-elect of the Diocese of Northern Uganda (DNU), a top priestly position he never dreamed would be his, especially given that he grew up as an orphan.

Born on February 25, 1959 at Kiswata Village, Kihuba Parish in Masindi District, Gakumba was raised by the late Leoben Kyenkya after both his parents died.

Unfortunately, Kyenkya, who also died, will miss his adopted son’s consecration as bishop in December this year.

After his guardian’s demise, Kakumba stayed in Rev. Modicum Okello’s home, both at Mican in Gulu Municipality and later in the UK.

He returned to Uganda from the UK in 1980 and settled in Acholi sub-region, where he learnt to speak Luo fluently. Gakumba considers himself a true Acholi. He began life in priesthood in 1980 at Bobi Parish in Gulu Municipality, before his pastoral assignments at All Saints Church in Kitgum in 1984.

His first wife died in 2000, with whom they had four daughters: Hope Atim, a graduate of Makerere University, employed as a social worker, Faith Amony, Grace Lakica, now in S.4 and Charity Lamwaka. He married his second wife, Christine Oroma-Gakumba, an Acholi from Omoro County, Gulu in December 2001. The couple is blessed with two daughters: Ageno-Rwot and Peace Kipak-Rwot.

“I feel humble upon being elected bishop by the House of Bishops. This is a heavenly call and a big responsibility.

I have to commit myself to serving God and my people diligently with complete dedication, especially since they have suffered for over 23 years because of war,” says Gakumba.

As a young person, being an orphan never derailed him from being a dedicated Christian who kept his faith until he was baptised in 1974 at the age of 15. He was later confirmed as a true Christian believer and Soldier of Christ five years later in 1979.

He got born-again shortly after he had been ordained as a priest at All Saints’ Church in Kitgum Town Parish. Gakumba was the fourth Vicar of Christ Church Town Archdeaconry for two years from 2000 to 2002, where he launched his first development planning project of expanding the church premises.

He also served as the Chaplain of St. Francis Church, Luzira Government Prisons in Kampala Diocese in 2003.

His canonisation took place at St. Philip’s Cathedral in Gulu in 2007. From 2008, he served as Canon and Vicar of the Church of Resurrection-Bugolobi.

Gakumba promises cooperation with all the clergy who will serve under his spiritual leadership.

“I will work with the priests, the laity and all Christians to revive our diocese and restore the hope and faith of our Christians through God’s wisdom and blessings.

Let us, therefore, join hands in achieving this noble cause in order to please God and his people,” Gakumba says.

His consecration is slated for December 20, 2009 at Mican in Gulu Municipality, at which President Yoweri Museveni is expected as the chief guest.

Fact File
- 1997-2000: Bachelor’s degree in divinity at Uganda Christian University-Mukono
- 1991-1993: Diploma in Theology from Bishop Tucker’s Theological College-Mukono
- 1981-1983: Provincial certificate in theology from Archbishop Janani Luwum Theological College-Gulu Diocese
- 1977: Primary Leaving Certificate - Kyeema Primary School

Other responsibilities
- 1996-1997: Deputy Principal of Archbishop Janani Luwum Theological College
- 1995 -1996 college’s principal
- 1994-1997: Head of Lay Readers’
Training Programme in college
- 1984-1985: Assistant Vicar in All Saints Church in Kitgum
- 1983: Ordained priest
- 1980: Lay Reader at Bobi Parish-Gulu

Bishop Elect arrives in Gulu

Bishop Nelson Onono-Onweng whispering to the Bishop Elect Canon Johnson Gakumba during the informal service at Christ Church in Gulu

The Bishop Elect Rev. Canon Johnson Gakumba on arrival in Koro about 8 Kilometers from Gulu Town
THE BISHOP ELECT, CANON Johnson GAKUMBA ARRIVES IN GULU
B
usiness in Gulu town came to a stand still on Saturday 15, August 2009 as the Bishop Elect Rev. Canon Johnson Gakumba arrived in the town. A convoy of about 40 vehicles paralyzed the town, with brass band leading the procession into Gulu town. Jubilant crowd escorted the Bishop Elect along the Kampala- Gulu Highway. The over 8 Kilometers welcome was one of the unique events in the history of this town that had known only war for the past years. Thank God the prevailing peace has given people opportunity to regain their lost glory. The Acholi are well known for their cultural dances and making sweet ululations. While speaking to a mammoth congregation that assembled at St. Philips Cathedral on Sunday 16, August 2009, the Rev. Canon Johnson said he had lots of reservation in sending his curriculum vitae, until the Diocesan Secretary asked him if he wanted to be like Jonah in the Bible who wanted to run away from the mission placement to Nineveh.
Congratulatory Messages: On behalf of the clergy, the Diocesan Staff, Christians in the Diocese of Northern Uganda and on my own behalf, I congratulate you for your successful election of being the 7th Bishop of the Diocese of Northern Uganda. Seven is a perfect number according to Jews and your ministry to the people will be a perfect one. Please be strong and of good courage (read Joshua 1:6-7) May God help you as you take up the new task assigned to you by our Almighty God. Yours sincerely in the Lord's service

Rev. Canon Ayela Okot O.L
DIOCESAN SECRETARY

Mothers Union:-Pwoc ma oa ki bot dul pa Mothers Union me Diocese. Bishop ma kiyero manyen, Rev. Canon Johnson Gakumba. Ma ka wang mon me Mothers Union me Kineno man, mukwongo wacwalo pwocwa bot Lubanga muketo polo ki lobo pi tic me aura ma en otiyo pi kineno man me yero in me bedo laneno manyen. Pwoc madit wacwalo boti Rev.Canon Johnson, pi ye lwongo ma Lubanga olwongi iye. Ladit, Lubanga aye ma ocimo in me bedo ma latic pi kineno man. I dongo I Gulu i cako kwan me tic pa Lubanga nio ka idoko ladit kanica. Amiti ami caden I komi, In lakwat maber ma to pi romi mere. I kare ma piny rac I lobo me Acholi in pe iloko ngeyi me ngwec, iye me too I kin romi meri, man onyuto mar, tek cwiny ki diyo cwiny pi lwaki ma I kineno man. Kwiri ni waneno I tic ma itiyo I Kitgum ki Christ Church. Lubanga pe cimo dano ata, ongiyo in matut ci omiyo owok ki bot jo ma gin gubolo nyingi, wapwoyo jo ducu me nomination committee, kacel ki ot pa luneno. Walego Lubanga me gwoki, medo ryeko, ki onyo gum I komi I kare me keti I kom. Deyo obed bot Lubanga. Amen. Vice President Mothers Union. Mrs Mary Ocan.
On my behalf and my family, on behalf of the assistant Vicars, Catechist, Church wardens/side women, parish council, mothers Union, youth, Sunday school teachers and the entire congregation of St. Philips Cathedral, I would like to sincerely congratulate you for being elected the 7th Bishop of this diocese. We welcome you and your family all heartedly. We pray to the Almighty God to protect, keep you and provide you wisdom to lead his people as Joshua did. God is with you. Be determine and courageous (Joshua 1:1-9). Vicar St. Philips Cathedral Rev. James Okoyo.
Dear Bishop Elect,
It was on Saturday August 8, 2009 when the House of Bishops of the Church of Uganda elected you to be the seventh Bishop in succession in the Diocese of Northern Uganda.
On behalf of my family, the clergy, the laity, the entire Diocese and my own behalf, I heartedly congratulate you for being called as the chief shepherd.
I trust God the Father of Jesus Christ who by His grace and mercy has called you into church leadership in an area which has a history of revolt against the Government and has been a place of long rebellion will not leave you alone.
It is now approximately 20 years when the people began to return from exile. Your task is to restore the faith and prosperity of the people. The God of compassion will rescue the people from both political and spiritual oppression (Isaiah 14:1-2) and their restoration is like a new Exodus (43: 2, 16-19; 52:10-12)
Therefore the theme of “Highway" for the return of exiles is to be prominent in your leadership (Isaiah 40:3).
Now move on forward with the people like a school of fish in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Yours in His service,
Rt. Rev. Nelson Onono-Onweng
DIOCESAN BISHOP
Message from the Bishop’s Elect. Greetings to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Thank you for the very ENCOURAGING message from you and the Clergy of DNU .I personally felt am not the best candidate God always uses the weak to a shame the strong. Since it is God who has called me out of the many to be an overseer I want to assure all the clergy and the Christians who still doubt that the Lord who has called us as family, is able and faithful and he will accomplish His mission through us .Our God does not make mistakes. I see myself as a team leader and servant not a LORD.
It is my prayer that the Lord will give us spirit of unity and love. The Bible says in 1 John 4:20 that "if any says he loves God, yet he hates his brother, he is a lier..." we can’t preach love which we don’t practice. As the chief shepherd my desire is that we shall be one. No one should feel excluded in Gods house .There is room in my father’s house.
Yes the tasks ahead are challenging but together working as team we can.
May God bless you and my love to all.
I look forward to coming home soon.
Yours in the Love of Christ
REV CAN JOHNSON GAKUMBA.
VICAR/BISHOP ELECT DNU.

Northern Uganda gets new Bishop

The house of bishop elected the Rev. Canon Johnson Gakumba as the new bishop of the diocese of northern Uganda replacing Bishop Nelson Onono-Onweng. The consecration and enthronement is set for December 20th 2009 at St. Philips Cathedral Gulu. Rev. Canon Johnson was a Vicar at Bugolobi church of Uganda in Kampala until his election.
Congratulations Canon Johnson


Rev. Willy Akena
DIOCESAN INFORMATION OFFICER
0772667334

In loving memory of Blandina Oboma

Mrs Blandina Oboma died on 30th June, 2009 at 6:30 am at the age of 69. Burial took place at St.Philips Cathedral Gulu. Below is her Life History. She was suffering from Diabetic and Hypertension.

Life History of Mama Blandina Aceng Oboma
Her Parents
Mama Blandina Acheng Oboma was born on 1st January 1940 to Mr. Bulasio Okello of Atyak Pupwonya Gaya Parubanga.

Her life and Education
1950-1954 (P1-P4) she studied at Keyo Primary School while staying at Mr. and Mrs Ocacimo O Onyac who was the Headmaster of that School. They were well looked after together with other children.

1955-1956 (P5-P6) she moved to Atyak Pupwonya Church of Uganda Primary School and studied P5-P6 and sat the Primary Leaving Examination and passed very well and Mr. Sylvester Ayo Otogo was the Headmaster of that school.
1956-1957 She was admitted to St. Monica’s Girls’ Junior Secondary School where she studied junior secondary one and two.

1958 She studied at St. Hilda’s Teachers College for Women specializing in teaching infants. It was a one year course.
1959 She was posted to teach at Koch Goma Church of Uganda Primary School where she taught for one year. The Headmaster was A.O. Ociti 11. While there, she also taught some adults at Community Development. She taught Reading and Writing, etc.
1960-1961 As she had just been married traditionally to Gideon Allan Oboma, both of them were transferred to Namukora Church of Uganda Primary School. Gideon A. Oboma was appointed the Headmaster of the School.

20th June 1960 They wedded in Holy Marriage Matrimony at Namukora Church, officiated over by Rev. Eromiya D Ogony who was the parish priest of Omiya Anyima Parish which extended as far as Opari in Southern Sudan. Their matron was Miss Filda Adoch who was teaching at Akilok. She was then married to Silvano Oloya the late, who was also a school teacher. The best man was Mr. Wilson Kitara the late who was teaching at Omiya- Anyima Church of Uganda Primary School.

1962-1975 She taught at Atyak Pupwonya Church of Uganda Primary School where both of them were transferred.
1976-1982 Blandina taught at Gulu Primary School.

September 1982 She accompanied her husband and they went to Trinity College, Bristol, England where she studied for a Certificate in Theology.
1983-1984 They moved to Oak Hill Theological College in North London UK. She continued with her studies along side her husband. She studied Church History and other subjects. She also studied Mothers’ Union work.

June 1984 She returned to Uganda leaving her husband Bishop Gideon to continue with his studies at Oak Hill Theological College. She continued to teach in various ways. They started the first tailoring school in Gulu Together with Mrs. Rachael Obol the late.

1985-1987 The daughter of Canon Mac Baker Ochola 11, Joyce Adong died after abduction. Canon and his family were returning from Canada where he has completed his Theological Studies.

4th May another death occurred at the home of Bishop Gideon and his wife Blandina. Three members of their family were killed in cold blood. The three people were their son Barnabus Rwot Okonya who was in senior 3 in Gulu High School, Jacob Ocen and Pauline his wife. They died leaving Miriam a baby girl of only three months old.
May, 1887 The Archbishop at that time Dr. Yona Okoth arranged and airlifted us to Entebbe; first Gideon and some children, then later Blandina and some children of Bishop Canon Mac. Baker Ochola 11 who as the Diocesan Secretary at that time they were returning from Canada.

The Archbishop hosted Bishop Gideon and his family for three months after which they moved to Bishop Tucker Theological College where they were displaced for three years. The Bishop of Mukono diocese then the Rt. Rev. Livingstone M. Nkoyoyo allowed them to perform their pastoral ministry in confirmation services. Nkoyoyo later become Archbishop of the Church of Uganda.

1988 Mama Blandina and Bishop Gideon A Oboma attended the Lamberth Conference at Canterbury University in UK.
15th June, 1990 Mama Blandina and Bishop Gideon with their chidren returned to Gulu to continue with their pastoral ministry to the Diocese of Northern Uganda which was the entire Acholi sub region.

Mama Blandina A Oboma was elected Mothers’ Union President which she did for six years. They really worked very well covering the diocese. Together with the Mother’s Union Worker at that time, they are still remembered for what they did.
1993 They visited United Kingdom for some few months. They then visited the Mary Surmer House, the Headquarters of the Mothers’ Union in London UK.

November, 2008-March 2009 Blandina and Bishop Gideon visited United Kingdom. As the weather was bad Blandina was not quite well and she did not travel much. When they returned her health did not improve much.

On June 27th 2009 she spend a night in Gulu referral Hospital and on 28th June she was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor. There was no improvement on her health.
ON 30th June, 2009 at 6:30 am on St. Peter’s day, Mama Blandina went to her Lord and Saviour. She left behind four biological children, two girls and two boys and indeed many children whom she had been caring for.

She had been a very hard working, dedicated, faithful, loving, caring and friendly lady. She died in Christ and may she rise in glory. May Praise and Glory be to Him. Amen

Capacity Building at the Women Development Centre

Apiyo Monica (L) and Adong Kevin Odwong are among those who have already reported for 2nd Term 2009
The Diocesan Secretary Rev.Canon Ayela Okot Othniel Labeja shortly after handing over a certificate of attendance to Ajok Joyce (R), Irene Ayo is looking at the certificate and the Chairperson Women Development Centre Mrs. Jennifer Buruto (L)
End of May updates from the Women Development Centre 2009
As part of capacity building at the Women Development Centre (WDC), a four days training on professionalism was conducted at the Diocesan headquarters. The training attracted all the tutors of the WDC. The facilitators Irene Can and Ojok Anthony came from St. Monica Centre in Gulu. The following key areas were covered: - Teacher’s Professional Code of Conduct and Criteria, Scheme of Work, Lesson plan and Assessment
While closing the training, the Diocesan Secretary Rev. Canon Ayela called upon the teachers to exhibit the highest level of professionalism in order to have a positive impact on the learners. “Teachers who practice what they teach gain respect from the students” The Rev Canon said. He cited an example of a teacher who used to command lots of respect, lost it miserably after his trouser felt off in front of the pupils due to drankardness. The affected teacher requested for transfer immediately, because of the embarrassment he was having.

There is plan to organize another training for the tutors in other areas. In another related development, second term opens Monday 25, May 2009 with low turn up in most school in the district. At the WDC, by Friday 30, May 2009 only 30 students had reported. When asked why some of the students have not yet come, one of the student, Apiyo Sunday said, “The current rain is affecting the turn up, with some student very busy in their gardens, preparing fields, planting, while others weeding”. Another student said the low turn up is due to inability to raise some of the requirement for personal effect.



Information reaching us is that Akello Vicky is not able to report early because she is nursing her child who got burnt during the holidays. The Head girl, Grace Anek lost a relative and still with the bereaved family. We still expect more students to report.

Graduation at Women Development Centre

The Mothers Union Worker, Mrs Christine Abia hands over a new sewing machine to Akello Scovia upon completion of her course at WDC.

Like the disciples of Jesus Christ, the 12 students of the WDC hold their certificates

This is where we start from”, Apiyo Kevin excites Bishop Nelson with her display of her first product as year one at the WDC (dress made out of used cement bags) Brenda Onono and Mrs. Piramoi (Centre) taking their turn too.
Welcome to the latest update from the Women Development Centre (WDC) April/May 2009
By Rev. Willy Akena
“I AM EXCITED TODAY” “NOW I WILL BE ABLE TO LOOK AFTER MY SON”. SCOVIA ONE OF THE STUDENT WHO COMPLETED HER COURSE WAS HEARD SAYING AFTER RECEIVING THE SEWING MACHINE. SCOVIA COMPLETED HER ONE YEAR COURSE AT THE WDC. SHE WAS FORCED TO LEAVE SCHOOL IN PRIMARY SEVEN, AFTER A BOY MADE HER PREGNANT AND LEFT HER, A CHILD MOTHER

Updates from Women Development Centre

The students enjoying their Lunch

On of the many meeting that took place at the centre

Staff and some students of the WDC pose for a photograph in front of the classroom. Front line from left: - Rev. Willy Akena(Co-ordinator), Christine Odyek(Matron), Margaret Odong Care Taker of Children), Hellen Omon(Tutor), Apiyo Lucy(Principal), Joyce Ajok(Tutor), Oryema Justine Odo (Tutor Designing)
Welcome to the Latest updates from Women Development Centre. April 2009
Christian greetings from the Women Development Centre!! First term for the new students is soon coming to an end. We thank all those who supported us during the initial period of opening of the centre. A number of activities were carried out namely; board meetings, interview and recruitment of new staff and Purchase of equipment for the new students.
With the help of God we have been able to maintain all the 63 Students who have joined the centre for the 2009 course. We have 12 students who are left with only two weeks to complete their course.
We also received a good second hand Motorcycle DT 125 UAC 477Y from the Diocese. A brand new one can cost about eight million Uganda shillings. Many thanks to the Diocesan authority and all those who supported us.Prayer items this month. 1. Pray that we may be able to get toys for the children of these mothers.
2. Pray that we may be able to get stipend for some of our staff.
God bless you and continue to pray with us.

Smile and Laughter in Northern Uganda

By Rev.Willy Akena
There is Acoli saying, Gin caka pe moko odeyo, meaning what you are given each day has no impact. Yes, skill training is good but has little impact if you have no tools. It is like getting food stuff for a meal each day. But when you have a tool like sewing machine, your training would have some impact that is why Ajok Beatrice one of the victims of the Lord’s Resistance War says now she has a reason to smile after it was announced to her that she will benefit from a sewing machine fund. The fund is a direct involvement of Elsebeth Højgaard from Denmark who has a passion for the former war victims.
The news we have is that the students at the Women Development Centre will all receive a sewing machine upon completion of their training.
While speaking to the beneficiaries Elsebeth said her people in Kingos Church had contributed what they could so that others benefit. She challenged the former students to do like wise. “In the same way we want you to contribute what you have so that others will also benefit”. The idea is for the Old Students of WDC to contribute something small towards the cost of the sewing machines. What you will pay will go back to the sewing machine funds, and will be spent for purchase of sewing machines only. The contribution from Kingos Church pays for 75% of the total cost and the students are to pay 25%. This is a kind of Micro Finance Scheme, where you do not just receive something for free but you contribute and thus own it.
Bishop Nelson Onono-Onweng appealed to the beneficiaries to make proper use of the machines. It is absurd to note that as a result of the peace prevailing in Northern Uganda some people have resorted to sleeping without doing serious work to support themselves. The Bishop cautioned the young ones to avoid having too many children as it leads to chronic poverty.


During the visit to the Women Development Centre, Elsebeth divided her time between interacting with the students and attending board meetings.

This year we have a total of 62 new students at the Centre. They are mainly child mothers, formerly abducted children some orphans and girls who are unable to continue with formal education because of lack of money to pay school fees.

The center is grateful to Elsebeth Højgaard, Kingos Church in Denmark, Danish Uganda Friendship Association (DUFA), the Mothers Union, Diocese of Northern Uganda of the Province of Church of Uganda and DANIDA for their support.



The WDC appeals to well-wishers to come in and support feeding of the students and payment of some of the staff who are not catered for in the DANIDA funding.

Let the child mothers together with their children benefit with your support to feed them. Remember, one by one makes a bundle. Thank you for your consideration to support us.

WOMEN DEVELOPMENT CENTRE, DIOCESE OF NORTHERN UGANDA, P.O BOX 232 GULU UGANDA, TEL: + 256 (0) 772 667 334, E-mail. dnu@utlonline.co.ug/akenawilly@yahoo.co.uk
Blogs: www.dioceseofnorthernuganda.blogspot.com

Northern Uganda leading from behind

A team from Bristol visited Gulu recently. The visit came at a time when Bishop Nelson is saying bye bye to the Christians of the Diocese. The Rev'd Canon Stuart Taylor who has a heart for the people of Amuru accompany Bishop Nelson to Amuru Parish in the New District of Amuru. 147 Christians were confirmed and Canon Stuart baptized seven (7) children. Rev'd Philip Rowe, Rev's Chris Dobson and Walter Dirks joined Canon Stuart in Gulu for two days. They visited returned sites, camps and world vision. Amuru district emerged as the last in the recently released Primary Leaving Examinations. Out of the 92 District in the country Amuru led from behind. A sensible person may ask why? The obvious reason is the long war that has seriously affected this place. Other related reasons could be: - poor personnel, lack of interest by teachers, pupils and parents. Infrastructure is an obvious blame. Unless something is done now, the trend may not change easily. For the whole district to get only one first grade is a nightmare.

Harvest or something else

Yesterday marked 23 years of Museveni's rule as our President. One of the key issue in his address was Northern Uganda. There is relative peace and people are returning to their homes. We pray the trend continues.
Below is an extract from the New Vision-government owned paper.
Willy





NEWS | January 26, 2009
UPDF parades rescued abductees
GRACE MATSIKO
Kampala

With Achayo, a three-month-old baby suckling from her breasts, Ms Jacqueline Apio, 21, is sandwiched between two UPDF soldiers and a young Sudanese girl.

Ms Apio looks pensive and uncertain about what the future and the four parentless girls who are under her care. Like Anek, who is one-and-half-years-old and Akello, one-year-old, Achayo lost both her parents on Friday last week. Her parents were part of a group of Lord’s Resistance Army rebel fighters who were killed on Friday by the UPDF in an area between Duru and Suke, in northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo.

An abductee, only freed by the army last week, Ms Apio has taken the mantle of raising four children on her own. Despite the insurmountable challenge, apart from breast feeding her own daughter, Achiro, aged 1, Ms Apio is sharing her breast milk with Achayo.

Excited by camera flashes from a battery of journalists, Achayo stopped suckling from Ms Apio’s breast, licked her fingers and gazed at the reporters called to the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) headquarters in Kampala yesterday to witness the arrival of former LRA abductees, before she recoiled in her strange mother’s breasts.

One of the adopted children, Anek, is visibly distraught. She sustained a bullet wound on her left leg and is being treated by the army doctors, officials said. “Our soldier wanted to save Anek. He ordered her father to surrender but he refused. He held her with one hand while another held a gun. He wanted to shoot but the soldier shot him and the bullet that killed the father got her on the leg,” said Capt. Deo Akiiki, the publicist of the UPDF’s latest military offensive against the LRA, dubbed “Operation Lightning Thunder”.

Ms Apio, the four adopted children and the young Sudanese girl were flown from Dungu, the UPDF tactical headquarters in DRC to Kampala to be reunited with their next of kin, according to CMI chief Brig. James Mugira. “This is the horrific situation our people are exposed to by Joseph Kony,” said Brig. Mugira, as Achayo and Achiro competed for Ms Apio’s attention.

Apio said when the UPDF attacked their hideout, the rebel fighters ran away in disarray, leaving women and children helplessly behind. Speaking through an army interpreter because she could only speak Luo, Apio said she was abducted by LRA from Opit in Gulu in 2002. In the bush, she was forced to marry Lt. Okello Palutaka, who was among the 10 rebel fighters killed on Friday.

The army also paraded two LRA fighters, Sgt. Peter Okot and Sgt James Onen, who were abducted by the rebels in 1997 and 1995, aged 12 and 10, respectively. “We used the first month for planting and now we are harvesting,” Brig. Mugira, accompanied by the army and defence spokesman, Maj. Felix Kulayigye said.

He said among the captured equipment, rescued fighters and those taken prisoners, the UPDF is able to tell the financiers and collaborators of the LRA, even if he insisted he was not at liberty to disclose that information to the press.

LRA displace 70,000 in DR Congo

Kony chatting with Rwot Acana as rebels watch in their jungle hideout
GENEVA, Switzerland - The World Food Programme said on Wednesday it is extending its humanitarian operations across the eastern DR Congo, including areas hit by a conflict involving LRA rebels.

“WFP is concerned about a humanitarian crisis unfolding in Orientale Province, in the far north-east of the DRC (around Dungu), where rebels from the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) have been attacking civilians and forcing thousands to flee their villages,” the organisation said in a statement.

“WFP is preparing to assist about 70,000 people who have been forced from their homes and live in fear of their children being abducted by the LRA,” it said.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and nearly two million displaced in the two decades of fighting between the LRA and the Ugandan Government.

The area around Dungu is extremely difficult to reach because of both insecurity and impassable roads, so the WFP said it was opening a strategic air bridge between Dungu and Entebbe in Uganda which it would also make available to other aid agencies.
“There is also a possibility of using air drops to provide much-needed food assistance,” the agency said.

Across the whole of the eastern DRC, including Nord-Kivu province which has seen heavy fighting between government troops and rebels led by ex-general Laurent Nkunda, the WFP said it has delivered food to about 564,000 people in November.

LRA leader Joseph Kony failed to turn up on Saturday to sign an overdue peace agreement aimed at ending the two-decade-long civil war in the north.
A signing ceremony was to be held in Ri-Kwangba, a jungle town in southern Sudan, for the LRA leader to ink the deal finalised in April and already signed by the Government.

Civil and religious leaders travelled to Ri-Kwangba hoping Kony would turn up to sign the peace agreement.

Orombi concludes Northern tour

Bwola dancers at Bungatira in Ajulu Archdeaconry
Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi holding one of the many gifts during his pastoral visit to the Diocese


Anglican Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi has decried the rampant land wrangle in Northern Uganda. He said the problem is worst in Amuru district where he visited for three days. Delivering a sermon at Christ Church on Sunday, Archbishop Orombi appealed to the public to help political leaders find amicable solution to the land wrangles. He also caution the Acholi against selling the land saying the land has been given to them by God for them and future generations to live in. He said many people had learnt that the Acholi land is fertile and therefore need a piece of it. He warned the rich not to provoke the situation by wanting to buy big chunk of land. Archbishop Orombi concluded his pastoral tour of the Diocese of Northern Uganda on Sunday 30, December 2008

Meanwhile Archbishop Orombi has tasked the Northern Diocese Bishop Nelson Onono-Onweng to explain why he was never received with royal bwola dance during his visit except in Bungatira.
Archbishop Orombi said Acholi have the best traditional dance and music in Uganda and was surprised to note that he was not welcome by Bwola dance during his visit. Bishop Nelson referred the question to Archdeacons of Keyo Rev. J.P Nyeko and Rev. Oyet William Willies who explained that it is pagan way to use local dance and songs.
Archbishop Orombi who is a guitarist himself appealed to the clergy to unbind the Christians to let them use sanctified local songs and dances to worship the Lord.

Clerics in New Uniform

The General Secretary Bible Society of Uganda Mr. Henry Kalule hands over a clerical shirt to Rev. Jane Toodera

Henry Kasule, Bishop Nelson Onono-Onweng and Rev. Joyce Lakot, members of the Bible Society and Clergy of the Diocese of Northern Uganda pose for a general photo after receiving the clerical shirts

As preparation for the visit of the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda gains momentum, the clergy of the Diocese of northern Uganda got a morale lifting when a delegation from the Bible Society of Uganda donated Clerical Shirt to all of them; both retired and in active service.
The General Secretary Bible Society of Uganda Mr. Henry Kalule who led the team said “We as members of the Bible Society decided to offer the little we could to support our brothers and sisters in this diocese”
The clergy appreciated the gift and pledge their commitment in spreading the good news of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. They thanked Bible Society for demonstrating practically the Good Samaritan today. They also said the clerical shirts would make them appear very smart in front of the Archbishop who is scheduled to visit from November 24-30, 2008

IDP close

Following the relative peace that has been enjoyed by the people in northern Uganda for the last two years, a good number are returning to their original homes. According to a survey carried out by the District recently over 80% have returned to their home in Gulu District. It has also been found out that those who are not able to support themselves are still in the camps the category includes; orphans, widows, disable as well as old people.
In another related development, some of those who were in the Lord's Resistance Army are finding life difficult, some of them cannot go back home for fear that the community may not accept them. Part of the reason for this negative feeling is based on some accusation of being involved in abduction in own village during the war. One of those I spoke to told me “our land has been taken away by some people I fear to argue with them"

Reports from Kitgum say, District authorities last week launched the phase-out of the internally displaced people’s (IDP) camps. This was to facilitate people’s return to their original homes. Speaking at the launch at Labongo Amida IDP camp in Chua County, the deputy resident district commissioner, Sylvester Opira, said the phase-out followed assessment and recommendations by the district disaster management committee. “In Amida camp, over 80% of the population has already left the camps near their home villages. The remaining 20% comprises the elderly, disabled and children,” Opira said

ICC inquires on Congo’s Kony pursuit

New Vision Thursday, 23rd October, 2008

By John Odyek

THE International Criminal Court (ICC) has asked for the steps the DR Congo has taken in pursuing the indicted leaders of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).

In 2005, the ICC sought for the arrest of the LRA’s top leaders who were hiding in the DR Congo’s Garamba National Park.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the ICC stated that it needed the information by November 17.

Kony and his top commanders have been indicted for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

“On September 27 2005 the requests for (the) arrest and surrender of Joseph Kony, Vincent Otti, Okot Odhiambo and Dominic Ongwen, were submitted to the DR Congo, following information from Uganda that the LRA had been based in that country for more than three years, specifically in Garamba National Park,” the statement read.

The ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber II noted that Article 87 (7) of the Rome Statute, provides that when a state party fails to comply with a request to cooperate, the Court may make a finding to that effect and refer the matter to the Assembly of States Parties.

“The Chamber ordered the Registrar to promptly transmit the request to the Government of the Congo,” the statement read.

Uganda referred the situation to the court on January 29 2004. The ICC prosecutor opened an investigation on 29 July 2004.

A Conservative-led resolution calling for Uganda to resume its efforts to bring Kony to the ICC was passed on Tuesday by the Members of the European Parliament at a sitting in France.

The resolution, authored by a member of UK’s Conservatives and a Member of the European Parliament, Nirj Deva, is critical of Uganda’s halting of efforts to capture Kony.

The warlord is accused of 33 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes. “Peace and reconciliation cannot be achieved for the LRA’s victims until Kony stands in the dock and answers the allegations.

The Ugandan government and other governments in the region, especially the DR Congo must step up efforts to capture Kony and deliver him to the ICC, which will decide whether it is appropriate for him to stand trial in Uganda,” Deva said.

The UN estimates that the LRA has kidnapped 20,000 children in the past two decades, turning the boys into soldiers and the girls into sex slaves.

In April, Kony did not appear to sign the final peace deal in South Sudan.

Wanted gang leader surrenders

Simon Wokorach the self-styled leader of the Tumbafu (Group of the stupid) unit that has allegedly been leading strikes in schools, terrorising teachers, raping schoolgirls and threatening the returned communities, surrendered to the Gulu district authorities through the Rev.Willy Akena on Wednesday 24, September 2008.
Wokorach, who has been on the list of the wanted persons by the security in Northern Uganda, came out of his hideout at the Sudan-Uganda border where he had taken refuge. Wokorach dropped out of school in 2005 due to lack of school fees and resorted to these dirty activities. He has been granted scholarship by Invisible Children for his education up to University. We have so many young people like Wokorach who drop out of school due to inability to raise fees and other scholastic requrements.

NETSFORLIFE LAUNCHED

strong>Marching during the launch of the NETSFORLIFE

Rev. Solomon Okeny climb the motorcycle as Norbert Mao (R) looks on




The Diocese of Northern Uganda together with Standard Chartered Bank on 9th August 2008 launched the NETFOR LIFE at Kaunda ground Gulu.
The Gulu Local Council Chairman V Norbert Mao while officiating at the launch thanked the Church for spearheading provision of social services in addition to preaching the word of God. Mao Said “A good number of schools and health centres in the district are church founded”. He applauded the church for being agents of giving instead of always receiving, saying there is more blessing in giving than receiving.

Mao appealed to other Bank to emulate Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) by giving back to the community. Mao illustrated the importance of giving by saying in the Middle East there are two water bodies: - the sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea, both seas receive water from the same source-river Jordan but only Sea of Galilee gives out and that is why it remains fresh unlike dead sea that only receives but does not give out thus remain dead. Therefore it’s more blessing to give than receive. He therefore said Standard Chartered Bank will grow because of giving back to the community. He called upon other banks to emulate SCB

The Representative of the Chief Executive Officer Standard Chartered Bank said there are 300 million cases of malaria in the world, 90% of deaths from malaria, every 30 seconds, an African child dies of this disease, it costs Africa more than USD 12 billion a year in terms of lost GDP and currently there are no vaccines for malaria and none are expected in the foreseeable future.



The CEO representative said that based on these facts , at its board meeting on 22nd November, 2005 the community Partnership for Africa (CPA) Board approved an Africa region community partnership project supporting the distribution of 1 million specially treated bed nets for the next 3 years in 17 African countries, Uganda being one of them. He furthered said Standard Chartered Bank’s (Group) is committed towards the project to provide funding of USD 1 million towards the project over a period of 3 years (2006-8) or around USD 350,000 each year and leading the marketing and communication work stream.

The Bishop of the Diocese of Northern Uganda, Nelson Onono-Onweng said the Diocese is aware of the danger of malaria, HIV/AIDS, and life threatening Hepatitis E that has claimed the lives of so many people in Northern Uganda and committed in implementing life saving programs like malaria prevention by using all possible means to educate the community on the prevention of the communicable diseases using non cost means. The Bishop said one of the roles of the church is to heal her people both spiritually and physically.

Standard Chartered Bank pledges their support in the implementation of NETSFORLIFE.
A total of 6500 pieces of mosquito nets, 10 bicycles and a motorcycle were handed over to the Diocese of Northern Uganda.

The target group for the nets will be: - children under 5 years of age, pregnant women and the elderly and chronically sick (people living with AIDS)

Government forgives top Kony rebel

Dr.James Obita


Government forgives top Kony rebel
Tuesday, 5th August, 2008

Dr. James Alfred Obita
By Milton Olupot and Charles Ariko

THE former leader of the LRA peace team in Juba, Dr. James Alfred Obita, was yesterday granted amnesty after 22 years of fighting the Government.

Obita said he returned because he believed in what the Juba peace agreement had achieved.

“After the peace talks, I thought I would set an example. My returning is not a betrayal (of the LRA cause). It is time to come back home,” he said.

Together with five others, two men and three women of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), Obita received his amnesty certificate from the chairman of the Amnesty Commission, Justice Peter Onega, at the commission headquarters in Kampala.

The former ADF fighters included Silver Mumbere, Fatuma Nakajubi, Hanifa Nalukwago, Sularia Nakimera and Abdlazak Bassajja. They looked well nourished and smartly dressed.

Obita raised the number of LRA rebels who have benefited from the amnesty to 12,841, since the establishment of the Amnesty Commission in 2000. A total of 22,921 fighters from various rebel groups have benefited from the amnesty.

“My word to you is that you are welcome back to Uganda. Help us convince the others to come back home. The choice you have made is a correct one. Wherever you go, home will always be the best,” Onega told the six former rebels.

Onega, flanked by commissioners Ganyana Miiro, Thomas Kisembo and Grace Ociiti, explained that the amnesty exonerates them from any crimes they committed during the rebellion.

“I have always said this country is ours and everybody has a right to live here. If we have any problems, we can solve them here. I can assure you that after the grant of amnesty, you will be free people. Feel free and you are welcome to start life afresh,” he said.

A beaming Obita, clad in a grey, striped suit, commended the commission and pledged to work with Onega to help woo LRA fighters out of the jungles and end the 22-year-long war that has ravaged the north and eastern parts of the country.

“I will use my presence here to convince those still in the bush to return home. I will be the commission’s ambassador,” he said.

He added that the commission should be strengthened and facilitated to look after returnees.

The six received packages, including a mattress, jerrycan, two saucepans, a plastic cup and plate, a hoe, packets of beans and maize seeds and sh263,000 each.

Obita said President Yoweri Museveni had directed the internal affairs permanent secretary to help him recover $2m (about sh3.5b) that he lost when the Government froze his Uganda Commercial Bank account in 1987.

Obita said he was convinced that the Juba agreement was good and achieved what the guns could not achieve. He blamed some Ugandans both at home and in the Diaspora for misleading the LRA leader, Joseph Kony, not to sign the final peace agreement.

Obita said he wanted “to sort” himself out shortly before he could travel to his home district of Kitgum.

Commenting on the LRA former commanders, who returned through the DR Congo and are reportedly still held by security agencies, Onega said after receiving amnesty, there was no justification for detaining the former rebels.

“We were surprised when we received the information that some of these ex-rebels were being kept by security agencies. If you receive amnesty, that means you are free. If there are any other charges then they should be taken to court. Let this not confuse the public that when you get amnesty, you get detained.”

Who is Obita?
- Obita has been with the LRA for the last 22 years.
- He worked for the external wing of the LRA, based in Nairobi and London.
- Was the LRA spokesperson in the mid-nineties and later secretary for external affairs and mobilisation.
- In 1988, he fell out with LRA chief Joseph Kony, who accused him of trying to make money out of the LRA cause.
- Was re-appointed as technical adviser to the LRA peace team in Juba in 2006.
- Obita replaced David Matsanga as chairman of the LRA team in Juba on April 10 2008.
- He applied for amnesty in July 2008.

LRA top official seeks amnesty

Wednesday, 30th July, 2008

By Fortunate Ahimbisibwe

JAMES Obita, the former leader of the LRA delegation to the Juba peace talks, has applied for amnesty with the Uganda Amnesty Commission.

Obita, who was sacked as head of delegation by LRA leader Joseph Kony last month, confirmed that his amnesty application had been accepted.

“I have been told go to the Amnesty Commission and receive a certificate. I am so happy to be back home as a citizen,” he told The New Vision on phone yesterday.

His decision, he explained, was to demonstrate goodwill on the part of LRA members who were still in Garamba.
“This is not betrayal to the LRA. I still support the LRA and I will encourage them to sign the peace agreement and others to seek amnesty.”

The move, he hoped, would convince others who were still in the bush. “My decision will re-assure the LRA that amnesty is real and anyone can benefit,” Obita said.

“Some of the combatants had been misled to think that they will be arrested or tortured once they get amnesty. But when I informed them that I had been granted amnesty, there was a lot of hope and excitement.”

Obita, a businessman and lecturer in industrial chemistry, was optimistic that a final peace agreement would be signed by Kony.

“In my belief, the Juba peace process has ended successfully and it is just a matter of signing the agreement,” he stated.

“The issues that are still pending will be resolved once the LRA has understood some aspects of the agreement. That is why I decided that, after 22 years, I should come back home and stop fighting.”

For over 10 years, Obita has been working for the external wing of the LRA, based in Nairobi and London.
He was the LRA spokesman in the mid-nineties and later became the secretary for external affairs and mobilisation.

In 1998, he fell out with Kony, who accused him of trying to make money out of the LRA cause.

He was brought back in December 2006, when he was appointed technical adviser to the LRA peace team.

Obita replaced David Matsanga as head of the LRA delegation on April 10, the day Kony failed to show up to sign the comprehensive peace agreement. However, Matsanga was reappointed on June 6.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the LRA leadership, scheduled to take place yesterday and today, flopped because Kony’s demands for food, water and medicines had not been met, according to a letter from Matsanga to the chief mediator, South Sudan vice-president Riek Machar.

“The LRA high command directed me to point out to the world that without food supplies to the assembly area, the meeting in Ri-Kwangba on July 30 and 31 will not take place,” the letter, dated July 25, read.

Matsanga further called upon the international donors to continue funding the Juba secretariat, warning that failure to do so would jeopardise the peace process.

“The Juba peace process is under siege and there is a danger of it collapsing due to the lack of funding from the donor community,” he wrote.

He called upon the US and EU countries, especially Norway, Britain and Denmark, to review their policy on the Juba peace process.

The donors stopped funding the process following Kony’s refusal to sign the agreement. There was also growing concern about the lack of transparency in the spending of the Juba peace initiative funds, estimated at $15m.

Food supplies by Caritas were stopped recently after it became clear that the fighters were not assembling in Ri-Kwangba, as was required.

Instead, the food was collected and carried to Kony’s hide-out in eastern Congo, with some reports saying it was being sold.

Matsanga’s letter echoes an earlier appeal for more funds by the mediator, Riek Machar, which was sent to the UN Security Council through special envoy Joaquim Chissano.

In a 12-page letter, dated June 16, Machar pleaded with the international community to provide appropriate funding for him and his secretariat to “ensure a stronger and more effective response in implementation”.

Govt rules out compensation for the north

New Vision
Monday, 14th July, 2008

By Josephine Maseruka

THE Government will not compensate the people in northern Uganda for property destroyed during the 22-year LRA war. The property includes houses and degraded land.

“It is sheer madness to think that we shall compensate people for such claims,” the disaster preparedness minister, Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere, told Parliament on Thursday.

Okello Okello (UPC) had asked whether there were any plans to compensate those whose land had been degraded due to the establishment of internally displaced people’s camps and army detachments.

Kabwegyere was appearing before the committee on presidential affairs together with Prime Minister Prof. Apolo Nsibambi and other ministers in the premier’s office to defend their policy statement.

Kabwegyere argued that the displaced had to be resettled somewhere because “we could not have put them in the sky.”

But Okello Okello claimed that the army bombed areas to threaten the people out of their residences, forcing them to flee to the camps.

However, disaster preparedness state minister Musa Ecweru said the camps were built where the army could provide adequate security and the people went there voluntarily.

“We never woke up one day and decided to set up camps. I hate such lies and that is why I left the UPC.”
Okello Okello retorted: “The UPC never put people in camps. Camps are an innovation of the NRM. Now since you left, can you return our card?”

Information minister Kirunda Kivejinja said under the compensation law, one is paid the value of what they lost. He added that the burden of payment must be shared by the LRA rebels and the Government.

Kabwegyere said the camps and army units were set up in open spaces.
In a recent study on land in the north, 73% of 1,119 respondents backed compensation.

Another war in Northern Uganda

As the LRA war gains momentum to end, we are yet faced with another war and this time it is no longer using expensive weapons but the simple so called love or lust. Although recent figures indicates that in the northern region the HIV prevalence rate is 8.3 % while the county figures is at 6.4 % , HIV is posing serious threat to human life in Northern Uganda. Recently Northern Uganda Malaria AIDS and Tuberculosis (NUMAT) in partnership with World Vision organized a sensitization workshop for clergy of the Diocese of Northern Uganda. During the workshop participants were asked to change their attitudes towards HIV and AIDS and avoid stigmatizing those who are found to be HIV positive. For some years now the Abstinence, Be faithful and Condom (ABC) strategy have been applied with some commendable results. But the Church’s position is that Condom can not be advocated for, may be the church should rethink. Another strategy adapted is Safer practices, Access to treatment, Voluntary counseling and testing and Empowerment (SAVE). The biggest challenge in Northern Uganda is access to treatment, even those who are living with AIDS finds it extremely difficult to first of all afford the antiretroviral drugs. According to Dr. Alex Coutinho who was one of the facilitator, the key drivers of HIV epidemic in Uganda 2007 are:-

• Narrow messaging
• Ignorance of HIV status
• Multiple concurrent partnerships
• Discordant relationships
• Lack of circumcision
• Urbanization
• Conflict
• Gender disparities in “bedroom empowerment”

When it comes to prevention, the vulnerable are key BUT important groups to target include:
MEN – who control most prevention decisions, HIV+ - to practice POSITIVE PREVENTION, GLOBAL LEADERS – to keep investing in current and future prevention approaches.
PUBLIC – to keep advocating for more prevention investments.
The next step after this workshop is for World Vision to sign Memorandum of Understanding with the Diocese of Northern Uganda, thereafter work together in this struggle. Your contribution is most welcome.

Celebration of ten years in Ministry

Bishop John Charles Odurkami of Lango Diocese, Bishop Nelson and family cut a cake to mark 10 years in ministry

“Time has come for Bishop Nelson to leave the Cathedral and go home to look after animals ” This was said by the Minister for Disaster Preparedness, Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere during the celebration of a Decade of Episcopal Ministry by Bishop Nelson Onono-Onweng on Monday May 12, 2008 at St. Philip’s Cathedral.

The minister called upon the Acholi to follow the example of Bishop Nelson who is always calling people to go home. The Minster said time had come for Bishop Nelson to leave the Cathedral and go home to grow crops.
Bishop John Charles Odurkami of Lango Diocese, Bishop Nelson and family cut a cake to mark 10 years in ministry “Bishop Nelson will be out of the Cathedral where he has been for 10 years to the village where he can grow food and live a normal life”. Kabwegyere said
The minister said Bishop Nelson himself will be an example to all. He has been calling people to go home now not only metaphysically but physically.

Bishop John Charles Odurkami of Lango Diocese who was the main celebrant said a bishop cannot work alone. Incase of errors all the clergy and Christians must be held accountable and accept.
Bishop Charles cautions the clergy of the Diocese of Northern Uganda from campaigning to become the next Bishop.

Bishop Nelson commended all who supported him during his tenure of office.

Future of Children

Two heads are better than one: The Municipal Education Officer Mr. Omona Darlington Akongo (L) exchange ideas with Elsebeth Højgaard during the graduation ceremony. Photo By Willy Akena

Women Development Centre Graduants welcome the Guest of Honour. Photo by Rev.Willy Akena

Ululations filled the air in the Diocesan Headquarters as 73 graduants from Women Development Centre complete a one year course in tailoring. While officiating the function the visiting Danish national Ms Elsebeth Højgaard applauded the girls for enduring. “I want to thank you for the warm welcome, wonderful performance and for making it to your graduation”. Elsebeth said.
Two heads are better than one: The Municipal Education Officer Mr. Omona Darlington Akongo (L) exchange ideas with Elsebeth Højgaard during the graduation ceremony.Elsebeth congratulated the girls for their determination despite the many challenges that they faced before and during their training. She said in her country- Denmark people are not suffering like those in Northern Uganda because of a very strong social system in place. Elsebeth was blissful to note that although people here are suffering the spirit of togetherness is very strong unlike in her country where so many people are lonely. Elsebeth concluded by urging the girls to make proper use of the friends that they developed while at school and be creative in order to have a future.
Representing the Municipal Education Officer was Mr. Darlington who challenged the Mothers’ Union to explore more opportunities for the girls instead of the traditional tailoring course being offered. Darlington said “I appeal to the Mothers’ Union to look beyond the Tailoring training being offered” “Time has come for us to diversify the training obtainable to include: - Computer skills, Human Rights, Peace Education, and Business skills among others.
One of the Girls who graduated could not hide her joy, she said “Today I have started the road to self reliance I can now see a future for my children”
The four best students were given sewing machines for kick starting their professional life.
The girls were issued certificate.

Kony delays to sign the deal

As we move towards the end of the peace talk, the road needs patience, let us learn from the two big wings in the picture, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda(L) and Riek Machar(R).



By Milton Olupot
in Ri-Kwangba, Sudan

LRA chief Joseph Kony yesterday refused to sign the final peace agreement, demanding clarification of two issues in the document.

Kony wants more explanation on mato-oput (Acholi traditional justice) and the operation of the special division of the High Court that is to prosecute rebel fighters, chief mediator Dr. Riek Machar told journalists at the Congo-Sudan border town of Ri-Kwangba, the venue for the signing.

“It looks like we are not going to have a signature today,” Machar announced late in the afternoon as dignitaries waited in the bush for Kony’s arrival.

Speaking through his main man Nyekorach Matsanga, Kony said he could sign the document today or tomorrow once he is clear on the two issues. Kony, who was said to be in the vicinity, had travelled from the Central African Republic where he recently relocated.

Machar immediately dispatched Acholi traditional and religious leaders along with Matsanga to meet Kony in the Ri-Kwangba bushes and brief him.

The two sides have already agreed that “minor crimes” committed by rebels during the war be tried under mato-oput and “serious crimes” by the special High Court division.

“If Kony requires an explanation, that’s absolutely legitimate. We are happy he is willing to continue dialogue and seek clarification because it’s a matter that deals with his fate,” said the chief government negotiator, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda.

No one should be blamed for Kony’s delay to sign the peace agreement, he noted, because both sides had played their part.

“It’s our target to get total peace. The peace process is advancing.”
Rugunda’s deputy at the talks, international relations minister Okello Oryem said by braving the forested region from the CAR, Kony had demonstrated his commitment to peace.

A white tent with plastic chairs and tables will serve as the venue for signing ceremony when, or if, Kony shows up today.

Diplomats, opposition leader in Parliament Prof. Ogenga Latigo, Acholi parliamentary group chairman Okello Okello and several Acholi, Lango and Teso MPs were among the assembled guests.

When Machar announced Kony’s decision, a huge dull cloud hung over the remote Ri-Kwangba village where security was tight.

LRA fighters stood guard with their AK 47 assault rifles. The Sudan Liberation Movement Army soldiers took care of the guests.

Kony, Okot Odhiambo and Domonic Ogwen are indicted at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Signing the peace agreement could save them from the trial.

The Government promised to ask the ICC to drop the case and allow mat oput and the local courts try the rebels. But, the ICC insists the warrants are valid.

Kony upsets Acholi leaders

Children beleived to be with Kony up to now. FIle Photo




ACHOLI leaders have asked LRA leader Joseph Kony not make it a habit to continue giving excuses to postpone the signing of the final peace agreement.

“We have to exercise patience but Kony should also stop postponing the signing,” Gulu LC5 chairman Norbert Mao said on Wednesday.

“Many of us were disappointed with the abrupt message of extension up to April 14 because this is the second time they are delaying the process.”

Since Kony was the one who requested for the peace talks, Mao added, he must demonstrate that he was serious by personally signing the final peace agreement.

The chief LRA negotiator in the Juba talks, David Matsanga, on Tuesday said Kony would not be able to make it from Garamba forests to Ri-Kwangba, where he was due to sign on April 3. He suggested April 10 as the day Kony could sign.

“We agreed to keep our fingers crossed and avoid speculation about the failure by Kony to sign the final peace agreement on April 3 as planned,” noted Kenneth Oketta, the prime minister of Ker Kwaro Acholi.

“And this should not create a lot of anxiety among the people. Let’s avoid speculation which may derail the whole peace process and wait until it has been confirmed that Kony will not sign because so far, five agreements have been signed and this is the only one left,” he added.

Samuel Oduny, an elder in Gulu, observed that Kony was unpredictable, adding that it was not the first time he was “playing games.”

“Right from 1994 to date, Kony has not shown seriousness in peace talks. I have no hope for these talks. If he signs, well and good but I doubt,” he stated.

But the Gulu resident district commissioner, Col. Walter Ochora, explained that he got communication from the Central African Republic (where Kony is reportedly living) that the rebel leader was moving towards Ri-Kwangba, to append his signature on the peace agreement.

According to the RDC, the only rebel commander who had reached Ri-Kwangba was Abudema, adding that there had been poor coordination between Kony and members of the peace team on the date of signing.

Kony, Ochora advised, should have told Matsanga the exact date when he would be ready to sign “other than keeping people on their toes.”

But the district youth chairman, Christopher Omara, appealed to Kony to release all the children, expectant and breast-feeding mothers to show his committment to the realisation of peace.
By Chris Ochowum

Northern leaders for Juba meet

Bishop Nelson probably points towards home, Kony is expected to come out after the signing of the final agreement. File photo taken by Rev.Willy Akena


Leaders from northern Uganda are due to travel to Juba for the signing of the final peace agreement between the Lords Resistance Army and the Government.

However the signing slated for Friday has been thrown in doubt with the LRA insisting they will not sign the agreement unless indictments against its leader Joseph Kony and his commanders are dropped.

The International Criminal Court issued the warrants in 2005 against the top 5 LRA commanders for crimes against humanity in one of Africa's longest conflicts.

Finger Print Syndrome

Coupled with so many other factors, the war in the Northern region of Uganda has led to much destruction in the lives of the natives.
In my sojourns in the camps in northern Uganda as opposed to other parts of the country, the vast majority of people cannot read or write. Even children of school going age cannot speak English, leave alone read simple sentences. Even children in high schools are almost illiterate, except for the boasting that they are in High school!!!
This poses a great concern for the future of the Acoli. What will happen when tomorrow when the educated are no more? How can the Acoli compete squarely in the job market when more that 75% of them are not getting proper education? Has UPE really met its goals in the last 10 years? How about USE now? What will happen?
Children complete primary school and cannot construct even a simple sentence in English? What is happening to the education sector in this region? I will not mention the results of PLE, “O” Level and the most resent “A” Level in this region. Every thing is pathetic.
It is even worse with the women in the rural Acoli sub region. We yell of empowerment and gender sensitivity yet out of 10 women less than five can write their names. And the rest, they must be helped to sign!!! Finger prints in the 21st century, my foot!!!
It’s not enough to cry out loud. What are we doing about the finger print syndrome that has invaded our society?



Prayer breakfast at the bishop’s house

O ye foolish Galatians (Amuru Leaders)! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified Galatians 3:1 was a quotation that the Bishop of the Diocese of Northern Uganda, the Rt. Rev. Nelson Onono-Onweng made on Thursday 28 Feb 2008 morning during a prayer breakfast at his residence.

Amuru District Leaders were advised to bury their political differences and begin to serve their people. After one and a half years in leadership, they have spent time fighting each other over non substantial issues. It was time they begun working at making straight paths, filling every valley, leveling the mountains and hill, crooked roads be made straight, rough ways smooth, so that the people see the salvation of God.

Bishop Nelson urged them to listen to the crying voice “the voice of the displaced people who are returning home, can they be given a chance to return in peace, but the people will not have peace if there is no peace among their leaders at the District”.
Mr. Omac, the LCV Chairman acknowledged that as leaders, they had spent time fighting each other in the council instead of serving the felt needs of people and on behalf of his other fellow leaders, he apologized for all that had gone wrong. He promised that they would begin to work in unity.

Bishop Nelson given send off

Mwaka George of Radio Mega hands over the gift to Bishop Nelson and Brenda Onono. Photo by Rev.Willy Akena


Bishop Nelson given send off

The displaced Christian of Nwoya Parish on Sunday February 24, 2008 gave Bishop Nelson a good send off gift of one cow at the cost of 300,000 and two sacks of groundnuts.

Nwoya is the third parish that Bishop Nelson has already visited on his diocese wide tour, the other being Bungatira his home village, where he received 260,000, a goat and one sack of groundnuts and Patiko Ajulu gave him one cow.

In his message the Bishop called upon the Christian to grow; physically, spiritually, socially and economically. Quoting from the Gospel of Luke 2: 52, “And Jesus grew in wisdom, and stature, and in favour with God and men.”

The Bishop called upon the people to leave the camps now and go back to their villages in order to farm the land and therefore come out of poverty.
On the LRA war the bishop said the war is over and that people should no longer have fear of LRA coming back to perturb them.

On the land issue the Bishop said, people should not be hot and bothered about the land being taken over by Madhvani but instead descend to work.

He also called upon the people to go back to where they came from before the camp life so as to minimize the land conflict that is so rampant.

West Ankole Women electrify Gulu.

At least 51 members of the Mothers’ Union from the Diocese of West Ankole are in the diocese of Northern Uganda for a four days solidarity visit. The team is led by the Wife of the Bishop of West Ankole Mrs. Ellyvaida Nshemeire Katonene. The team was welcomed by excited members of the Mothers Union from the Diocese of Northern Uganda and Bishop Nelson Onono-Onweng.

The team is expected to visit camps of the Displaced People in Northern Uganda and have time to pray with their counterpart in various churches on Sunday before they travel back on Monday.

In her message to the women in Northern Uganda, the Mothers Union President of West Ankole Mrs. Ellyvaida said, “I want to encourage them to work as one body and if they are together they will forget the past and look for the future. God is with them.”

The team brought a number of items that includes more than 10 sacks of old clothes, millet and maize flour.

The situation in Gulu at the moment is of relative peace due to the ongoing peace talk in Juba and a good number of the displaced persons are leaving the camps for their original villages after 21 years. The need to resettle them is huge, we appeal to well-wishers to come in and give a helping hand.

Cleric appeal to Kony

Religious leaders march through Gulu town before praying at Kaunda Grounds
By Dennis Ojwee

ACHOLI religious leaders have asked the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) chief, Joseph Kony, to stop fighting and resume peace negotiations in Juba. The call was made by the Gulu district Khadi, Sheikh Musa Khalil, during the end-of-year peace prayers at Kaunda Grounds.

Referring to last week’s reports that the LRA attacked a Catholic mission in the DR Congo, Khalil asked Kony to restrain his men from targeting civilians.

Other religious leaders present were the Anglican bishop of northern Uganda, the Rt. Rev. Nelson Onono-Onweng, retired Kitgum diocese bishop McLeod Baker Ochola, the vicar-general of Gulu Catholic archdiocese, Monsignor Matthew Odong and Orach from the Orthodox Church.

They also prayed for restoration of peace in Kenya following election violence and in Pakistan where the opposition party leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated recently. Ochola prayed that Bhutto’s killers be brought to book.

DNU Staff to Nebbi

Bishop Nelson Onono-Onweng led a group of his staff to Nebbi Diocese for a end of year retreat. The team was warmly received by the Bishop of Nebbi Diocese Alfonse Wathokudi and his staff at the Diocese on 27 December 2007. The retreat took them to the famous prayer mountain.
The team of the retreat was Tranformation and the staff looked at their overall activites and how it can tranform the lives of the people in Northern Uganda, especially now that the process of return to original village is underway.

Support the Ministry of the Diocese of N.Uganda

Many of you have asked for ways to financially support the ministry of the Diocese of Northern Uganda. Below is the information needed to make a bank transfer or deposit to our account. Be sure to save your receipt for tax purposes.

A/C Title: Diocese of Northern Uganda Designated
A/C #: 0140086710001
Bank: Stanbic
Branch: Gulu

If you find something here in error, please notify us so we can fix it!

Many thanks,
God Bless!

How Vincent Otti was Killed

Vincent Otti leads a delagation of the LRA 2006



By Henry Mukasa
and Els De Temmerman

“WHAT crime have I committed? Are you really going to kill me? All along, I have been so good to you. Why can’t you tell me my mistake? May God help you.” These were the last words of the LRA’s former second-in-command, Vincent Otti, when he was facing the firing squad outside Joseph Kony’s defence in Garamba National Park on October 2.

As his executioner, Buk Abudema, ordered: “Fire!”, Otti bowed his head and started praying. In a bizarre twist of fate, the man who had commanded numerous executions himself, the most notorious being the Atiak killing in 1995 in which over 200 people were shot dead, found himself uttering the same words as many of his victims.

In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Vision, Sunday Otto, one of the commanders who was present during the execution and has since defected, revealed that Otti was killed by eight bullets which were fired by Capt. Ogwal. “Then Capt. Okumu Dombolo emptied his magazine into the already dead body.”

Q: You told the press upon your return 10 days ago that Vincent Otti was dead. Did you witness his death? A: I can confirm that Vincent Otti was killed on October 2 at 10:00am at a place called Anida, 300m from Kony’s defence. He was killed together with Lt. Col. Ben Accelam and Capt. Alfred Otim. Some people are trying to confuse the public, claiming that Otti is alive. But I have evidence because I came from there.

Q: What happened exactly?
A: It all started on September 25. That day, Kony and Otti met the Acholi paramount chief and delegates of the LRA team, including Martin Ojul, at Ri-Kwangba. I returned to our base in Garamba with Kony’s group. Otti came back later. We reached the main defence, called Boo, where the rebels have a large garden, on September 30. The next day, we moved to Kony’s defence, three miles away. On the way, Kony called Otti on his satellite phone. He told him to leave Ri-Kwangba and assemble at the main defence in Boo with all his officers and fighters. On October 1, Kony started to mobilise some troops, whom he put on stand-by. Three groups were prepared: Hapu, Independent and Kony’s security. I was attached as intelligence officer to Independent. The soldiers were armed with B10 bombs, KPM and assault rifles and taken to the compound of Otto Agweng, Kony’s chief security officer.

That day, Kony called for a meeting with the officers who were with him. Kwoyelo arrived and was immediately put under arrest. Adjumani was asked to tie Kwoyelo up. He tied him in a terrible way — kandoya (three-piece)-style. The next moment, Adjumani himself was put at gunpoint. He looked very surprised. As he was ordered to sit down, he pulled his gun out and started firing at random. This prompted Maj. Arop and Capt. Ogwal, to fire back. He died instantly. A sergeant, called Ojok, also died in the fire-exchange, while another soldier, Ocuc, got wounded.

Q: Why was Adjumani killed?
A: He was close to Otti. Kony wanted him arrested because he feared he would leak the plan to Otti. But he resisted arrest. That is why he was killed.

Q: When did Otti arrive?
A: He arrived around 9:00am that day. He called Kony, informing him that they had reached Boo. Kony told him to assemble all the commanders and come for a meeting at his base the next morning. He called me for a meeting shortly afterwards. “You know what is happening within the LRA,” he said. “What I am going to do should not scare you.” He told me that the LRA was divided and that most of the troops were more loyal to Otti than to him. He complained that his orders were no longer being followed. He had ordered his fighters to go and abduct but they refused because Otti had argued that this would spoil the talks. He had proposed to move to the Central African Republic but Otti had refused.

“Who is the leader when I issue orders and people don’t follow them, but instead listen to Otti?” he wondered. He said he was very confident in what the spirit had told him, that he knew the Government was planning to kill him and they were using the peace talks to have him arrested and killed. “They deceive you and try to convince you to come out and then they kill you,” he said. “Anybody who believes in peace talks will die in the same way as John Garang, who was killed by the UN.” He then confined to me that he was going to arrest Otti.

Q: What advice did you give him? advised Kony against a constant reshuffle of the peace team and unnecessary dismissal of members. I told him if he did not trust the delegates, he should select some of his commanders to join the team. I also advised him against killing Otti. But he said he was the father of the movement. Without him, the movement would not exist, whereas it could do without the others.

When I returned home, I knew something terrible was going to happen. Later that day, Kony issued an order that nobody moves anywhere, not even to fetch water or food. Anybody found moving would be shot on sight. Troops were deployed on the path leading to Otti’s place. Kony wanted to ensure that there was no leakage.

Q: What happened the next morning?
A: At 7:00am, Kony called his four brigadiers — Ocan Bunia, Nicksman Opuk, Dominic Ongwen and Buk Abudema, as well his chief security. He briefed them: “When Otti comes, you must make sure you arrest him,” he instructed them. Kony then evacuated his family to another defence, about three miles away. He himself went to hide in a simsim garden.

Otti entered Kony’s compound at 9:30am. As was the practice when he was meeting the chairman, he left his escorts behind and entered unarmed. He was saluted by Abudema.

“Where is our father?” he asked. “He is bathing,” Abudema replied. To which Otti said: “Let me then first go and change.” He moved to his restroom in the same compound, from where he called Kony.

“A bird died in my house. What could that mean?” he asked the chairman. “Don't worry,” Kony replied. “That shows that we have already defeated the Government.”

Otti took the report on the September 25 meeting out of his bag and walked back to Kony’s house. He was awaited by Odhiambo, who had accompanied him from Boo, Abudema, Ocan Bunia and Agweng.

Abudema drew his pistol, pointed it at Otti and said: “You are under arrest.” The others, too, drew their pistols and aimed at Otti. Simultaneously, all the soldiers who had been deployed came out and pointed their guns at Otti. Otti was seated on a chair. Opuk moved over and removed his wristwatch and his shirt, which he used to tie him up. Abudema ordered him to sit on the floor. His shoes were taken off. He was then carried into Kony’s hut, where he was made to sit on the floor. His captors got a rope and tied him thoroughly. They tore a part of his shirt and used it to blindfold him.

Q: How did Otti react?
A: He was pleading with them: “What wrong have I done to you? If I have done something bad, why can’t the chairman tell me? Have you forgotten all the good things I did for you?” They sent Capt. Otto Ladere to go and call Ben Accelam, who was sitting under a tree at the house of Dominic Ongwen. As Accelam entered Kony’s compound, he, too was put at gunpoint and tied up. He was then taken into another hut in the same compound. The third person called in was Alfred Otim. He, too, was arrested, beaten and tied. His arrestors hurled insults at him.

“You, people from Atiak, you always tell everybody that you are bright. Today we shall see where your intelligence will take you.” At that point, Kony called Abudema on satellite phone. “Are these people all there? Have you arrested them?” he asked.

Abudema confirmed that the arrests had been made. Kony then asked to talk to Odhiambo. He told him he did not want to hear Otti’s name again. “They should all be killed. And you must do it without delay. If not, you will be the next victims,” he told him. As Odhiambo got the instructions, he relayed them to Abudema as Kony listened. The cloth was removed from Otti’s eyes. The three were taken out of Kony’s compound, some 300m behind the defence. Otti was stood against a tree. Acellam and Otim were taken to a different position, 50m away. Capt. Ogwal and Capt. Okumu Dombolo, each holding a PKM, took up position in front of Otti, while Angwen and 2nd Lt. Tabu Omoro faced the other two. Odhiambo pretended to sympathise with Otti. “What has Otti done? Why don’t you also kill me?” he asked.

Q: What did Otti say?
A: He kept on begging and pleading: “What crime have I committed? Are you really going to kill me? All along, I have been so good to you and the movement. Why can’t you tell me what I did wrong? May God help you!”

When Abudema ordered: “Fire!” Otti bowed his head and started praying. Ogwal fired first. He killed him with eight bullets. Then Okumu emptied his magazine into the already dead body. Agweng started firing at the other side, after which Tabu joined in, killing Accelam and Otim. Their trousers were removed and they remained in their underpants. Kony returned from the garden later. He asked whether the job had been done. Otti’s escorts were disarmed. Kony then summoned everybody from the rank of second lieutenant for a meeting at 2:00pm.

“From today on, the indiscipline in the LRA should end,” he told us. “If I hear anybody talking about the killing of Otti and the others, that person will also be killed.” He said his rank of general was not given to him for praying but for killing. “There is no general in the world who did not kill. He then announced he was going to change all the systems in the LRA. He also instructed us not to bury Otti and the others for three days.

Q: Were they ever buried?
A: They were buried on the evening of October 4. Lt. Col. Abucingo was ordered to carry out the task, together with some kadogo (child soldiers). They were placed in one grave. One of the standby brigades was sent to Otti’s house to remove all his property.

Otti’s seven wives were taken by force and distributed to the other commanders the same day. Of the four adult wives, one was given to Abudema, one to Odhiambo, one to Okuti and one to Kony’s brother, Maj. Olanya. The three underage girls were handed over to Kony.

Q: Who else was arrested in this operation?
A: Apart from Kwoyelo, four other officers were arrested: Maj. Okot Atiak, Capt. Ojara Pope, Lt. Kidega Pak-Pala and Ben Accelam’s brother, Capt. Vincent Okema. They were still under arrest when we fled on November 7.

Q: What is Caesar Accelam’s fate?
A: Caesar Accelam was arrested in June and released on the day Otti was killed.

Q: You and Richard Odong-kau had come out earlier and received amnesty. Why did you go back? A: We did not return to fight, but to persuade the LRA fighters to come out following Otti’s call to prepare for peace talks. When we came out the first time, Otti got in touch with us. He wanted to talk to Rwot Acana and Bishop Odama to initiate peace talks with the Government. He also wanted to find out what the Amnesty Act was about. We contacted the Rwot and Bishop Odama, who put us in touch with the chairman of the Amnesty Commission.

We were also connected to Riek Machar, who sent us to Kony with a letter. This led to the first meeting between Machar and Otti in April 2006 and the second with Kony in May. After that meeting, Kony said: “Remain here and tell us what is going on.” We were co-ordinating the peace talks. From the beginning of the talks, Otti had said he was willing to bring all the fighters home.

Q: Will Kony ever sign a peace deal?
A: Signing from where? Otti was the one who persuaded him to go to Ri-Kwangba. He was also the one who pushed him to meet UN special envoy Joachim Chissano. At every assembly, Kony feared he would be killed. He would sit in every meeting with his pistol cocked.

Q: What is the future of the peace talks?
A: I am very skeptical. There are many events happening. Ban Ki-Moon (UN Secretary General) is calling for the arrest of Kony. And Otti is dead. He was the man behind the peace talks. He was the one who persuaded Kony.

Q: What is the situation like in the LRA camp after Otti’s death?
A: People are fearful, demoralised and disturbed. They had hope in Otti. They believed Otti would take them back home.


Published on: Sunday, 9th December, 2007



See full interview here

Some 50 metres away, two other commanders accused of being close to Otti were executed simultaneously. Lt. Col. Agweng, Kony’s chief of security, fired the bullets that killed Ben Accelam and Alfred ‘Record’ Otim.

“Their trousers were removed and they were left in their underpants,” Otto narrated.

Kony was not present during the execution. He had vacated his family to another place and was hiding in a nearby simsim garden. When he returned, he called all his officers and instructed them not to bury the bodies for three days. He also warned that anybody who talked about Otti’s death would be killed.

The same day, according to the LRA defector, Kony sent one of his standby brigades to Otti’s house to remove all his property. “Otti’s seven wives were taken by force and immediately distributed to the other commanders.” The adult wives were given as a reward to those who had been involved in the execution plan, while the three underage girls were handed over to Kony.

Otti was eventually buried on the evening of October 4 by some kadogos (child soldiers), thousands of whom he had abducted over the years.

See full interview here



Published on: Sunday, 9th December, 2007

United Kingdom moved said Queen

Queen of England Elizabeth II
The Queen's speech
Your Excellency President Museveni and Mrs Museveni, Right Honourable Speaker, Honourable Members of Parliament, Ladies and Gentlemen
Prince Philip and I have many fond memories of our last visit together to Uganda. In the years since, your country has made considerable advances in spite of periods of adversity.

I expect that what has helped sustain modern Uganda is the attribute that was so evident in 1954, and again today, in the generous manner we have been welcomed: the great warmth and friendliness of its people. We are delighted to be here once more.

It gives me great pleasure to address this House today in recognition of the importance of parliamentary democracy to the Commonwealth as a whole. For Uganda, the deliberations and decisions of this House, together with your respect for the rule of law, have had and will continue to have an essential bearing on the country's success in addressing many serious challenges.
The United Kingdom is actively committed to supporting Uganda's efforts to deepen its democracy.

Many in the United Kingdom have been moved by the plight of the people of northern Uganda who have been suffering from the devastating conflict there.
The Ugandan Government's efforts to resolve this conflict peacefully are therefore especially welcome. Uganda's regional role is also widely appreciated.

In particular, the contribution made to peacekeeping operations in Somalia has been a tribute to the courage and professionalism of Uganda's armed forces.

I am also pleased that the educational and cultural ties between our two countries are now stronger than ever before. Through its collaborative school projects, the British Council is bringing together more than one million children across Africa and the United Kingdom.

Indeed, I very much look forward to visiting later this week one of the Ugandan schools participating in the 'Connecting Classrooms' programme which does so much to increase our knowledge and understanding of each other's societies among young people.

In the years since Prince Philip and I were last here, one change in particular has come to scar Uganda and, indeed, much of Africa. The scourge of HIV infection and AIDS has touched the lives of so many of Uganda's people. It is difficult sometimes, when the sorrow associated with this disease is so profound, to avoid a sense of despair.

And yet there are growing numbers of people and organisations whose work gives cause for real hope. Today I visited the Mildmay Centre which sets a remarkable example in the provision of care and relief for those who are ill as well as in educating people about how to protect themselves and their families.

The role of centres such as this, which the Government of Uganda has done so much to encourage, will be central to achieving our common aim of controlling this cruel disease.

The continued and enlightened support of all those in authority, including this House, will play an essential part in supporting these efforts.
One hundred years ago, Sir Winston Churchill, who much later became my first Prime Minister, made a celebrated visit to Uganda which he was moved to describe as 'the Pearl of Africa'.

In common with other visitors to this country over the years, he had been struck by how Uganda has been truly gifted by nature.
Sir Winston had visited Munyonyo, then just 'a jetty and a few sheds', where, most fittingly, the present British Prime Minister will join his fellow Commonwealth Heads of Government this weekend.
Whether the individual links are long-standing or more recent, the United Kingdom remains a committed friend of Uganda.

Prince Philip and I have reason to recall our own associations over the years with the greatest affection and extend to you all our good wishes for the years to come.

Journey of Healing

Fr. Michael Lapsley, depicting the artificial hands while talking to the Mothers Union. Photo by Rev.Willy Akena 14/11/2007



By Rev.Willy Akena
The Director Institute for Healing of Memories Fr Michael Lapsley is in Gulu to meet with the victims of the LRA War. A victim of the Apartheid himself, Fr Michael lost his hands and eye in a letter bomb in South Africa. Below is his address to the Mothers Union of the Diocese of Northern Uganda who are attending a training on Micro Finance, organized by the Office of the Provincial Mothers Union Worker Rev. Canon Hellen Oneka. Fr Michael is due to meet with those whose limbs were cut or maimed in Northern Uganda and share with them his experience and explore ways of forgiveness and reconciliation. His visit to Northern Uganda has been initiated by the Diocese of Northern Uganda under the department of Peace and Development Headed by Rev. Patrick Lumumba.
Fr. Michael appealed to the people in Northern Uganda to forgive and reconcile in order to travel the journey of healing.

I am delighted to be here with you.
I greet you in the name of Jesus who is our saviour. May be because you want hear the message twice; I am delighted to have this opportunity with my brother Ntsikelelo Mateta. I am particularly delighted to be here in northern part of Uganda because I know that it is part of Uganda that has known war and pain.
We know that we had war for the last 20 years and we know that there has been a great cost, many people like me have lost limbs, we know that there are not only physical wounds of the body but wounds of the spirit, whenever we experience suffering we ask ourselves were is God?. There is a song that black people in S African sang for many decades, SENZENI NA? The song meaning is what we have done, why are we suffering and in South Africa people say is it because of the colour of our skin. Whenever as human being we suffer we try to make sense, why do we suffer, sometimes there are no easy answers, sometime we say it must be God’s will, but am not sure about that, some time we blame God for the things that we as human beings do to others so for the things we have done to others, like a man who is drank dives a car and hit a child and a child dies, that is not God’s will, but because the man was drank, some people pick a gun and go for war that is not God’s will, in my case it was the last white government in South Africa that sent a letter bomb, so because of the bomb I lost my hands and my eye,
Sometime when I meet people today they say, that was God’s will; its not true God does not sent letter bombs to people. I was sent letter bomb by human beings not by God.
But where is God, God did not tell me that is a letter bomb do not open it. But to me God kept his promise, the great promise in the bible that I am with you always even to the end of the age. So when I was bombed I felt the presence of God with me, Af
I know God is wi
After I was bomb I had a choice, Am I going to have hatred and bitterness all my life or am I going to travel a journey of healing, am I going to spend my life looking for those who sent the letter bomb to me, am looking for a way of revenge, am I going to spend my time looking for those who sent the letter bomb. One of the great men of SA said
“Those who think of themselves as victims eventually becomes the victimizers of others”
If we have poison inside our heart it has to go somewhere.
But in my case many people prayed for me, loved and supported me Christians but also people of other faiths as well, people sent me letters of hope and encouragement from all over the world that is how God helped me to travel the journey of healing.

I realized that if I was full of hatred then I would be a victim for ever, they have failed to kill the body but I would have killed the soul.
I thought if I were to be angry all the time then I will be in pain
I also had to make a choice, will I travel a journey of healing or not, so God has called me to a new journey, I was part of the journey to help free South Africa from Apartheid people who struggle to release our people. Today I am traveling my new journey, what is my new journey, it’s to listen to the pain of others, listen to people and travel the journey of healing.

Sometime as Christians we say I lay my hands on you and you are healed.
There are still many steps to take. Sometime we think healing is like taking tablets and everything will be okay. But people who have been hurt deeply the journey of healing takes sometime, the mothers union have an important role to play, part of the role is to travel your own journey of healing, but offer yourselves to listen to the pain of others not just once but again and again, sometimes as Christians we talk too much and we don not listen enough, we have to learn to preach less and listen more, listen not only with our ears but also with our hearts.
So I must thank you for what you are already doing, healing is part of God’s work; God invites us to work with him in the healing process. Thanks for listening to me. Amen

Women at risk as they return home

Two will become one: This woman needs the husband to support her in the return process. Photo by Rev.Willy Akena

Now that peace is around the corner, women are more willing to venture into the bushes than men. In Alero IDP camp in Amuru district, women have taken the initiative to return to homesteads as reported by Julius Odokonyero, a primary school teacher in the area. Accordingly, they have cleared homesteads, and are participating actively in digging, collecting firewood and many other domestic chores. Interestingly, many of them have now formed village groups to help them accomplish their tasks collectively.
Their vision is to see that the work they do carries a bigger impact than individual participation. Unlike the women, men are instead busy drinking in the camp, with some starting their drinking sprees from as early as 8:00am!
According to Odokonyero, men should realise that the onus of success in family and community existence lies on them as well as on women. It is therefore important that men help women in accomplishing the return process as things go back to normalcy.

Excitement as LRA consults in Northern Uganda

Martin Ojul labour to clarify the fate of Otti left is Todwong Richard the President's Advisor on Northern Uganda Photo and story by Rev.Willy Akena

“The temperature in Gulu is cool and comfortable” said Dr. Onek Leo the representative of the Chief mediator. This was in response to a question raised by Dr. Riek Machar to check the security of the cessation of hostility agreement team who are in Uganda together with the LRA delegation for the LRA/M consultation. The one day consultation that was held at St. Monica Tailoring School in Gulu attracted more than 160 people including Religious Leaders, Political, Women, youth, and victims. The delegation was impressed by the level of commitment shown by the people of Gulu which is a clear sign of desire for peace. The ambassadors of the five countries of Kenya, Tanzania, Congo, South Africa, Mozambique and Sudan promised to redouble their efforts to encourage the LRA and government of Uganda to work even harder
The presidential Advisor for Northern Uganda Mr. Richard Todwong said the government of Uganda is committed in the peace talks and that its clearly seen in the meeting with the President of Uganda, discussion of the ICC and the security of the LRA delegation.
Dr. James Obita one of the LRA delegation said they discussed suspension of arrest warrant for the LRA warrant to be suspended for 12 months so that the LRA can sign the peace agreement.

In another related development, the people of Acholi are asking Martin Ojul the head of the LRA delegation to clarify the fate of Oti Vincent the LRA 2nd in command who is widely believed to have been killed by his boss Joseph. Kony. The people think Otti’s death may jeopardize the peace talks.

LRA NOW IN GULU TOWN

Bishop Nelson meeting LRA in the jungle of Atiak, close to the border with Sudan last year. Now plan is underway to meet in Gulu this weekend DNU file photo

As we come to the end of the month, news of the presence of LRA delegation has been greeted with lots of enthusiasm. According to Adek Yusuf who called himself an LRA who lives within the community, the delegation will hold a consultation conference in Gulu at Hotel Pearl Afrique on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th November. From the LRA the following will participate:-Adek Yusuf Okwonga, Okot Santa, Martin Ojul (chairman), Ayina Odongo(lawyer), Obita Matshanga and Peter Ongom. The following have also been invited from Gulu, Pader, Kitgum and Amuru;-Government leaders, Religious leaders, Local Council, Elders/Opinion leaders, Camp leaders, Youth/male and female,
Victims, Resident District Commissioner (RDC), and Civil Society for Peace/NGOs working in Northern Uganda. Monitoring Team from Tanzania, Zambia, South Africa, DRC Congo, Sudan and Uganda will also participate as well as observers. The main purpose of the consultation is to get people’s views on Agenda number three that is Reconciliation and Accountability. Adek refuted media reports of conflict within the LRA leadership, instead he said LRA camp has been attacked by cholera and that Oti Vincent is one of the 70 or so LRA who were severely affected, Adek comforted the community that Oti is recovering and soon may speak on Radio Mega or other media.

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Bwola dancers celebrate the construction of the Health Centre that will help about 17,000 people who have been leaving without health services Photo by Rev.Willy Akena

A 50 Million Health Centre was commissioned by Mr. Michael Nyenhif the President of Medical Assistance Programme (MAP) the health centre II is located at Oberabic in Acwera Parish in Amuru district. Bishop Nelson who shared his experience of traveling to this remote area in 2005 and found no health services prompting him to lobby for one. The Bishop further said, Together we can change the world to be a better place to live in, “together we can make a difference” The President of MAP international expressed his appreciation to the Diocese of Northern Uganda, the Government official as well as the community for their support in realizing the dream of a health centre. The Assistant Chief Administrative Assistant of Amuru District Mr. Oloya Awaro appealed to the man who donated the land on which the health centre is now built to honour his donation. Mr Oloya appealed to other community members to emulate the young man in giving land for development. Most of the speakers called upon the community of Acwera to own the health centre and guard it jealously
The Amuru District Director of Health Services pledged that the local government will also support the health centre. Malaria is the most common killer disease in this area and we appeal for provision of bed nets, drugs and help to repair and renovate other health centres

A Caring Church

Bishop Nelson Onono-Onweng explains his point to Helen. Photo by Rev.Willy Akena

Helen Stawski International Development Programme Officer - Lambeth Palace is here in the Diocese of northern Uganda together with Vat Kmachiko from World Vision East Africa Peace Building Unit. The two will carry out intensive research on peace building initiative of the church. Bishop Nelson who was interviewed by Helen doubts the caring ministry of the World Wide Anglican Church. He said “For twenty years the church in northern Uganda has been bleeding but I have not seen serious response from the communion”.
While giving update on the situation, Bishop Nelson said for one year now people are enjoying peace. The Bishop commended President Museveni for accepting to talk peace with Joseph Kony.
In order for the Anglican Church to be a caring Church the Bishops proposed having a global NGO or commissions in the areas of Relief and Development, Education, HIV/AIDS and Peace if it’s to become a caring church that can respond to situation of needs
We welcome Helen and hope the result of her work will bring hope to the people who are now in the process of returning home from the camps. Pray also for the floods that has severely affected movement as well as crops in the Northern Uganda.

Acholi Community raised machines

Photo by Rev.Willy Akena in Oxford

Thalia Carr the wife to Martin Carr of Oxford stood forward and spoke in a mixture of English and Lwo saying ‘Ci wan ma watye kanyi pe watwero jogo cente mo me wilo caran” meaning are we too poor to raise money for sewing machines. Provoked by the Thalia's appeal and family contribution of money that can buy one sewing machine,the Acholi community in London and Oxford who were attending a fellowship meeting in Oxford being chaired by Bishop Nelson Onono-Onweng raised 188 Pounds. The money was handed over to Brenda Onono to bring to the Women Development Centre for buying sewing machine for the girls who were abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army and are now being trained at the Diocesan training centre. After their training the girls often come out without a sewing machine to start a leaving. Giving a sewing machine to one of these girls would make them able to support themselves. Currently we have 30 girls at the centre and the money raised can buy three sewing machines. Are you willing to support one? Let us know.

Meeting in Oxford

Today Bishop Nelson met the Bishop of Oxford Rt.Rev. John Pritchard at the Diocesan Office. The Dicocesan Communication officer interviewed Bishop Nelson about his work in Northern Uganda and the prospect for peace in this war ravaged part of the world.

Earlier on Bishop Nelson held a meeting with Church Mission Society(CMS) Regional Co-ordinator Mr.Tim Sanders at their New Office complex in Oxford. The two discussed a number of issues including;-communication, training and peace in the region. On Sunday Bishop Nelson will speak at St.Margaret Church in Oxford.
The Diocesan liaison officer in the UK Mr.Martin Carr is making all these work in a miraculous way and we thank God for his sacrifice.

Rev.Willy Akena in Oxford

Women can make a difference –says Bishop

The Bishop of Northern Uganda, the Rt. Rev Nelson Onono-Onweng, drew a large crowd and great respect for his activities as a founding chairman of the Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative, meeting the rebels, including Kony, by night out in the bush. As a mark of solidarity with the thousands of children who flee to the cities for safety each night, he spent four nights sleeping unprotected on the open tarmac. The action resulted in the building of shelters for them.
Bishop looked to women to make a difference, citing the women of Japan after Hiroshima. I am now looking at women as the agents of peace. Those fighting are children born of a woman, so the women can talk to them.
On arms, he protested: “In Uganda, we don’t make arms, but small arms are everywhere. Where are they coming from? Why should they be there for us to kill ourselves?”
This was during the Greenbelt festival that attracted about twenty thousand people from across the world. This year theme is Heaven in the Ordinary.
During the week, Rev. Willy Akena accompanied by Revd Canon Stuart Taylor met with the Archbishop of Canterbury International Secretary David Peck at the Lambeth Palace, where they discussed support to the Diocese of Northern Uganda and the peace process.
Bishop Nelson who is currently in the UK for a three weeks official visit together with his wife Brenda and Rev.Willy Akena will this Sunday 2nd September speak at St. Andrew’s Church Cobham, St. Peter Henleaze and St. Philip and St. James in Bath. Thereafter the entourage will leave for Oxford where among others the Bishop will meet Acholi Community in the Diaspora, Church Mission Society, and Mothers Union.
As appeared in the Church Times, London 31st August 2007, additional reporting by Rev.Willy Akena in UK

Help Jennifer

Acan Jennifer is among the students learning tailoring skills at the Diocesan Women Development Centre to help her look after her child Lakica Brenda (on her back) born in LRA captivity.
Giving her a sewing machine costing 50 pounds sterling will kick start her to be self reliant.
For more informatin contact us at Diocese of Northern Uganda P.O. Box 232 Gulu Uganda
E.mail. dnu@utlonline.co.ug
Tel. + 256 772 667 334 / +256 78249052

Tips on development

Our Diocesan Technical Staff Obutu Daniel expresses a point using the MS-Democracy poster Photo by Rev.Willy Akena
“If you have a one year plan, grow rice, if you have a ten year plan; plant trees but if you have one hundred year plan, pay your children in school” goes a Chinese proverb.
At a training that was held from 15-16 June 2007, Mr. Daniel Obutu urged the participants to take that proverb seriously and implement it now that people are going back home. The Acoli need to be more visionary and move away from small subsistence farming in to commercial farming and learn to plan for long term activities. Mr. Uma Charles the District Disaster Management Committee Chairman took the catechists through a mind boggling exercise on the return process.
The bishop of the Diocese of Northern Uganda, the Rt. Rev. Nelson Onono-Onweng in his charge to the catechists urged them to be like the cutting edge of a spear for the church. He said the strength of the church of God lies with them because they (Catechists) are constantly with the people, interacting with them. He called upon the church leaders to teach the truth, counsel the traumatized, work hard to combat and defeat the evil in society like adultery, poverty and his agents of evil. He also asked them to begin moving away from small subsistence farming (food for today) and embrace commercial farming that will elevated them out of the biting poverty these people as sunk in and also change their thinking of being poor

Lead the way

The first five Archdeacons now on motorcycles. Photo by Rev.Willy Akena
The office of the Archbishop Church of Uganda, with support from friends, donated five motorcycles to the diocese of northern Uganda to facilitate the archdeacons in reaching out to the Christians who are now returning to their villages. We still need four more motorcycles to cover all the archdeacons. Are you willing to help? Let us know. After the archdeacons we will pray for the 24 priests.

Come Now , let us Leave

Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere, Minister of Relief and Disaster Preparedness share notes with Rt. Rev. Nelson Onono-Onweng at the SYNOD: Photo by Rev. Willy Akena


Diocese of northern Uganda
JUNE 2007 NEWSLETTER

COME NOW, LET US LEAVE!!!!


By Lukwiya Pamela
Prof. Kabwegyere’s call to the Church to lead the way home
“Arise let us leave” is the theme of this meeting which is taken from John 14:31. This call is to our people in the camps: Come, leave for home, leave the camp life, and leave a life lining up for relief: leave a life of congestion: leave a life of misery for a life of self actualization: of self determination: leave a life of fear for a life of freedom. Live a normal life where happiness and development can be enjoyed.

It is a call to end an end to a chapter this is full of imponderables of many unknowns, it’s a chapter that describes blames and counter blames; full of questions; what went wrong!
I am here in search for disciples to carry out the following mission. A mission of hope that tomorrow must be better than today, a message of reconciliation that enmity and anger are ungodly; a message of peace since peace is needed by a chicken to lay an egg how about a human being? Peace is a universal good which all of us must possess; that it is a crop which all of us must grow; that is a harvest all of us must enjoy. I need disciples to plant seeds of food we eat for body nourishment, just as church leaders are expected to carry a message for spiritual nourishment. Our combined efforts will produce a complete person- body and spirit, together.
Arise let us leave this place with the mission of change wherever we go.

A chronology of events

Picture by Rev.Willy Akena inside Southern Sudan.
The road to peace is not smooth, Its full of pot holes like the one in the picture:Some people had to travel on this Diana Truck to meet Kony in the Jungle as a confidence building measure in July 2006,including of course Rev.Willy Akena


The New Vision Saturday 14, July 2007


Today marks one year since the Uganda Government and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) peace talks started in Juba. Henry Mukasa compiled the chronology of the talks aimed at ending the 20-year conflict that has ravaged northern Uganda.

July 2006
July 14: Peace talks between Uganda Government and the LRA opened by South Sudan President Gen. Salva Kiir in Juba. “I know there is a lot of bitterness. My appeal to you is to come to table with open minds. Let the world see you and hear you do the right thing,” Kiir urged.

July 15: The Government team disputed LRA accusations of persecuting people in northern Uganda, cattle rustling and insecurity. The head of the Uganda delegation Dr.. Ruhkana Rugunda described the accusations as “undue, unwarranted and unfair.” “The LRA tried to cleanse itself of the atrocities committed over the years. The Government doesn’t want to open old wounds but give a soft landing to the LRA,” he said.

July 16: The Government called on the LRA to ceasefire, abandon the rebellion and accept the amnesty.

July 19: LRA demand for an immediate ceasefire is rejected.

July 20: The chief mediator, Dr.. Riek Machar met LRA delegates in a closed meeting together with Acholi leaders led by Rwot Achana to discuss the suffering of the people of northern Uganda.

July 21: LRA and the Government delegations traded accusations of committing atrocities. The Government team pointed out that the LRA team comprised persons who chopped and cooked people during the Patong massacre. The LRA delegation shot back claiming that the Government team had a colonel who abducted a detainee from a prison in Gulu, shot him and chopped off his head.

July 22: LRA demanded for federalism and self-determination for the North and East and also wanted the constitution amended to provide for federal states.

July 24: Peace talks adjourned for 10 days to allow each delegation to consult their leaders.

July 29: LRA commanders led by deputy commander Vincent Otti and elders from northern Uganda and South Sudan met at the DR Congo — Sudan boarder.

July 31: In a press conference at Ri-kwangba, LRA leader Joseph Kony denied having links with FDC President Col. Kizza Besigye and contriving plans to overthrow the Uganda Government by force.



The Government chief negotiator, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda and the president of South Sudan, Gen. Salva Kiir, announce the start of peace talks at a press conference in Juba on July 3, 2006

August
August 1: Kony reiterated his will to end the war through the Juba talks at a meeting of political, religious and civic leaders from the war-affected areas, held in Garamba forest.

August 3: Machar called upon the Government and the LRA to declare a ceasefire before talks resumed. Uganda defence officials replied that there was no fire to cease since the rebels had fled the country and were almost defeated.

August 9: The LRA walked out of the talks protesting the Government's refusal to declare cessation of hostilities.

August 11: LRA returned to the talks. Both delegations presented position papers on disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration separately. The Government team demanded LRA fighters assemble in designate area for a ceasefire to be granted.

August 13: LRA's third in command Raska Lukwiya was killed by a UPDF mobile squad in Kitgum District.

August 14: Saddened by Lukwiya's death LRA delegation chairman Martin Ojulu lamented, “What are peace talks for then?”

August 15: The LRA team granted three days to mourn Lukwiya.

August 17: The LRA's demand for South Africa to co-mediate the talks is rejected.

August 22: Rugunda assured LRA second in command, Vincent Otti on phone, of Government's commitment to the peace talks

August 24: LRA demanded cabinet posts and 30% representation on commissions, statutory bodies and presidential appointments as a condition for ending the war.

August 26: The Uganda Government and LRA signed the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CHA). The rebels are given one month to assemble at Owiny-ki-Bul and Ri-kwangba. A monitoring team with representatives from SPLA, UPDF and LRA is suggested. Delegates break for consultations. Museveni ordered cessation of hostilities and named Col. Tumusiime Nyakaitana and Maj. Charles Okiror as UPDF representatives to the monitoring team. Kiir names Maj. Gen. Wilson Deng as the chairman of the team.

September
September 4: Delegates re-assembled in Juba for the third round of talks.

September 6: LRA revealed their reluctance to assemble at Owiny-ki-bul and Ri-Kwangba as demanded by the CHA. The rebels said the two areas were not acceptable. Otti said LRA fighters would not assemble until the International Criminal Court drops arrest warrants against four top rebel commanders for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

September 7: Talks resumed and parties reviewed the performance of the CHA. The rebels dismissed the

september 12 deadline to assemble, which was drawing close.

September 23: LRA threatened to quit peace talks alleging massive deployment of UPDF in South Sudan. Nevertheless LRA names Col. Michael Anywar, Lt. Col. Ray Achama and Maj. Dennis Okirot as its representatives to the monitoring team.

September 26: LRA suspended participation in the peace talks protesting alleged deployment of the UPDF in South Sudan and DRC.

September 28: Kiir met the Government and LRA teams to get the talks back on track.

September 29: LRA accepted to return to the table after Machar that SPLA ensure that security in Owiny-ki-Bul.

October
October 8: A report of the Cessation of Hostilities Monitoring Team accused both the LRA and the Government of violating the agreement. The report was made after a visit to the two assembling points for LRA fighters in southern Sudan.

October 21: President Museveni arrived in Juba for talks with Kiir. He also addressed LRA delegates but they, led by deputy head of delegation, Josephine Apira, rejected his handshake.


November
November 1: Government and the LRA signed an addendum to CHA which gave the rebels one month to re-assemble and restricted unauthorised visitors to assembly areas.

November 3: LRA asked for a break to allow its team tours the northern Uganda for “consultations and confidence building.” The Government rejected the demand as untimely describing it as a vain attempt to conduct a referendum.

November 5: The Government team was incensed by LRA's procrastination. LRA's absence at meetings prompted the Government delegation spokesman, Capt. Paddy Ankunda to comment, “We are not happy with the way the LRA is treating us. They seem to be buying time for reasons that are suspect. Their behaviour seems to confirm our fears that they are using peace talks to re-organise.”

November 11: UN Coordinator for Emergency Relief, Jan Egeland met LRA rebel leader Joseph Kony and his deputy Vincent Otti in Ri-kwangba. Egeland hoped to secure the release of women and children.

November 18: LRA deputy leader, Vincent Otti told The New Vision in an interview in Garamba that he regretted the incident in which the LRA delegates in Juba shunned Museveni's handshake. “Diplomatically, I would have shaken his hand. A handshake does nothing. What they did was not good. They should have greeted him,” he said. On his part Kony said Museveni is a good man for facilitating his wives and relatives to travel to Garamba and meet him. Two lawyers Nobert Mao and Owiny Dollo explained to the indicted LRA commanders the provisions of the ICC Rome statute. LRA resolved to send representatives to Uganda to meet Museveni as part of confidence-building.


December
December 14: Delegates reconvened. The Government delegation was upbeat but the LRA insisted it would not talk until the UPDF pulls out of southern Sudan.

December 16: Another supplement to the CHA was signed extending the cessation of hostilities agreement by two months, up to the end of February 2007.

December 20: LRA was put under pressure to sign a deal on comprehensive solutions as a Christmas gift for northern Uganda. LRA maintained its demand for a minister for the North in the office of the president.

January 2007
January 8: Southern Sudan's President Omar el-Bashir threatened to use force to chase the LRA out of south Sudan in the wake of ambushes staged by the rebels along main roads linking Uganda to Juba.

February
February 4: “If Kenya can't host the talks we can go to another country. We are not going back to Juba. That is finished,” Otti insisted.

February 26: The CHA deadline to assemble in gazetted areas expired without LRA honouring it.

March
March 4: LRA delegates failed to show up at the Acholi peace conference held in Juba to revive the peace talks.

March 11: Rugunda met LRA commanders Kony and Otti in the first-ever direct talks between the rebels and the Government. Organised by former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano, the meeting aimed at reviving the stalled Juba talks.

March 16: The LRA delegation promised to return to the talks on condition that the South Sudan government guarantees their security.

March 26 Talks failed a day after restarting in Juba as the LRA accused the UPDF of attacking their positions.

April
April 16: After meeting Chissano in the remote, secluded and forested village of Ri-Kwangba, the LRA rebels agreed to resume talks in Juba on April 26.

April 26: Talks resumed. Chissano warned the LRA that time was running out for them to reach an agreement with the Government.

April 28: Chissano spent hours shuttling between the LRA and Government camps to resuscitate the peace talks. The LRA team wrote a protest letter to the mediator, Machar, accusing the UPDF of attacking their positions in southern Sudan.

May
May 2: The Government and LRA signed a pact “comprehensive solutions to the causes of the war” outlining remedies to the causes of the war.

June 2007
June 5: The chief mediator, Machar, officially communicated the route LRA fighters still east of the Nile must use to assemble at Rikwangba.

June 13: The Government and LRA signed an agreement, the principles of accountability, stipulating the framework through which perpetrators of crimes during war will account and reconcile with the victims. They agreed that both protagonists “have cause to account and to accept to submit to the processes and procedures of accountability.”

June 27: Kony recalled three close relatives; Pastor Obina, Kidega Onen and Mission Okello from the peace delegation.

June 29: The agreement on reconciliation was signed. It provides for alternative traditional justice that could insulate four LRA commanders against the International Criminal Court prosecution. It binds the Government to strike the LRA off the terrorist list as soon as the rebels renounce rebellion, sign a ceasefire pact and submit its members to the process DDR.

One year of Peace Talks

July 14, 2006 marked the beginning of a serious peace talks between the government of President Museveni and the LRA chief Joseph Kony. Today is exactly on year, people have enjoyed uninterrupted peace and as a result the common talks about return. The president of Southern Sudan Gen.Salva Kiir said “I know there is a lot of bitterness. My appeal to you to come to table with open minds. Let the world see you and hear you do the right thing,"

One year down the road, the major question is the ICC. While many people in the north think the ICC is a stumbling block to the peace process, the ICC prosecutor Louis Ocampo thinks that is what Kony wants people to believe. And the prosecutor thinks Kony will get a fair trial in the court.
A visit to northern Uganda now shows a peaceful society but still trapped in the camps, with just about 2% in their villages.

True Accoutability

New Vision photo of Dr.S.P Kagoda, the acting leader of the government delegation (right) exchanging copies of the agreement with LRA team leader Martin Ojul(left) and Dr. Riek Machar(centre) after it was signed at Juba Rha Hotel.
The government of Uganda is to adapt an appropriate policy framework for implementation of the terms of the agreement on Accountability and Reconciliation now that the agreement has been signed.
To the victims of the 20 years war, true accountability entails giving honest answers to the many questions that they have. As it's understood here, Mato Oput ceremony is performed after two parties have given full accountability of the crimes committed. We therefore expect the UPDF and LRA to honestly accounts for the crimes committed in this part of Uganda.
In the agreement we note that the parties shall promote national legal arrangements, consisting of formal and non formal institutions and measures for ensuring justice and reconciliation with respect to the conflict. The parties believe that a comprehensive, independent and impartial analysis of the history and manifestation of the conflict especially human rights violations and crimes committed during the cause of the conflict, is an essential ingredient for attaining reconciliation at all levels.
We continue to hold those in the talks in prayers.

Memorable pictures of the visit

Just look at these faces seen during the visit to Amuru camp.

Pictures by Rev.Willy Akena

Danes flock Northern Uganda

The past few days has seen a good number of Danes in Northern Uganda for a visit to the camps. Early this year a group of students from a journalism school in Denmark were in Gulu. Last week we had Jeppe Krogager, Ms Sanne Nyland Christensen and Jens Jonathan Steen. This group went to Amuru camp in Amuru District. Today Monday, we are grateful to host yet another Danish journalist in the person of Katrine Birkedal Christensen. Katrine visited Pabbo camp, which now has a population of 40, 290 left in the main camp, the rest have gone to eleven smaller camps nearer to their villages. Now the main camp is less crowded in terms of people, but the huts are still intact. That means should any thing happen, they can run back to the main camp again.

Camps or home

A recent visit to some of the camps in Northern Uganda shows a good number still undecided on whether to go home or remain in the camps. A cross section of the camp resident said they have already visited their original villages and some have planted crops in their own field. The following however are the real need now:
Help in setting out shelter, basic household utensils, agricultural tools like hoes and ploughs and seeds to enable them begin cultivating their land. If you know of organisation that can support some of these areas please let us know. What is worrying is the state of the children; some parents leave the children in the main camps for days with no proper arrangement on their welfare. Some of the children therefore are tempted to eat whatever is edible like these in the pictures.

New Bishop for the Diocese in 2009

Today, Wednesday June 6, 2007 Professor Tarsis Kabwegyere officially opens the Diocesan Synod. Bishop Nelson delivered his charge and members have broken into houses of Laity and Clergy to discuss the professor’s address, Bishop’s Charge and the report from the Diocesan Council.
Tomorrow, Thursday June 7, members will continue the discussion of the papers and thereafter come back in the plenary for presentation.
Bishop Nelson said his retirement is in 2009, mandatory he is to retire at the age of 65 and that should have been on January 21, 2010. But according to his charge 2008 he will visit the Christian to say bye and 2009 Election of the New Bishop and consecration as well.
More to come

Rev.Willy Akena

SYNOD MEETING

June 5, 2007


PRESS RELEASE

The Diocese of Northern Uganda is due to hold its General Meeting commonly called the SYNOD from Wednesday June 5,-Friday June 8 2007 at the Diocesan Headquarters, in Gulu.
Bishop Nelson Onono-Onweng, who is the Chairman of the Synod, is expected to announce his retirement plan and other critical issues affecting the church like same sex marriage, Adultery, empowerment of the Clergy, church land, return process and development of the Diocese.
Members that include Women and Youth representatives and all parish priests will start arriving today and the meeting starts tomorrow Wednesday June 6, 2007 at the Diocesan headquarters at Mican.
The Guest of Honour will be Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere, the Minister of Relief and Disaster Preparedness.
We call for your prayer so that the Lord guides this meeting

Rev. Willy Akena
Diocesan Information Officer/Bishop’s Chaplain
0772 667 334

List of atrocities in Northern Uganda coming soon

Dominic Ongwen(LRA)one of the interdicted commander,Lucky Kidega (UPDF)commander, Walter Ochora (Resident District Commissioner Gulu and Bishop Nelson Onono-Onweng during one of the meeting with the rebels in the Bush last year. Photo by Rev.Willy Akena

We are happy that the peace talk in Juba is on track. Given this trend we hope a settlement will be reached. Now the two parties are discussing agenda number 3 which talks about Reconciliation and Accountability. This is the most difficult agenda because it involves discussing the Acholi Traditional System of Mato Oput, Amnesty Law and of course the ICC among others. As it stands now the ICC seems to be carrying more weight and a centre of controversy. The LRA delegation are demanding cancellation of the ICC indictment before signing of this Agenda while the government position is that the Agreement has to be signed first then the ICC.
People in the camps are optimistic that peace will return to Northern Uganda. Although majority are still in the camps, while visiting their original homes and involved in small scale agricultural activities.
In another related development the Acholi Parliamentary Group is to release a dossier on the atrocities committed by the LRA and the Government since 1986. According to the New Vision story of Tuesday 5, 2007 Hon. Reagan Okumu said the dossier were compiled by both local and international organizations.

At home once again

Sunday May 27, 2007 came as a surprise to me; I decided to make a ride on my motorcycle to visit our original village. Because of the war, we deserted our homes almost fifteen years ago. The ride of 45 kilometers according to the reading on my motorbike, the journey took me one hour, it is a fairly good murram road with some pot-holes here and there. As I was riding I could see gardens of groundnuts, cassava and other crops along the road side.
I arrived at Corner Nwoya camp near my home village at 11:00am this camp is one of the newly created camps, called it satellite camp if you like. Although seems to be a bit planned, but the sight of children standing naked and not hiding their poverty, both youth and adult staring at passers-by cannot be avoided.

Instead of meeting my father, who is a retired school teacher, I decided to go straight to my first primary school where I expected to get Christian praying. This school, Nwoya P.7 was displaced and had just reopened this year on the original site. I was welcome by at least fifteen people who had come to pray. The place still looks deserted. The catechists were ready to start the service and of course I joined them in a 40 minutes service. After the service I then decided to a ten fifteen minutes walk to our ancestral home.I managed to get there and recognize some of the trees planted by my father like eucalyptus that have now grown very big and tall. being a seacon for mango,I ate one mango fruit as a sign that at least I have visited the place, and it reminded me of my childhood days. One striking thing was the borehole(see the picture above) that has been constructed by the Sub-county local government at the site of our ancestral well lacally called Wang-Aric.At the moment very few people use the water, but given peace many are going to benifit from this clean water. What I failed to see was the grave of my grandmother who died before the war, and of my uncle who was killed during the war. Maybe next time I visit I have to ask my father to direct me. After this I went to the camp where I met my father and some of my relatives. We had good time and good discussions. My father said he is not yet ready to go and stay at home because of unpredictable security situation, given the fragile peace talk in Sudan.

By Rev.Willy Akena

Pictures above: on the left is a group photo of those who attended the service in this once deserted place and in the background is the classroom where I sat for my Primary Leaveing Examinations before the war.
On the right is of Rev.Willy Akena standing at the borehole(taken by my wife Poline)

What is happening in Gulu

Today as I was coming from the office the Resident District Commissioner Gulu, I passed via the market street in Gulu town. I was attracted to a small group of people gathered around a man who claim to be Jesus; this man is actually called Oryem Bosco. The sight of Bosco who is lame, poorly dressed, putting on shoe on one leg, on his head is hut made out of motor-car tyre that has been properly made and a cross on top. Bosco has the Rosary and a white handkerchief. According to him the world is soon coming to an end and that he has been sent by God to reveal his plan for mankind. He says he is as wise as a computer and any questions posed to him he is able to give an answer.
This kind of strange figures reminds me of how Joseph Kony, Alice Lakwena (RIP) and Sevirino Lukoya rose up and confused a number of people.
I only pray that after Joseph Kony war has ended no such people should come again to deceive others.
The Bible is very clear on such people; As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately." Tell us," they said, "when this will happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age" Jesus answered: "watch out that no one deceives you" Matthew 24: 3-4

Kony given Ultimatum

News of the one week ultimatum by the President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni and his counterpart Salva Kiir of Southern Sudan open yet another wound in Northern Uganda.
According to our Local Radio Mega FM, the LRA have been given only seven days to assemble in Ri-kwangba near the Sudan-Congo boarder. The Monitor of Friday, May 11, 2007 confirmed the development. According to the monitor LRA rebels have protested the assembly ultimatum. The Monitor quoted the LRA peace delegation secretary for information and publicity Godfrey Ayoo, saying “That kind of thing (ultimatum) looks to be rigid for parties that are trying to gain confidence from one another,” and further said “It wont make sense to say we must assemble in one week when we have lost four weeks without the agreement being implemented”
The International relations Minster Okello Oryem who happens to come from the war affected region, said on behalf of the government that the government of Uganda and the mediator will not expect anybody in Owiny –ki -Bul calling himself LRA because it will be outside the assembly area. The UPDF and SPLA will take action on anybody in those areas after the seven days because they will be causing insecurity.
For the people in Northern Uganda who have suffered all these 20 years, think this is recurrent of what happened in 1994 when the LRA were given 7 days to assemble.
Picture is of LRA child soldiers who are to carry foodstuff for the LRA commanders. Taken on September 11, 2006 by Rev. Willy Akena

Troubled but not destroyed

The Bishop of West Ankole diocese the Rt. Rev. Jona Katoneene had a mixed reaction while on a visit to the Diocese of Northern Uganda. The Bishop came for the wedding of George and Joyce who are both staff in his Diocese. The wedding took place on Saturday 28,April 2007 at Christ Church in Gulu. Rt.Rev. Jona appealed to the couple to always forgive one another and have love as the key to their marriage.

In another related development the Bishop and his family almost shed tears upon seeing the suffering in a displaced camp at Koro Abili on Kampala road. Bishop Jona described it as “A transforming experience" and that he has not remained the same after this visit. He however confessed that he was deeply troubled by the human suffering that has been going on for 20 years. He said his daughter Rachel is 20 years and that had she been born in Northern Uganda she would have undergone all this experience. His appeal is for more people to come to northern Uganda and see for themselves. On relationship the Bishop said his visit to Northern Uganda has open door for deeper relationship.
Bishop Jona appreciated the resilience of women especially in supporting their families.
Although the developemt in Juba is positive but majority of people in the Internally Displaced Camps are still stuck in the camps.


Report by Rev.Willy Akena

The best boy survives on left over

Kidega Dennis Okech was born in 1993 to Mr. Okech Charles and Amono Rose. Dennis is the third born out of eight children. Three boys and five girls. Dennis emerged as the best student in the Primary Leaving Examination of 2006 in his school, Pece Prison Primary school and admitted at Sir.Samuel Baker Secondary School in Gulu. Dennis attributed his success to hard work and support from his teachers. During the third term he felt sick but because the parents could not afford to meet the medical bill he was treated from home, thus took him long to recover. The problem was cough. After the exams he resorted to making bricks with the hope that the result would favour him and he could use the money from the sale of bricks to meet some of the requirements. Although it was not enough, but he started classes and as a result of non completion of fees, the result was dinial of access to the dinning hall by the school administration. Dennis told me that he used to go in the dinning hall after the other students have eaten and search for the left over, since he had no meal card.
At one point he was sent home to look for the balance, but the father gave him 1,000 (one thousand shillings) so that he can instead buy food from outside the school compound.
Dennis’ father Mr.Okech Charles worked as Prison warder and security guard but for one year now he has no job and in his early fifties. While the mother is a house wife.
When I talked to the father on Monday April 30th 2007, Okech said “I would like my son to study but I cannot afford the school requirements” “This boy (Dennis) is unique in character, he is the one who make my compound clean and wants to make sure things are done properly. The mother Rose Amono was not at home, but fortunately I met her on my way back. Rose told me that she wanted to handover the boy to us because she does not have ways of raising the fees.
When I asked Dennis what he would like to become after his studies he said “I would like to become a Medical Doctor so that I can help people” and I think he can make it given chance, Dennis got Distinction in Science.

According to letter to Parents Dennis Second term fees is 144, 850 (one hundred forty four thousand eight hundred fifty shillings) the other expenses including scholastic materials may go up to 50,000 (fifty thousands shillings) so about $ 115 US dollar Dennis can meet the second term requirements


You can contact me on + 256 772 667 334 or send e-mail to akenawilly@yahoo.co.uk or dnu@utlonline.co.ug

Young ambassadors for Northern Uganda

The news of resumption of talks bring another window of hope for the people
of Northern Uganda. My own opinion is that the talk is taking too long and
if not carefully handled it can take years and years. I think there is some
economic gains in this talks. I recall that one of the reasons that led to
the break in the talk was allowances, the LRA delegation complained that
they are being paid too little compared to the government delegation. It may
bounce back to a statement by Professor Dan Nabudere who said " Poverty
cannot be overcome by those who benefit from it" From this statement I am
tempted to say that the war in Northern Uganda cannot be overcome by people
who benefit from it.

Recently I went to Amuru Camp with a group of Students from Denmark for a visit in the New district curved out of Gulu about a
year ago. These students have surely become our new ambassadors, and I know they will share their experiences with their fellow students as well as lecturers.
Amuru camp has a population of 51,330 according to a figure given by the LC111
and he told me that people are able to visit their original villages, do a
bit of digging and come back to sleep in the camps. That they are not sure
of their security. Of course there are some new camps created, these one are
nearer to people’s original villages, so the issue of walking long distances
has reduced a bit. But the distrust of the LRA and UPDF is another issue which has to be addressed. Why, Civilian cannot fully trust the UPDF, not least because any military action taken by UPDF against the LRA generally involves killing their abducted children. Still the fact that the UPDF where treating anyone outside of an IDP camp as collaborator may still be ringing into the minds of people such that life outside an IDP camp may not be very easy at the moment. Worst still is the fact that incase the peace talks fails, the innocent children will be abducted and again conscripted into the LRA while others are killed. So who wants this to happen to him or her?
I even saw many children just redundant in the camps and always following
Visitors whenever they go. On the situation generally its calm and traffic
moves even at night without problem. Buses from Gulu to Kampala can even
leave at 2:00 am and arrive in Kampala by 6:00 am.
Rev.Willy Akena

Danish Students in Gulu

Today I have students who are doing communication at the University in Denmark. They are here for a short time.Pernille is their guide. Detail will come your way. Look at their pictures.
Are you willing to come for a visit? please let me know, our doors are wide open.

IDP

Easter in Atiak camp in Amuru District has been hot, dry and windy. The major problem we have seen is lack of water. Look at these pictures and pray that they may be able to get enough clean water in addition to the many needs. We appeal for practical help to drill a borhole, drilling one bore hole is approximately 18 million Uganda shillings.
Atiak is some few miles to Sudan.

Pictures by Rev.Willy Akena on Sunday April 8, 2007

Education

The best boy has no future

Yesterday I visited a home in Gulu Municipality. I met a woman who narrated how her son managed to go to a secondary school Sir Samuel Baker commonly called Pongdwongo, in Gulu district.
This boy made some bricks during the holiday while waiting for the Primary Leaving Result. The routine is for him to go to the well, fetch some water, walk back home where he has already dug the soil, pour the water and start mixing until it's properly done. He then scoop the mud and pile it together in form of an anthill for about 12 hours, thereafter he has to start making the bricks. The bricks are then left to dry, after that he assemble them ready for burning. The process of getting firewood for this work is another tag of war.
The boy fortunately was the best in his School in the 2006 PLE result and was admitted in the above school.
Time for reporting, was like time of mourning the lost of a dear one, because the school requirements too hard for the boy’s parents. All the same he managed to report but because he paid only part of the fees he is to wait for the food left out after the other students who have paid have eaten then he may get something. This is just first term of the long four or six years ahead of him. And there is no sign of improvement in the financial base of the parents of this boy.
The purpose of this message is to request you to practically support this boy. If you need detail please contact me on dnu@utlonline.co.uk or akenawilly@yahoo.co.uk then I will link you up with the boy, parents and the former school as well as the present school.

The winner in this war

The time is 7:20am, as I was cleaning the compound, I saw two cocks fighting seriously, and it drew my attention as well as the attention of my family members. As I continue watching this drama, I recalled what the leader of the LRA Joseph Kony said on the war in Northern Uganda. Kony said “Lweny wa ni obedo calo pa twong gweno, ma acel ryemo lawote, itamo ni dong kibwoyo ento koni inongo ni en ma ocako ngwec ni dok cako ryemo lawote” Meaning this war is like that of two cocks, one may be overpower and you may think it has defeated the other one, but surprisingly the one who is being chased may regain strength and come back to continue the fight. As I was sharing this with my family and taking pictures, my heart begins to have pity for the one who was facing it rough, finally I decided to take one away and hide it from the other one. This I thought would be the best alternative to stop the fight. But now that I am away I am not sure what the next thing would be, given the fact that the two cocks may meet again.
As you think over this story think about the solution to the war in northern Uganda.
I later learnt that one cock belong to Bishop Nelson Onono-Onweng while the other one is for a camp resident just some few meters away from the Bishop’s residence at Mican in Gulu Municipality.

By Rev. Willy Akena

Hope again in Northern Uganda

After meeting the LRA top commanders in the jungle of Garamba in the Democratic Republic of Congo, there seems to be a renewed hope to the people in northern Uganda. Kony has literally accepted Juba to remain the venue for the resumption of the talks, although about 18 issues still stand on the way, but it's yet another sign that peace is being given a chance. According to the leader of government delegation Dr.Ruhakana Rugunda, five African countries have agreed to send senior government and military officials to reinforce the negotiations; these are South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania and Democratic Republic of Congo. We pray that the elite LRA delegation consider the plight of the people in Northern Uganda seriously and do everything to speed up the peace process.
It's unfortunate that with the raining season around the corner, our people are going to suffer and may not fully farm their land. That means poverty level will continue to go higher and higher.

Hope in Juba

Now that the cessation of hostility agreement has expired, what will the next move be for the Government of Uganda, Lord's Resistance Army and the local population in the Northern part of Uganda? With the presence of the Acholi Paramount chief, Rwot David Onen Achana 11 and key player in the diaspora as well as local leaders from Acholi in Juba, what do we expect? The reality on the ground is that people are now hesitant to go back to their villages for fear of rebel incursion. The LRA walked out of the talks last month and are insisting for a change in venue and mediator. The government position is still the same- no change of venue and mediator.
We appeal to all parties involve to really have the people in the camps at heart.

Clergy new shirts

Today the clergy of the Diocese of northern Uganda assemble for their meeting at the Dicoesan headquarters. One unique thing is that some of them are dressed in new clerical shirts while others the opposite. Why this, one would wonder, the answer is found in the website here www.shirtsforgulu.org. On my on behlaf and on behalf of the clergy of the Diocese of Northern Uganda, I would like to acknoledge the recipt of the clerical shirt(s). This is a great contribution to us. We would like to thank all those who contributed generously towards the appeal by the Area Dean of Sonning the Reverand David Hodgson. At least 38 shirts are delivered and distributed to the diocesan clergy and about 30 clergy are still to receive this gift.
by Rev.Willy Akena

Fresh Memory of Archbishop Janani Luwum

Chapel Sermon by Archbishop Henry Orombi at the Primates Meeting, Friday
February 16 2007, the thirtieth anniversary of the martyrdom of Archbishop
Janani Luwum.

The Church of Uganda

The Church of Uganda was born in 1877 through CMS missionaries who were
invited by the King of Buganda. In 1885 Bishop James Hannington was murdered
as he came to Uganda through the eastern part of the country. He was
believed to be an enemy because he was approaching Uganda from the east. On
June 3rd 1886, the Martyrs of Uganda were killed because they refused
homosexual advances by the then King of Buganda. In 1962 Uganda became
independent. In 1971 Idi Amin took over from Dr Apolo Milton Obote, the
elected President of Uganda.

Conversion

Janani Luwum spoke of when he surrendered his life to Christ:

"Today I have become a leader in Christ's army. I am prepared to die in the
army of Jesus. As Jesus shed his blood for his people, if it is God's will,
I do the same." Such were the words of a primary-school teacher in his own
village where he was well known and where his family and village had wanted
him to be a chief. "When I was converted, after realising that my sins were
forgiven and the implications of Jesus' death and resurrection, I was
overwhelmed by a sense of joy and peace. I suddenly found myself climbing a
tree to tell those in the school compound to repent and turn to Jesus
Christ. From time to time I spoke in tongues. I stayed up that tree for a
long time."

"Later on I discovered that some boys were converted due to my sermon I
preached up that tree. The reality of Jesus overwhelmed me - and it still
does. But I would be wrong to demand that those who are converted should
climb a tree and speak in tongues."

Eleven months after his conversion, on one Sunday afternoon, Janani Luwum
was moved to address an open-air meeting at All Saints Church in Kitgum, and
he said: "The Holy Spirit has been showing me how many educated men are
deserting the Church. When the Church dies out of existence they won't be
there to take the blame. I feel deeply convicted that it the church faces
extinction in this my native land, I will be around to die first before the
Church falls, collapses or dies. It will have to fall on me. I totally
surrender myself to the Church."

Then he fell on the ground and wept bitterly amid loud shouts of praise,
thanksgiving and tears of joy of repentance. Yusto Otunno responded by
saying that Luwum, as one of the educated brethren, should join the full
time ministry of the Church. God was calling him to sacrifice his teaching
career, and the real possibility of being a local chief, and to offer
himself for ordination.

His death

Early in 1977, a small army rebellion was put down with only seven men dead.
However, Amin determined to stamp out all traces of dissent. His men killed
thousands, including the entire population of Milton Obote's home village.
On Sunday, 30 January, Bishop Festo Kivengere preached on "The Preciousness
of Life" to an audience including many high government officials. He
denounced the arbitrary bloodletting, and accused the government of abusing
the authority that God had entrusted to it. The government responded on the
following Saturday (5 February) by an early (1.30 am) raid on the home of
the Archbishop, Janani Luwum, ostensibly to search for hidden stores of
weapons. The Archbishop called on President Amin to deliver a note of
protest at the policies of arbitrary killings and the unexplained
disappearances of many persons. Amin accused the Archbishop of treason,
produced a document supposedly by former President Obote attesting his
guilt, and had the Archbishop and two Cabinet members (both committed
Christians) arrested and held for military trial. The three met briefly with
four other prisoners who were awaiting execution, and were permitted to pray
with them briefly. Then the three were placed in a Land Rover and not seen
alive again by their friends. The government story is that one of the
prisoners tried to seize control of the vehicle and that it was wrecked and
the passengers killed.

The story believed by the Archbishop's supporters is that he refused to sign
a confession, was beaten and otherwise abused, and finally shot. His body
was placed in a sealed coffin and sent to his native village for burial
there. However, the villagers opened the coffin and discovered the bullet
holes. In the capital city of Kampala a crowd of about 4500 gathered for a
memorial service beside the grave of the martyred Bishop Hannington. In
Nairobi, the capital of nearby Kenya, about 10,000 gathered for another
memorial service. Bishop Kivengere was informed that he was about to be
arrested, and he and his family fled to Kenya, as did the widow and orphans
of Archbishop Luwum.

The following, about 25,000 Ugandans came to the capital to celebrate the
centennial of the first preaching of the Gospel in their country, among the
participants were many who had abandoned Christianity, but who had returned
to their Faith as a result of seeing the courage of Archbishop Luwum and his
companions in the face of death.

Conclusion

Archbishop Janani Luwum, the third Archbishop of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi,
and Boga-Zaire died a sacrificial death. His death brought revival to the
Church of Uganda and changed the political climate of Uganda. He was
declared the twenty-first saint in the Anglican Communion in 1998.

************ ********* ********* *********

Alison L. Barfoot (The Rev. Canon Dr.)
Asst to the Archbishop for Int'l Relations
Church of Uganda
P.O. Box 14123, Kampala, Uganda
Phone: +256 (0)78 2 321 027
E-mail: alisonbarfoot@ yahoo.com
Fax: +1 520 842-5138 (This is a private USA fax number, but will reach me in
Uganda.)

More than only war

Northern Uganda is a place best know for killings, abduction, homelessness and hopelessness, but spiritually life has meaning to thousand of christians. Sunday 28th Janaury shows yet over 100 chritains beaing confirmed into the christian faith in the Anglican Church at Christ Church in Gulu. Bishop Nelson appealed to the newly confirmed to transform the lives of people by practising the christian faith.

Born in the camp

What is the future for a child like this one. Born in the camp, growing up with no education, without a home. Please come and help these children in Northern Uganda

Another Image From Pabbo IDP Camp

One Picture Says More Than Many Words

A girl carrying a little sister or brother on her back in Pabbo IDP Camp, Gulu District.

Church to spearhead change

Eight Deacons were on Sunday 14th January 2007 ordained priest in Bungatira Church of Uganda by the Bishop of the Diocese of Northern Uganda, Nelson Onono-Onweng assisted by the assistant Bishop of Bristol Diocese UK Lee Rayfield. Bishop Lee who was the preacher called upon the newly ordained to change the world, " The Church is to be an instrument of changing the world, family, villages and town and to spearhead change". Bishop Lee appealed to the ordained to live and care for God's church in northern Uganda who have lost the will to act due to the 20 years war and have resorted to a new culture of waiting for relief items; instead of the normal diligence and industry that once categorized the Acholi people.Those ordained priests were; Rev.Lumumba Patrick, Rev. Odoch Alfred, Rev. Charles Komakech, Rev.Opoka Charles, Rev. Opiyo Robinson, Rev. Auma Lucy, Rev, Thomas Akena and Rev. Kweya Alfred, While Rev.Godfrey Loum was ordained Deacon. Bihsop Lee was accampanied by three other priests from Bristol; Revd Stuart Taylor, Revd Philip Rowe and Rev.David Lloyd.
In another related development Bishop Nelson received a new pastoral stuff from the Bishop of Bristol as a gift.

New Year Message

END OF YEAR PEACE MESSAGE BY THE ACHOLI RELIGIOUS LEADERS PEACE INITIATIVE (ARLPI) 31ST DECEMBER 2006: VENUE AMURU DISTRICT
THEME: PEACE FOR ALL THROUGH DIALOGUE AND RECONCILITION.


Dear people of God, brothers and sisters

INTRODUCTION:

As we enter the 21st year of conflict in Northern Uganda particularly Acholi sub-region, we Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative would like tot pass this message of hope to all men and women of good will who, during the last 20 years have been struggling to build peace in our war tone region.



ACHOLI RELIGIOUS LEADERS PEACE INITIATIVE (ARLPI)

This is an interfaith organization which brings together religious leaders from Muslim and Christian (Anglican, Catholic and Orthodox) faith with their constituencies to participate effectively in transforming the violent conflict in Acholi sub-region with a vision to have a peaceful and a prosperous country where people strive to co-exist harmoniously and work to forge the spirit of national unity

THE THEME:

Over the last few years we, the religious leaders came up with various themes for reflection emphasizing the importance of peace. In 2003 we had the theme ‘AMONG ALL PEACE FOR ALL”; in 2004 “PEACE DEPENDS ON YOU!’ and 2005 “PEACE IS THE DESIRED VALUE FOR ALL’. In all these messages, we made strong appeal to all peace loving men and women to work together in building peace in the region

THIS YEAR 2006, WE CHOSE “PEACE FOR ALL THROUGH DIALOGUE AND RECONCILIATION”. Our choice this theme was motivated by the fact that peace is not only gift from God but a moral obligation to every initiative used to end the northern conflict, we the religious leaders are convinced that dialogue and reconciliation are the most peaceful means to end the conflict that have eaten up the Acholi cultural values including human life.





PEACE TALKS:

On this note, we would wish to express our appreciation and gratitude to the Government of Uganda and Lords Resistance Army for accepting to embrace dialogue as the means to end this 20 years conflict. Further more acknowledge the government of Southern Sudan in particular President Salva Kir and Vice President Dr. Riek Marcher (Chief Mediator), the United Nations and International Community for their involnment and support in the talks. For sure the relative peace we have started to experience in Northern Uganda today is the fruits of dedicated efforts of some distinguished peace loving persons such as Jan Egelan the Under Secretary of Humanitarian Affairs among many.
It is our hope that the ongoing peace dialogue in Juba will yield a sustainable peace we have been praying and working for.

PEACE FOR ALL THROUGH DIALOGUE AND RECONCILIATION

Every effort to achieve peace must be rooted in love of God and love of neighbors. In his own words the Great Apostle St. Paul has this, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21). In the same epistle, he emphasized that “Repay no evil with evil’ rather, humanity should reconcile to overcome evil (Rom. 12:17).
The Qur’an also preaches love for humanity and desire for peace through forgiveness and harmony. In Ash-shura 42, Verse 43, it reads “And verily whoever shows patience and forgives that would truly be from things recommended by Alla (God).


Also in the reading of today, we are told about the importance of dialogue where the relationship is broken and the need for reconciliation when things go bad between two or more people.
In is in this context that we Religious Leaders of Acholi urge the conflicting parties and all men and women who desire peace to value and promote dialogue and reconciliation as the most peaceful means of settling conflict.

SOLIDARITY MESSAGE

As we end this year 2006 and enter the New Year 2007, we hereby wish to express our condolence and solidarity to those who lost their God given lives to the 20 years conflict and pray to God too grant them eternal peace. For those of us who have lost our dear one and surviving under unimaginable conditions, we pray for God’s consolation and hope for peace by working for peace.
As messengers of God, we urge you not to lose faith in God our loving and caring father who has not abandoned us during this trying moment. We urge you to forgive and reconcile with one another inorder to live in harmony.

Allow me on behalf of ARLPI to join hand thanking God for the New District of Amuru. It’s our prayer and hope that this will unite you together for the sustainable peace and development in this newly born baby.


CHALLENGES

As we look forward to a peaceful end to the 20 year conflict and the time when the camp life will be dismantled, we urge you to be agents of peace through dialogue and reconciliation as opposed to revenge and hatred.

As peace talks progresses in Juba, we earnestly appeal to the Government and the International Community to come out with a comprehensive plan for resettlement and rehabilitation of the IDP community as they go back to their homes.

We would wish also to point out other challenges facing families and the community such as HIV/AIDS pandemic, poverty, land disputes, political and leadership differences. Our appeal is to those in authorities to use their wisdom correctly in addressing contentious issues at hand.

CONCLUSION

I want to conclude by thanking all of you for coming in large number to join us in a thank giving prayer for the blessing we receive this year 2006 and pray for his guidance, care and providence in the New Year 2007

It is our appeal to the LRA and the Government to embrace the spirit of dialogue and reconciliation as means tot sustainable peace.
May violence now leave way for dialogue and reconciliation and to all of you, let’s love one another, seek what unite and not what divides us.

Thank you

We wish you peace and God’s blessing in the New Year 2007

AMEN

+ John Baptist Odama, Archbishop of Gulu and Chairman-ARLPI
+ Al Haji Musa Kahlil, Acholi Khadi and Vice Chairman-ARLPI
+ Macleord Baker Ochola 11, Retired Bishop of Kitgum Diocese and Treasurer-ARLPI
+ Nelson Onono-Onweng, Bishop Diocese of Northern Uganda and Chairman Finance & Administration –ARLPI
+ Benjamin Ojwang, Bishop of Kitgum Diocese Member-ARLPI
+ Fr. Julius Orach Orthodox Church Member-ARLPI

Kony finally meets the mother

As the peace process gains another momentum, the LRA leader this week meets his mother at Ri-Kwangba on the Sudan DR Congo border. In Acholi, a child is closer to the mother than the father, and in most cases the mothers has a lot of influence on the day to day decisions. Now that Kony has met his mother Nora Anek Oting, we hope for a better result. According to reliable sources, Kony almost broke into tears on seeing the mother after more than ten years of separation. The Government of President Museveni is looking after Kony's Mother. In another related development Bishop Nelson is expected in Juba this week to participate in the peace talk. We all look forward to the end of the war in northern Uganda which has been ravaged by the 20 years war.

Children with hope

News of possible return to original village is greeted with joy in many camps in the Acholi Sub-region. But, the peace talk is taking too long for people to experience this long overdue expectation. A visit to one of the camps in Gulu can be both heartbreaking and sight of smile, as children normally gather around visitors and may even join the tour in the camp. May be other visitors should begin to use children, to take them around their camps.

Rev.Willy Akena

The Church must remain relevant.

Welcome to Northern Uganda. We hope you will take keen interest to read and internalize the issues and give us your feedback.
God bless you


(Left) The President of USADF Mr.Rod McAllister talks to children at the School during the launch of the Gulu Night mentoring Program at Christ Church Primary School. Photo by Rev.Willy Akena

Rev. Odoch Alfred
Keyo Parish

Guruguru IDP camp is one of the decongested camps in Amuru District with a population of 5,059 people. This camp is in dire of help. Being a new camp, so much is lacking. The road to the camp is full of massive pot holes and during the rainy season it is impassible. On a good road, it would take only 15 minutes but to Guruguru, it takes over 40 minutes. There is no school in the camp; children who really want to study must walk 10 km to the nearest school in Pagak IDP Camp. There are no health facilities within the camp; this makes the lives of the citizens very difficult. The most affected are children under five years and pregnant mothers who do not have easy access to health care and yet the case of malaria is very rampant.

Another problem is the issue of safe water. The population of 5,059 has only one borehole. If one wants clean safe water then one has to wait for a long time in the hot sun.
Guruguru being the most fertile land in Lamogi sub county could serve as food reservoir for the whole district if attention drawn towards it.


Rev. Lukiro James
Purongo Parish
He is an orphaned boy aged 12 and among five other orphans who live with Rev. Lukiro James.
Acire James spends most of his time at home during class time because he lacks school fees and other scholastic materials. He only goes to school to sit for exams and surprisingly, he always top in his class. Despite the hardship that Acire is facing, he is determined to succeed academically. He is a very humble and disciplined boy.

“I fear no man but God’’ said one man caught queuing for food ratio more than twice in Jengari camp in Pabbo Parish in Amuru district. This kind of thought and behaviour was not part of the Acholi culture. We must revisit our way of thinking and help our people come out of this dependency syndrome.




Rev. George Ludwero
Awere Parish.
Health Department of Diocese of Northern Uganda gave out 11 kits to the trained Community Base Health Care from Dino and Odek IDP camp in Awere Parish.
The kits were given to the 11 CBHC from Odek Primary school ground in the presence of a large gathering who turned up for relief items given by Diocese of Northern Uganda.

The Health Field Officer told the CBHC to work hand in hand with all the stakeholders in the area. They should also be close with the HIV/AIDS patients. Most of their work should be visiting the patients, sharing the word of God with them and they should always report to the management of St. Peter’s Health Center in case of problems beyond their control.
The trained team from Dino and Odek after receiving the kits. Photo by Lukwiya Pamela

Breakage of marriage many in IDP Camps
Rev. Alfred Komakech
And Rev. Akuta Wilson`

Marriage is one way God allowed man and woman to live in harmony and to be procreators with him. But it is with great unhappiness that such union is being broken. This has been caused by living in the camp for over 10 years. The Acholi culture of esteeming morality and upholding marriage has been discarded for loose living.
Due to difficult living conditions, married women leave their marital homes to commit adultery in exchange of cash especially from the men who have money. Prostitution in the camps is very rampant. This has led to early pregnancies and abortion. In Koch Goma, a 20 year old girl on 23rd of September 2006 died as she tried to abort a six month old pregnancy.
With the massive moral decay, the church has a big responsibility. She must work hard to try and reverse such perversion in our society. We therefore call upon all Ugandans to help stop this kind of life.


Rev. Oyet Willis
Pabbo Parish
Agole community on the 3rd of October 2006 welcomed the Rt. Rev. Nelson Onono-Onweng on his pastoral visit. It started with the bishop planting a memorial tree.
The head teacher, Mrs. Teresa Lukwiya expressed the community’s pleasure to host the bishop for the first time since the school was established. She appealed for more visit from the Bishop and also for material assistance like a duplicating machine a computer, a generator and a printer to facilitate regular examination.
The Parish priest, Rev. Oyet William Willis emphasized the need to facilitate the girl child if they are to be maintained in school.
In his address, the bishop stressed the need to fight ignorance. He quoted Proverbs 4:6 and 22:6. He said that the pupils have to choose the right way by remaining in the school other than deciding on irresponsible family life. He also urged parents to make sure they pay their children in school without hesitation. He gave an example of a man nicknamed Odong Tulla who specialized in planting only one crop; Tulla. He had enough money to pay fees for his only daughter until she qualified as a teacher.

Soldiers in need of Jesus
Rev. Joyce Akena
Koro Parish
Here is need of introducing Kiswahili service at Koro Kal Sub Parish so that soldiers and their families are reached.
This has arisen because there are two women in the sub parish who never miss church service but do not understand the local language except Kiswahili and these two have expressed their desire to understand the sermons by the parish introducing Kiswahili services.
We cannot stop talking about Jesus as long as we live. And we must take the gospel to all God’s people


Five first grades expected
Rev. Willy Akena
Information Officer

Bishop Nelson Onono-Onweng appealed to students who are doing their exams to make proper use of the available time that they have. The Bishop was addressing pupils, teachers and parents at Bobi Primary School recently. Present during the meeting were the head teachers of the schools that are at Bobi Learning Centre. This was in a bid to encourage pupils to perform well in their exams. The Bishop was informed that last year Bobi Primary school which has a population of over 1,000 pupils got only 1 first grade in the Primary Leaving Examinations. The headteacher of the School Mr. Okwongo Thomas Karama said he was expecting at least five first grades this year. He however said the main reason why the school could not perform well was lack of seriousness from the pupils and parents. He said some parents do not urge their children to go to school. On another note, the Bishop said poor performance was sometimes attributed to teachers, because some teachers come to school while drank. He appealed to children to drag the drunkard teachers to school whenever they are found in the camps.

Pastors without pastor

A Team led by the Mission Coordinator of Mukono Diocese Rev. Captain Titus Baraka recently conducted a seminary with the clergy and their spouses from the entire Diocese of Northern Uganda. Rev. Titus said “The pastors have no one to pastor them” He said that is why they decided to hold such a seminary so that the clergy and their spouses are strengthened. The Bishop while opening the seminary thanked New City Fellowship and Mukono Diocese for their financial and material support. The Archbishop’s Secretary for International Development Rev. David P paid a courtesy call and had time to meet the clergy and their spouses. He compared the two world of the development in Kampala and the suffering that has been here for the last 20 years and said “I am amazed to see Kampala again 20 years later, all the changes in Kampala requires peace and justice” Rev. Perk said his heart was broken after seeing the suffering that has been going on . “To come to your diocese 20 years of war and injustices, my heart is broken to see what you are faced with and all alone”. He however assured the pastors of their constant prayers. The seminar attracted over 80 clergyman and their spouses.

Clergy to spearhead return

The Chairman District Disaster Managenmet Committee and assistant CAO Gulu Mr.Uma Charles today appealed to the clergy to take up theri God given role of leading people back to their original villages. Mr. Charles was today facilitating a workshop organised by the Information and Advocacy Unit for the Community Information Team (CIT) of the Dicoese of Northern Uganda at Sunset Hotel in Gulu.
"They clergy can play an important role in the peace building and general mobilisation of the communities to return home" Uma said.
Mr.Uma further said "The clergy could act as medium of communication and reduce stigmatization, counsel the returnees from their hoplessness attitude, high dependency orientation and psychosocial stress among others"

Earlier, the Bishop of the Diocese of Northern Uganda Nelson Onono-Onweng while opening the workshop said the clergy have to walk together with the people back home. He appealed to the clergy to give update to their parishioners on the ongoing peace talks and other related development.

Not yet ready to Go home

After a visit to Pabbo camp, one of the largest camp in the Northern part of Uganda, I have learned that the community are not yet ready to go back to their original villages. Their concern is that the peace talk has not yet yielded the positive things they expect. According to the Sub county Chief of Pabbo, Mr. Akena Moses, Kony has to come back home before they can go home peacefully. They have a lot of fear that the rebels can still come back to Uganda and start abducting their children and again conscript them into their ranks

In another related development, the people have moved to smaller camps nearer to their villages like Jeng-gari, Otong, Bira, Okinga and the most recent one is Olam Nyungo, hopfully if all goes well in Southern Sudan then they move to the villages.

As of now the community are still trapped in the squalid camps across Nothern Uganda.

I am greateful to Pernille http://www.pernille.typepad.com who accepted to visit the camp and managed to learn many things. I hope she will publish some of her stories.

Rev.Willy Akena

Diocesan Information Officer

In the picture above, Pernille is viewing together with the children in Pabbo camp the pictures she has taken

Working on the blog

Today I have with me in the Diocese a good samaritan who came all the way from West Nile to help us make this blog. We hope you will join us in appriciating her for the good work.
More is still to come

Willy in Gulu

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