Church centenary linked to Ugandan peace hope
-16/11/04
Hopes that a historic resolutio
Church centenary linked to Ugandan peace hope
-16/11/04
Hopes that a historic resolution of conflict in Northern Uganda might coincide with the centenary of the coming of the Gospel of peace to the region were building this week.
This Saturday (20 November 2004) the destitute Christians of Gulu – a virtual siege town for the past 18 years – will take to the streets for a remarkable celebration parade, following President Museveniís announcement of a partial ceasefire for negotiations with the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).
The LRA has been waging a war of killing and destruction throughout the region.
On Sunday, Museveni told media representatives in Kampala: ëIf Kony and his commanders agree to come out of the bush and engage in internal reconciliation in Acholi, the state will withdraw its case against him.’
President Yoweri Museveni has now ordered a seven-day suspension of UPDF operations in a limited area of Acholi, to allow the leadership of Kony’s group to meet and confirm that they accept his offer, according to a new statement in the Monitor.
One hundred years after the Anglican agency CMS began work with the Acholi people, Acholi Christians have laid the groundwork for amnesty by their attitude to reconciliation. It has made possible the waiving of any prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC), re-affirmed by Museveni.
‘The Konys can come out and engage in internal reconciliation mechanisms put in place by the Acholi community such as mataput, or blood settlement. The state could then withdraw its case and we could inform the ICC that we have a solution to the Kony problem. That is what the ICC wants. No cover-up, no impunity,’ Museveni told a Vision reporter in Kampala over the weekend.
The Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative includes three Anglican bishops – the Rt Revd Ochola Macleord Baker formerly of Kitgum; Bishop Nelson Onono Onweng of Northern Uganda and Bishop Benjamin Ojwang of Kitgum. They have all taken a lead in seeking reconciliation among Lords Resistance Army combatants who continue to emerge from the bush.
Mataput means ‘drinking of the bitter root from a common cup’ ñ a traditional African symbol of the end of the reconciliation and compensation process.
The Church Mission Societyís Ugandan-born Africa Director Revd Dr Zac Niringiye said: ‘All of them have suffered the loss of children and family members during this struggle. Without the Gospel of Jesus Christ such dangerous hope would be unthinkable.’
For more information contact Jenny Taylor at CMS on 0207 803 3387.
Church centenary linked to Ugandan peace hope
-16/11/04
Hopes that a historic resolution of conflict in Northern Uganda might coincide with the centenary of the coming of the Gospel of peace to the region were building this week.
This Saturday (20 November 2004) the destitute Christians of Gulu – a virtual siege town for the past 18 years – will take to the streets for a remarkable celebration parade, following President Museveniís announcement of a partial ceasefire for negotiations with the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).
The LRA has been waging a war of killing and destruction throughout the region.
On Sunday, Museveni told media representatives in Kampala: ëIf Kony and his commanders agree to come out of the bush and engage in internal reconciliation in Acholi, the state will withdraw its case against him.’
President Yoweri Museveni has now ordered a seven-day suspension of UPDF operations in a limited area of Acholi, to allow the leadership of Kony’s group to meet and confirm that they accept his offer, according to a new statement in the Monitor.
One hundred years after the Anglican agency CMS began work with the Acholi people, Acholi Christians have laid the groundwork for amnesty by their attitude to reconciliation. It has made possible the waiving of any prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC), re-affirmed by Museveni.
‘The Konys can come out and engage in internal reconciliation mechanisms put in place by the Acholi community such as mataput, or blood settlement. The state could then withdraw its case and we could inform the ICC that we have a solution to the Kony problem. That is what the ICC wants. No cover-up, no impunity,’ Museveni told a Vision reporter in Kampala over the weekend.
The Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative includes three Anglican bishops – the Rt Revd Ochola Macleord Baker formerly of Kitgum; Bishop Nelson Onono Onweng of Northern Uganda and Bishop Benjamin Ojwang of Kitgum. They have all taken a lead in seeking reconciliation among Lords Resistance Army combatants who continue to emerge from the bush.
Mataput means ‘drinking of the bitter root from a common cup’ ñ a traditional African symbol of the end of the reconciliation and compensation process.
The Church Mission Societyís Ugandan-born Africa Director Revd Dr Zac Niringiye said: ‘All of them have suffered the loss of children and family members during this struggle. Without the Gospel of Jesus Christ such dangerous hope would be unthinkable.’
For more information contact Jenny Taylor at CMS on 0207 803 3387.