UGANDA
(2005
World Peace Prayer Society Report)
Despina Namwenbe, Kampala
The International
Day of peace in Uganda was celebrated well by most CCs. CCs organized
differently along different thematic areas which emphasized peace.
According
to Sheikh Musa Khalil, the sub-regional contact person for northern
Uganda, the Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative conducted candle
light interfaith prayers on the eve of 21st. Many people from this
region come for bull roasting and shared some good moments and merry
making which is unusual in northern Uganda. Sheikh Khalil confirms
that for some hours peace was evident on many people's faces.Thus
the war in this region which had been in existence for more than 20
years seemed like history. The following day, there was an interfaith
peace walk concluded by prayers at the bomb grounds. Sheikh Khalil
said the concluding prayers and also spoke highly about URI and its
contribution to peace.
Universal
Ministries CC, Stewardship Ministries CC and Affinet CC hail from
the same sub region. These merged their activities. These celebrated
under the theme of "Empowering the orphaned child a key to national
development". Uganda has over 2 million orphans mostly due to
HIV and the War. The CC contact persons invited most of the religious
leaders in their sub-region and also invited government officials.
The Member of Parliament for the area was also present. Bishop Jackson
Matovu who is the URI contact person for Stewardship ministries said
that peace cannot be enjoyed when orphans have no clear future ahead
of them. Later the orphans who are being looked after by the cc leadership
exhibited their art and crafts, also those who are undertaking skills
in tailoring, carpentry etc exhibited. Rev. Michael Lubowa of Universal
Ministries is on a missionary tour in London.
Youth
Interfaith Mission and Interfaith Youth partnership CCs also came
together under the umbrella of URI and decided to conduct a youth
work camp for northern Uganda refugees who had been resettled in Mukono
district (southern Uganda). The youths collected used clothes, shoes,
hand bags etc for these refugees and also offered manual labour to
do general cleaning and offered food to them.
Personally
I attended interfaith peace prayers at Wampewo grounds in Kampala.
Our country has transitioned into multi-party politics and tension
is building up already. Most people are fearful of what might happen
in the next year’s elections. The last time this country had similar
type of politics in the late 70s and early 80s, there was a lot of
chaos and loss of lives. Religious leaders therefore prayed for peace
in this transitional period. They also prayed for harmonious co-existence
mostly among the Christians and the Moslems. There had been an earlier
clash among Christians and Moslems simply because according to the
Christians, the Moslems had misinterpreted some of the verses in the
Bible. Some of those who initiated the fighting are already in prison.
As a
URI representative I was requested to offer a reading concerning peace.
I did this and requested the congregation to repeat after me at the
end with 'may peace prevail on earth'.
Thank
you and may peace prevail on earth.
2005
World Peace Prayer Society Compilation
PICTORAL
ARCHIVE OF PREVIOUS PEACE DAY EVENTS
May
Peace Prevail
On Earth
