CULTURAL LEADERS IN NORTHERN UGANDA CALLED TO CHAMPION FIGHT FOR PEACE

Associate Professor Anguma Simon Katrini speaks during the GANAL Peace week. All photos by Godwin Abedican.

Godwin Abedican

Arua City

Traditional and cultural leaders have been tasked to ensure that they take lead in the fight for peace to reign in the Northern Part of Uganda.

Associate Professor Anguma Simon Katrini, the Vice Chancellor of Muni university during his reflection on this year’s theme, for the  GANAL Ecclesiastical province prayer for peace week,  “Forgive us our trespasses, Grant us your peace” said the strength for achieving peace lies in traditional institutions since its where the community is most involved.

“We should therefore strengthen and support our cultural institutions. This way, unity will not be far from us in our diversity. When we value our diversity and build our strength in our diversity, through realization and appreciation of our common origin, we are likely to realize social harmony where we are able to leave in peace, thereby reducing prejudice and stereotypes. We will also develop conflict resolution mechanisms by prioritizing dialogues and understanding and thus creating an environment of addressing disagreements constructively,” Katrini said.

Mwanika Charles, the Clan chief of the Kumam Nyai-Clan in Dokolo says, they have already began doing underground works with hopes that these can lead to peace in the region.

“As cultural leaders, we are tracing what has been there before.    This tracing is going to take us some time. We are trying to make a research to find out exactly what has been going on. When we do this, with time we shall catch up,” Mwanika assured.  

Mwanika Charles, the Clan chief of the Kumam
Nyai-Clan during an interview with Radio Pacis.

Adar Peter a Clan Chief of the Inomo clan in Lango, therefore calls upon traditional leaders to lead by example such that their subjects can emulate them.

“Personally, we want peace. When the traditional leaders come together and talk, whatever they do, people see. When we make exchange visits like coming to the extreme North like this time it helps us to advocate for one important thing, that is peace,” he commented in an interview.

Adar Peter-Inomo clan Chief during an interview.

However, Lemeriga Fadhil, the Prime Minister Aringa cultural institution expresses challenges in their roles in advocating for peace due to non-recognition by the government.

“Cultural institutions especially in northern Uganda are not so strong because most of them have not been gazzetted by the government. If they get recognitions then they can be able to mobilize resources and also have the moral authority to speak in public,” Lemeriga said with concern.

Northern Uganda in the past saw fierce fights due to wars which affected the relationships among a number of tribes that accuse each other for killings that took place during the wars.

The GANAL ecclesiastical province since 2005 has been holding Peace week initiated by Archbishop John Baptist Odama, now emeritus as a way of reconciling and uniting the people of northern Uganda who have fought political wars in the colonial era. This year it’s being hosted by Arua diocese in Koboko