MOYO, KAJO KEJI COMMUNITIES ENGAGE IN PEACE DIALOGUE

A Group photo during the peace building engagement in Itia village, Moyo sub county, Moyo district. 

By Ganiko Samson Bullen
Moyo

In an effort to foster peace between Uganda and South Sudan, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Act Church of Sweden, and the Episcopal Diocese of Kajo Keji facilitated a cross-border peace dialogue between the communities of Itia in Moyo Sub-county, Uganda, and Litoba Village in Kajo Keji County, Central Equatoria State, South Sudan.

The engagement aimed at promoting peaceful coexistence and highlighting the benefits of living harmoniously across borders.

Budriga Francis, a 33-year-old resident of Itia, emphasized the opportunities peace could bring for youth. “Cooperating at the border will open up opportunities for jobs and business. We’ll be able to move freely and work from one side to the other,” he said.

Jokodu Alice, a woman representative on the peace committee from Kajo Keji, highlighted intermarriage as a key aspect of peaceful coexistence. “We marry each other freely. Even if a man is Dinka, we don’t refuse. We can marry anyone,” she noted, encouraging the culture of intermarriage as a bridge for peace.

Dramudu Anthony Mogga, RWC III Chairperson, stressed the importance of forgiveness and harmonious living between the two communities.

Andreli Inyasio, LC III Chairperson of Moyo Sub-county, called for more regular community dialogues. “Intermarriage and frequent dialogues like these will help enhance efforts for peace so that communities can truly benefit from peaceful coexistence,” he explained.

Mawa Bashir, Chairperson of the Peace Committee, underlined the broader goals of the engagement. “We want to promote trade at a higher level—not just bringing a few mangoes to the market,” Mawa said, calling for stronger economic cooperation between the communities.