PFF MEMBERS PETITION RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO INTERVENE IN KIIZA BESIGYE’S CASE

Gulu Woman Member Of Parliament Aol Betty Ocan (Centre, and other Acholi Subregion Leaders) at the Gulu Archdiocese Offices on Feb. 21, 2025 after presenting their petition. Photo by Desire Alimocan

By Alimocan Desire

Gulu City

The members of Peoples’ Front for Freedom (PFF), a faction of the Forum for Democratic Change party in Acholi Sub region have petitioned the religious leaders in Acholi Subregion to help intervene in the issue of Kizza Besigye who is their party president, to push for his release and that of other political prisoners.

The Gulu woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Betty Aol Ocan who led the group explains that the petition is every citizen’s plea that needs to be listened to.

“We have handed over our petition which is the cry of the people now. It is not only Uganda now but internationally because Uganda has also signed very many protocols which is about human rights protection, so where is the rights of the people who are in incarceration under the military court? The supreme court has already declared and ruled that it is null and void, now why are they keeping these people there,” she wondered.

Aol also appealed that Kizza Besigye who is very sick needs to be released so he can access better treatment, alongside other political prisoners.

The Acting Cardi of Gulu District, Badi Faraj pointed out that the country needs to adopt a culture of forgiveness.

“If we need a proper leadership in this country, the president should be somebody who forgives. It means you are winning voters. The creator himself told us that if we go wrong, we should go and ask for forgiveness, he will forgive us. As religious leaders, we are pleading to our president to put in place forgiveness, that alone can make him win votes,” he said.

Aol Betty Ocan (Left)handing over the petition to Sheikh Badi Faraj the Acting Khadi
Gulu District (Second Right) and an elder at Gulu Main Mosque Abdullah Hussein(right)
at the Gulu Main Mosque. Photo by Alimocan Desire

Lalam Florence, the Councilor for Laroo-Pece North in Gulu City, who is a victim of political prisoner on bail added that the religious leaders play bigger roles in bringing peace and justice in Uganda.

“We have chosen the church because it is our refuge, Uganda has become very small that we have nowhere to run to, everywhere is fire but we believe we are safer in the church. If you look at the history of Northern Uganda where we came from the LRA wars, our religious leaders then, did not sit back. They went up to the bush even to meet Kony face to face without knowing whether they would come back alive or dead. And the church today should wake up and do the same,” said Lalam.

The religious leaders involved are from all denominations, i.e; Catholics, protestant, born again, Orthodox Church and the Islamic Faith.