During the 12th Gulu Episcopal Provincial Annual Prayer Peace week, Mgr.
John Baptist Odama, Archbishop of Gulu made a passionate plea to the
hearts of those who promote violence throughout the world, to stop the
vise; but rather support one another in a peaceful manner. "May each heart not promote violence! May each mouth not promote violence! May each physical effort not promote violence!” prays Odama. The meeting, held in Gulu from January 9 to 13, brought together among others over 5000 'Pilgrims for Peace' from Northern Uganda, South Sudan, the Archdiocese of Gulu, from the diocese of Nebbi, Arua and Lira (GANAL).
The theme: “Non Violence: A style of Politics for Peace”, "was chosen from Pope Francis’ prayer for peace in the world and I would like to ask every human being to practice non- violence as a way of promoting peace", said the statement sent to Fides.
Mgr. Odama appealed to the pilgrims to pray for the countries in the world where violent conflict still occur and enumerated them as South Sudan, Somalia, Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Mali, Libya, Yemen, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Central African Republic (CAR), Nigeria, Gambia and Uganda.
Archbishop Odama, who is also the Chairman of Episcopal Conference of Uganda and chairman of Acholi Religious Leaders’ Peace Initiative (ARLPI) played a key role in ending the over two decade of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) war in northern Uganda.