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ACOLI
RELIGIOUS LEADERS PEACE INITIATIVE
Plot 1, Awic Road,
P. 0. BOX 200, Tel. 0471-32484, Gulu - Uganda
Contact Person:
Mr Lam Oryem Cosmas, Programme Co-ordinator
1. Introduction
The Acoli Religious Leaders Peace Initiative (ARLPI), is a forum that
brings together the Christian and Muslim leaders in Acoliland, northern
Uganda. ARLPI provide a proactive response to the conflict situation
Community Based Peace building actiites in Acoliland.
2. Partners
(a) Jamii Ya Kupatanisha (Fellowship of Reconciliation),
P.O. BOX 198, Kampala Uganda.
Tel. 256-041-346449 Fax: 256-041-347389/530765 E.mail: JYAK
@iuga.healthnet.org
(b) Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), Plot 37, Accacia Avenue, P. 0.
BOX 6051, Kampala - Uganda. Tel.256-04 1-258597 Fax/Tel: 256-041-230560
E.mail: rncc@imul.com
(c) Kacoke Madit
Secretariat, London, 173 Upper Street, London N1 1RG, UK,
UK, Tel. 0207 288 2768 Fax: 0207 359 4081
E.mail: km@c-r.org internet: www.c-r.org/km
3. Goal/Mission:
To actively engage the entire Acoli community to effectively particiate
in the process of healing, restoration, reconciliation, peace and development
in Acoliland. ARLPI is committed to contribute to bring about a transformation
of the current violent armed Conflict by promoting sustainable reconciliation
and peace building activities.
4. Objectives:
(a) To unite as believers in God Almighty in order to mobilise the people
of Acoli for peace and developmen
(b) To advocate for social justice and human rights
(c) To train in conflict analysis,conflict transformation and undertake
community peace-building
(d) To foster the spirit of peaceful co-existence among different communities
in Acoliland and with the neighbours
(e) To work collaboratively with the local leaders, members of parliament,
local and international NGOs and all community base stakeholders to
promote the culture of dialogue as a basis for resolving and transforming
conflicts within communities.
5. Area of Operation:
The ARLPI covers the districts of Gulu & Kitgum. The head office is
in Gulu, with a branch office in Kitgum.
6. Main activities
and focus.
The main focus of activities is at the sub-counties from where volunteer
peace animators (VPAs) are identified, selected and trained. The VPAs
work in collaboration with the local religious leaders, local council
leaders, NGOs and other stakeholders in their areas. Their roles include:
Roles of V.P.A.s
(a) To promote and facilitate a participatory dialogue on issues of
conflict and peace,
(b) To serve as catalysts/critical yeast for non-violence, peace
and reconciliation,
(c) To organise and facilitate community peace sensitisation workshops
and seminars, and
(d) To link the Community Peace-building Programme activities with the
sub-county chiefs and LC III programmes, as well as other efforts and
or organisations working in the promotion of justice, human rights,
reconciliation and peace-building and overall community development.
7. Activities
carried out during 1999
(i) Training of Volunteer Peace Animators (VPAs) for both Gulu and Kitgum
districts.
(ii) Two separate sensitisation seminars for religious leaders and women
leaders from all the sub-counties in the two districts.
(iii) Documentation of conflict and peace issues.
(iv) Exchange visits for people from the south to be hosted by local
communities in Gulu/Kitgum and vice versa.
(v) In conjunction with the Agency for Co-operation and Research in
Development (A.C.O.R.D) organised the International Peace Conference
on the theme: "Peace Research and the Reconciliation Agenda".
(vi) National and International lobbying and advocacy on the conflict
in Acoliland and the need for building peace.
(vii) Networking and collaboration in the peace process.
8. Activities
for 2000
- Identify, select
and train more VPAs and carry our refresher courses for them.
- Continuous peace
sensitisation seminars within the sub- counties, parishes and villages.
- Lobbying and
advocacy by the top leadership.
- Promoting the
understanding, implementation and consequences of the amnesty law
as an instrument of reconciliation and building peace.
- Seeking the
possibility of establishing reception centres.
- Contributing
to the re-settlement programme.
- Documentation
on issues of conflict and peace: establish peace museum, identify
and promote peace symbols/objects.
- Exchange visit
to the tribal's peace trees forum and museums in Kenya.
- Collect and document
songs, proverbs/sayings on reconciliation and peace.
- Participate in
the joint peace District programmes: Kitgum Join Forum for peace (KJFP)
and Gulu District Reconciliation and Peace Team (DRPT).
9. Leadership/Executive
(a) Rt. Rev. Nelson Onono-Onweng - Chairperson
(b) His Grace John Baptist Odama - Vice Chairperson
(c )Shiek Musa Khalil - Treasurer
(d) Monsignor Mathew Odong - Secretary
(e) Rt. Rev. Macleord Baker Ochola II - Member, Chairperson, Kitgum
Branch
(f) Shiek Suleiman Wadrif - Member
(g) Fr. Mathew Ojara - Member
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