By Walter okello I 8th May 2026
Lango Paramount Chief Engineer Dr. Moses Michael Odongo Okune has called on religious and cultural leaders to intervene and facilitate reconciliation among politicians who contested the recently concluded elections noting personal attacks during the campaigns have left deep divisions and reopened old wounds.
Speaking at the Ganal Provincial Peace Prayer Week organized by Lira Diocese at Lango College under the theme “Facing the Past, Telling the Truth and Restoring Relationships,” Dr. Odongo Okune said many politicians both winners and losers are internally bleeding due to the bitter exchanges that characterized the polls.
“In the last election, some politicians, both those who passed and those who failed, are internally bleeding because most of them had personal attacks on one another and this has created divisionism among them,” he said.
The Paramount Chief noted that long-held hatreds among politicians were exacerbated by the election period. He stressed the need for urgent mediation.
“We need to sit our politicians down and make them reconcile for the sake of peace to prevail among them. This could be the only way we can make Lango a better place.”
Dr. Odongo Okune described the peace prayer week as an important opportunity for leaders and the community to embrace reconciliation, forgiveness, and focus on the future.
“I want the Ganal provincial peace prayer week to be an eye-opener for people to develop the idea of reconciliation and loving one another by leaving what happened in the past and focusing on the present situation.”
He commended the Catholic Church for its consistent role in promoting peace, particularly during the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency in northern Uganda.
“I want to thank the Catholic denomination for always standing for peace whenever problems arise. During the LRA war in Northern Uganda, the Catholic Church stood firm and mediated for peace. These efforts cannot go unnoticed.”
Dr. Odongo Okune also appealed to Luo-speaking communities, Acholi, Lango, Alur, and Kumam to protect and promote their mother tongue, warning that the Luo language risks extinction among the over 7,000 languages spoken worldwide.
He thanked Lira Diocese Bishop Sanctus Lino Wanok for organizing the event, describing it as a timely initiative for peace and reconciliation in the region.
John Oludi, Director of Caritas Gulu Branch, said the Peace Prayer Week has brought significant positive changes, including greater respect for human rights, the fight against corruption, and a reduction in intra-community conflicts during elections.
Dr. Samuel Okori, Medical Director of Aber General Hospital, urged the public to avoid behaviours that harm health and social harmony. He called on individuals to prioritize personal reconciliation and avoid actions that breed misunderstanding.