LRA Returnees, Diocese of Lango to Hold Mass Prayer for War Survivors Seeking Divine Forgiveness

LCC TV NEWS

LIRA, Uganda — The Lango Youth Former Captives/Returnees Association, in collaboration with the Diocese of Lango, is planning a major prayer event aimed at uniting survivors of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency. Scheduled for September 9, 2026, at Boroboro, the event is designed to bring together individuals who were abducted by the rebel group and have since returned home, with the primary purpose of seeking God's forgiveness for the lives lost and the atrocities committed during the war .

The initiative comes as the community continues to grapple with the profound scars left by the two-decade-long conflict, which saw an estimated 20,000 children abducted and approximately one million people displaced in northern Uganda . Many returnees continue to face challenges, including stigmatization, poverty, and difficulty accessing government support programs .

A Call for Unity and Forgiveness

The Very Rev. James Okaka, Provost of the Diocese of Lango and chair of the organizing meeting, emphasized the spiritual importance of the event. He stated that it is crucial for community leaders to unite in prayer, asking God for forgiveness for the lives lost during the conflict. Rev. Okaka further noted that Christians and Muslims will come together in a spirit of unity to pray for peace and divine intervention, acknowledging that life remains "difficult for many communities" affected by the war .

His call for interfaith unity follows the Diocese of Lango's prior public clarification that the Church of Uganda does not have a diocese called "Lango Diocese" but rather the "Diocese of Lango." The diocese had previously dismissed a letter circulated on social media that was intended to create division between Catholics and Anglicans, affirming its commitment to the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda and to promoting unity among all believers .

Mobilization and Support

Abel Ogeny, Coordinator of the Initiative in Lango, confirmed that mobilization efforts are already underway. Plans are in place to travel to the neighboring Acholi Sub-region to encourage survivors there to attend the prayer event . The Acholi sub-region was the epicenter of the LRA insurgency and has seen a recent repatriation of 14 former captives from South Sudan, who were officially received and handed over for rehabilitation in June 2026 .

Morish Okello, Chairperson of the returnees' association, explained that the group was initially formed to seek government support for their reintegration into society. However, initial fundraising efforts to meet their needs were unsuccessful. "This prompted us to organize the prayer and commit everything to God while asking for forgiveness for past wrongs," Okello said .

Community Support

The initiative has been welcomed by local community leaders, including Scovia Akello of Agweng Sub-county and Joel Peter Okello of Apala Sub-county, who have expressed their support for the event and its goals of reconciliation and healing .

Former LRA abductees in the Lango sub-region have long raised concerns about government neglect, noting that many who were abducted while in school have been unable to resume their education and continue to face discrimination . In February 2026, a section of former abductees accused the government of frustrating their resettlement and rehabilitation efforts, citing the failure of programs such as the Peace, Recovery and Development Plan (PRDP) to directly benefit them . Others have turned to Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) as a means to improve their livelihoods and access small loans for school fees and business .

In response to these concerns, the government has recently announced plans to prioritize former LRA combatants in the upcoming cattle restocking programme, with a budget of 80 billion shillings allocated for households in the Teso, Acholi, and Lango sub-regions . Additionally, 77 ex-LRA fighters have been repatriated from the Central African Republic between July and August this year, and the government is currently assessing facilities in Gulu City for their rehabilitation .

The prayer event on September 9, 2026, is expected to be a significant moment of collective reflection and a step toward healing for the war-ravaged communities of northern Uganda.