Bishop Odoki Appeals for Humanitarian Support for Refugees in Arua Diocese

By Fr. Isaac Ojok, Communications Office, Lira Diocese

The bishop of Arua diocese, Rt Rev Sabino Ochan Odoki, has appealed for humanitarian aid extended to refugees, particularly those from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Speaking at the opening of the 18th Provincial Peace and Prayer Week being held in Arua diocese, a program scheduled to run from   January 20th to 24th, 2025, the bishop mentioned that Arua diocese is a host to over one million refugees who arrived when war broke out in South Sudan in 2013.

He went on to say, that refugees fled to Uganda as a result of the absence of peace in their country and that since their arrival in Uganda, Arua diocese has been giving pastoral services to refugees to facilitate their spiritual welfare.

Bishop Odoki further mentioned that at least there are 38 settlements in the diocese, the areas where the different pastoral agents are giving services tirelessly.

As a diocese, they have received the refugees to give them an opportunity, so that they can learn and have some value in their lives as they continue to live among the host communities.

He went on to say that they have been giving social services to the refugees through Caritas, to offer material needs among them, with collaboration with other partners.

The diocese according to Bishop Odoki among other things, has also given the refugees a platform through radio Pacis in Moyo to send messages of peace, reconciliation, and love to their relatives, health services are also being offered to the refugees to ensure that they remain healthy and productive.

In his address, the bishop said to help in offering different services, 14 different religious congregations are serving in the diocese among the refugees providing different services.

The Peace and Prayer Week is an event that was initiated in 2005, by the then Archbishop of Gulu Most Rev John Baptist Odama now Archbishop Emeritus, with the vision to unite the people of Northern Uganda, restore peace among people after the war led by the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels-LRA.

This year, the peace and prayer week being held in Arua diocese has attracted peace pilgrims from the dioceses of Arua, Lira, Nebbi, Kotido, and Gulu Archdiocese respectively. Other peace pilgrims are drawn from the neighboring countries of the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.

The bishop noted that as people come to Peace and Prayer Week, it should seek to foster collaboration, reconciliation, and forgiveness among people to ensure peace.

To achieve true peace, the bishop said, it is not just a mere absence of war or gun violence, but peace is about creating an environment where people respect one another, people live together in kindness and understanding. He continued that peace is not just a journey of one day, but it is a journey that is held continuously.

“Peace is something we can all choose to practice, and let us think of ourselves to be agents of peace, but choosing to be kind, and peaceful in the community.”

While reflecting on the theme, “Forgive us our trespasses and grant us peace”, he said, we need to forgive one another, in a move to have peace, since peace is a cornerstone for our development, a precious gift from God.

Bishop Odoki appealed to the peace pilgrims to ensure tree growth to help address the environmental challenges such as wetland encroachment, and poor disposal of other plastic materials among others.

The bishop further decried numerous cases of mental disorders making society experience extreme aggression and ongoing quarreling among married couples, noting that some are a result of drug abuse and other substances.

To address this, the bishop said Arua diocese has established a counseling ministry to provide counseling services to the people of God, especially mothers and children. He noted that most men run away because they fear taking responsibility, especially in offering care to their wives.

He appealed to the government of Uganda and other stakeholders to prioritize allocating resources to providing and facilitating nutrition services in the lives of expectant mothers and children.

He concluded by inviting people to live in harmony and embrace one another in a bid to have peace in their communities.

End