During the vibrant GANAL Prayer Peace Week celebrations in Lira City, a powerful voice for unity resonated across the Lango College Playground. HRH Eng. Dr. Michael Moses Odongo Okune, the Paramount Chief of Lango, issued a stirring call to action, urging the people of Northern Uganda to finally lay down the heavy burdens of the past. He argued with deep conviction that the only way to build a truly prosperous, stable, and modern society is through the difficult but necessary work of telling the truth and extending genuine forgiveness to one another.
Addressing a diverse crowd of religious faithful, cultural icons, and community leaders, the Paramount Chief pointed out that the recent 2026 General Elections have unfortunately revived old rivalries. He observed that political competition often leaves behind a trail of bitterness, where both winners and losers feel a sense of dissatisfaction that can poison community relations. To counter this, he championed the spirit of reconciliation, praising the Catholic Church and Bishop Sanctus Lino Wanok for their tireless roles as mediators and champions of justice across the region.
The Chief emphasized a profound truth: external peace is impossible without an internal spiritual transformation. He warned that when individuals lack peace within their own hearts, that turmoil inevitably manifests as land grabbing, domestic violence, ethnic tensions, and even war. By reflecting on the long history of the region—stretching from the warrior traditions of the past and colonial-era struggles to the devastating rinderpest outbreak and the dark years of insurgencies under various regimes—he reminded the audience of the immense price the community has paid for instability.
He spoke movingly of the thousands who were forced into displacement camps and the rural economy that was decimated by decades of conflict. For the widows, the orphans, and the families still searching for answers about missing loved ones, the Chief insisted that closure can only come when communities openly confront their painful history. He pointed to “kayo cuk,” a traditional Lango mechanism for justice, as a vital cultural tool that can help restore broken relationships and heal the social fabric in a way that modern courts sometimes cannot.
Beyond social healing, the Paramount Chief called for a renewed pride in heritage. He urged the Luo-speaking and Ateker communities to protect their languages and identities from being erased by the pressures of the modern world. In a symbolic gesture of this cultural unity, he highlighted the formal initiation of Bishop Wanok into a local clan, proving that faith and tradition can walk hand in hand toward a common goal.
As the GANAL Peace Week marks two decades of bringing together different dioceses under a banner of harmony, the message from Lira is clear. While the Chief expressed gratitude to the national leadership and security forces for restoring basic safety to the region, he made it known that the next phase of progress belongs to the people. It is now up to every citizen to choose the path of reconciliation over resentment, ensuring that the peace currently enjoyed becomes a permanent foundation for generations to come. Only through the courage to forgive can Northern Uganda truly rise and shine.