Redeeming The Land
Response Proposal To End The Conflict In Acholi Land A Christian Approach
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
1) Destruction of the remaining alters
2) Developing the sites of the former altars
3) Setting up and training an Interdenominational Operation Gideon team
4) Meeting key personalities
5) Organising regular peace rallies
6) Building the Healing Centre in Gulu
7) Establishing Vocational Institutes in the affected districts
A. CONTEXTUAL RATIONALE AND PROPOSTION
Analysis of the Conflict Situation in Acholi Land, And Needs to Be Addressed
“The Lord said, tear down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the wooden image that is beside it, and build an altar to the LORD your God on top of this rock in the proper arrangement.” (Judges 6:25-26).
“When you go to war in your land against the enemy who opposes you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the LORD your God and you will be saved from your enemies.” (Numbers 10:9)
The Lord Resistance Army (LRA) war led by the terrorist- monstrous leader Joseph Kony and his deputy Vincent Otti (Pictures left) which has claimed millions of innocent lives, wrecked the economy and left thousands of homesteads burnt and destroyed for over 17 years is a Satanic led war. Every past attempt made by the Government, the army, the peace loving bodies and individuals have been fruitless. This is most likely because the spiritual method has never been deployed! The use of spiritual weapons to destroy the counter spiritual powers of Joseph Kony is therefore a must to bring the war to its knees. The Kony’s belief in satanic power can only be defeated by our strong belief in the power of the Almighty God! Joseph Kony himself and those who have been with him for long like Brig. Kenneth Banya insist that unless the spiritual cause of the war is handled, the Lakwena spirit will keep jumping from person to person as the spirits will choose them!
In 1948, Sibirino Lukoya Kibero, (picture right) self-styled himself as “God the Father,” and later on called Joseph Kony “God The Son” with Alice Auma – “Lakwena” as “God The Holy Spirit.” He started by building – worship – Altars (Temples) throughout Acholiland while his agents helped to build the same Altars in other parts of Uganda! The major demonic worship shrines – Altars or Temples to fuel up the war and setting the Acholi people on the seat of Government of Uganda were built in the following areas, many more are still to be discovered:
1). Moro Altar (The husband of Awere and Ayamo). 2). Awere Altar. (1st wife of Moro).
3) Ayamo Altar. (2nd wife of Moro). 4). Agwengtina. 5). Wiiacheng
6). Kilak Cave. 7). Kilak Agwe (Holy water). 8). Pabbo Altar. 9). Awach Altar.
10). Bungatira Altar. 11). Wang Kwar Altar. 12). Guru Guru Altar. 13). Amyel Altar.
14). Okaka Altar. 15). Kirinya Altar. 16). Luzira Altar. 17). Corner Kilak Altar.
Julius with George Otis Jr on Awere Hill January 2005
The Lukoya, Joseph Kony, Alice Lakwena beliefs are infiltrating Acholi Land, Lango, Teso and many other tribes in Uganda. The human sacrifice at the command of the gods (spirits) is the number one agenda of this faith. They do not believe that they (LRA etc) kill people, but that the gods (spirits) are the ones who use them (believers in the spirits) to punish those who disobey the commands of the gods. Hence, Kony’s command to kill all the Acholis.
Fortunately, the root of this conflict (i.e. Spiritual Cause) is now known and it is time to use an approach that will achieve lasting results. The spiritual dimension of the conflict means that we have to use spiritual means to address it. In this programe, we are seeking financial help, morale and institutional support towards the following activities:
DESTRUCTION OF THE REMAINING ALTARS
“The Lord said, tear down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the
wooden image that is beside it, and build an altar to the LORD your God on top of this rock in the proper arrangement.” (Judges 6:25-26)
Out of the altars which were built across Acholi land, Operation Gideon phase one (1st – 5th March 2003) uprooted nine altars. The following are the remaining altars to be spiritually uprooted.
- Moro Altar (The Husband of Awere and Ayamo)
- Ayamo Altar (2nd Wife of Moro)
- Wiacheng Altar
- Wang Kwar Altar
- Guru Guru Altar
- Amyel Altar
- Okaka Altar
- Kirinya Altar
- Corner Kilak Altar
- DEVELOPING THE SITES OF THE FORMER ALTARS
TheFollowing TheBible Example for the reason of uprooting the demonic altars,the proper altars useful to the society should later on be built in honour of God and to bless the local people in the community. My consultation with top government officials, International bodies and Christian Organizations as well as some donors agree that developmental projects useful to the community should be established to replace the demonic altars used by the rebels in the past. I therefore would advice that social services like prayer centres, schools, medical units and the likes should be built in such places. This will attract tourists, International Christian bodies and the local people to settle around such places hence putting an end for any future demonic activities to take place there. We would want to develop the following sites:
I) Keyo Altar
Keyo is a village within Kilak County in Gulu district. Keyo is a few miles away from Gulu town, on Atiak road to West Nile region, the border to Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In 1904, the then Cultural leader. Chief Awich invited the first missionary who preached religion to the Acholi people. Lokoya covenanted that monument to his demonic spirits known by pagan name as Kilak and Bakka who guards the altar, and the rebels keep coming to the place every now and then. 1st March 2003 Operation Gideon visited the site, uprooted the altar and dedicated it to God Almighty. It would therefore be good to develop the area for human settlement and positive utilization.
II) Bungatira Altar
On Saturday 1st March 2003 Operation Gideon stormed Bungatira altar. Bungatira is in Aswa County in Gulu district. Bungatira is where Lukoya Sebirino Kiberu with his wife Everina Aya Lokoya, Alice Lakwena’s mother live.
Lukoya Sebirino claims that he was commissioned by demonic spirits, after his wife almost beating him to death these spirits commanded him to build their altars all over Uganda. In his home he built the Bungatira Altars, with the following signs the cross, Crescent, moon and star.
III) Agwengtina Altar in Awere
Awere is a Sub Country in Omoro County- North West of Pader District in Gulu district, Agwengtina is a place within Awere sub country, the traditional home of Joseph Kony.
Operation Gideon visited Kony’s home on Sunday 2nd March 2003. I led a team of 32 Christian Leaders escorted by by the U.P.D.F, with the help of L C 3 of the area. We prayed and covenanted the land and the family members to God. I led the reconciliation between the Acholi people and the other tribes in Uganda who were represented there. The UPDF Major Olivia Ssempa commandant UPDF women’s wing led the reconciliation on behalf of the army and the family of Joseph Kony.
IV) Awere Hills 
On Sunday 2nd March 2003 Operation Gidion went to Awere Altar.
This is the first Altar where Kony Joseph began his activities and made consultation with demonic powers.
Kony Joseph was born in 1959, in Agwengtina in Odek parish Omoro County in Gulu district. He calls himself God the son.
In 1984, the evil spirits entered Kony, forced him to become a witchdoctor, abandon his studies, and stopped him from eating vegetables.
In 1987, other evil spirits entered him calling themselves the holy spirits, commanded him to fight and overthrow the Government, and these spirits would go to the frontline to fight for him, these holy spirits then chased other spirits which stopped Kony from eating vegetables, and allowed him to eat vegetables, but then forbade him, from smoking and drinking.
Kony disappeared, for four days and was found praying on the “Awere Hills” by his brother Samuel Okech who led him back home after Kony finished prayers. People thought he was mad, his mother Oting Norah totally disagreed with what Kony was doing. We drained and dried the “holy water” and covenanted this site to God Almighty. This could be one of the leading tourists sites in the country if well developed and advertised.
V) Awach Alter
On 1st April 1987, Joseph Kony began a rebellion in Gulu district, Northern Uganda. Kony built Awach altar. It is the second main altar where Joseph Kony was initiated. A young boy was slaughtered, his head put in a pot of two mouths and Joseph Kony drank his blood. Sacrifices were offered to demons and a covenant was made as Kony was blessed by the cultural leaders to go fight the government of Uganda. Operation Gideon reached there on the 3rd of March 2003 and exhumed the remains of the sacrificed boy
and brought it to the LC 5 Chairman of Gulu.
VI) Agwee Altar in Kilak County
Tuesday 4th March 2003 Operation Gideon visited Agwee Altar, which was built on the river Agwee in Kilak County deep amongst the Mountains. This is the famous poisonous hot water spring highly valued and worshiped by the Acholi people. It is about 3 miles from the main Mount Kilak where Lukoya built another altar on top of the mountain in Gulu district. This place a long distance from Gulu town can only be accessed by plane. Kilak County is where the Luo community settled when they emigrated from Sudan around the 16th Century. At that time Akullo, one of the Acholi ancestors disappeared for forty days and she re- appeared when she was pregnant by the spirits and gave birth to a son called Labongo. The spot where she (Akullu) was found pregnant by the spirits is believed to be the main seat of the Acholi spirits. Lakoya Severino, Alice Lakwena, and Joseph Kony visited the place to draw the satanic powers and water for rituals.
- SETTING UP AND TRAINING AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL OPERATION GIDEON TEAM.
The solution of the conflict requires a collective local, regional and international effort by all Christian bodies and all other concerned organizations as well as individuals. Such a strategy must incorporate lessons learned from the past initiatives, which have been problematic or have failed, and above all should take fully into account the expressed needs and aspirations of the people of Acholi land their neighbours. Peace building is deemed through building of trust, support and co-operation from the people of the regions who are supposed to be the beneficiaries and who should be willing to accept eventual responsibility for the sustainability of such initiatives.
Setting up an Interdenominational Operation Gideon team and training them therefore is a noble task, and is designed to achieve the following aims:
- To undertake future planning concerning spiritual aspect of conflict in the region
- To help with research and gathering of relevant information on the subject of peace
- To sensitize the public on the danger of “evil’ practices and to bring about attitudinal change concerning government. e.t.c.
- To act as “watchmen” to identify signs of emerging altars as well as new prophets / prophetess and other agents of war, and to report them or deal with them at an earlier stage before gaining popularity in the surrounding community
- To liaise with relevant stakeholders for the purpose of reporting and accountability.
Specific activities under this task include:
- Designing training programme
- Identifying 10 people to be trained from each county of the districts of Gulu, Kitgum and Pader
- Identifying training centers
- Running the training programmes
- MEETING PERSONALITIES WITH CONNECTION TO THE CONFLICT
The full benefit of “Operation Gideon” will be gained by meeting certain personalities that have very close alienation to the origin of the conflict, especially these two:
a) Norah Oting – Joseph Kony’s mother
b) Alice Auma Lakwena – who is currently in Ifo Refugee camp Kenya.
Norah Oting: She maintains that her son, Joseph Kony, went to the bush with a Bible and therefore cannot be brought back by a gun, but by power of the Bible. This means that meeting her can bring a lot of revelation that can help to deal with the underlying spiritual forces. The evil spirits in her son Joseph Kony has affected her so much that several times up to now the demon spirits talk and torment her. If she is not met and talked to and prayed for, the evil spirit might kill her like they have done to her husband.
- ORGANIZING REGULAR PEACE RALLIES
The beliefs and practices of the self styled “god the father” - Sibrino Lukoya, “god the son”, Joseph Kony, and “god the holy spirit” - Alice Lakwena, have infiltrated Acholi land, Lango and Teso and many other tribal groups in the country. It is clear that even if Kony would go another priest / priestess could spring up. It is therefore of ultimate importance to sensitize the public to withdraw from such harmful beliefs and practices. That is why peace prayer rallies become essential. The purpose is therefore to have these rallies organised on regular basis in the following districts: Gulu, Kitgum. Pader, Lira, Apac, Kabermaido, Soroti, Kumi, Nakapiripiri, Kotido, Moroto, Arua, Yumbe, Nebbi, Moys and Adjumani among others, until total peace is achieved.
6. BUILDING THE HEALING CENTRE IN GULU
As the rebels continue to return and the abducted people are rescued, complex situation are likely to be common because of the initial initiation (satanic initiation) that these people underwent. To undo these factors, spiritual deliverance becomes an essential component of the overall package planned for the war returnees hence the establishment of the Healing Centre. Apart from its core function of effecting spiritual rehabilitation, the Centre shall also serve as a peace and reconciliation Centre for the entire northern region. Some NGOs are currently taking the returnees to witchdoctors to again load these traumatized people with more demon spirits. Satan cannot cast away Satan! The Healing Centre will help to pray and deliver such people by the power of the Lord, Jesus Christ.
Life Line Ministries' The Healing Temple To Be Built In Gulu
The centre will especially take care of the following needs:
· Post-conflict healing for traumatized victims of conflict and violence.
· Training programmes geared towards conflict prevention, reconciliation and development issues.
· Church activities and ministry related to spiritual and physical healing and restoration
7. ESTABLISHING VOCATIONAL INSTITUTES
The need to resettle the returnees is of great importance. Vocational institutes to teach them skills in carpentry, hand weaving, tailoring, poultry farming, apiculture, and brick laying among others would help them to be self-reliant other than depending on relief. We therefore propose setting up of vocational institutes, at least on each of the three districts: Gulu, Kitgum and Pader.
B. TARGET BENEFICIARIES AND WIDER IMPACT
Education of such children should be our immediate concern
The first direct beneficiaries (central target) of the proposed programme will be the entire population of Acholi land estimated at 1,076,019 people.Other beneficiaries are the neighbouring districts: Lira, Apac, Kaberamaido, Soroti, Kumi, Nakapiripirit, Kotido, Moroto, Arua, Yumbe, Nebbi, Moyo, and Adjumani, among others.
Acholi sub-region is divided into three administrative districts: Gulu, Kitgum and Pader, with headquarters at Gulu, Kitgum and Pader respectively. The districts are in turn divided into counties, and sub-county local governments. There are 55 sub-counties in all. The programme targets the three districts, using the sub-county as the unit of intervention. The choice of the sub-county as the main centre (unit) of intervention is because it has shown to be a manageable unit from an operational standpoint and because it is a sufficiently small enough to allow interdenominational operation team to make their priorities and intervention count. The LC3 (sub-county) Council which is representative of all categories of people will be assigned a key role in articulating the interest of the people in the consultative process.
Ownership of the process and responsibility for its sustainability will be bestowed upon sub-county representatives, expected to make significant contribution to conflict resolution.
Mainstreaming gender issues.
All members of the interdenominational team will be exposed to basic knowledge about conceptual genderframework through refresher training and seminars that will be organized. The aim is to integrate this knowledge in a systematic manner in practice, in the planning and programming of all activates. Emphasis will be on the reorientation of the programme components, introducing a gender perspective at all stages and in all programme activities, taking into consideration measure or approaches that ensure effective women’s representation and active participation.
D. EXPECTED OUTPUTS
The proposed programme seeks to provide a quick response to the problem of conflict in Acholi land. It facilitates activities geared at preventing future conflict, as well as mitigating the effects of the current conflict. It will do this by implementing the seven major activities highlighted above. The following outputs are expected:
i) Communities/people of Acholi land and the neighbouring districts will be able to find solutions to different conflict situations in the region through mutual interest groups, associations, civil society and community orgnisations.
ii) Improved dialogue and relationship between government and the Acholi people.
iii) Christian churches and organizations, and local government institutions will acquire skills in conflict prevention, management, and resolution.
iv) A strong network of grassroots and development organizations involved in preventing, mitigating and responding to conflict in Acholi land and the neighbouring regions, developed.
v) Provisions of psychosocial support to ex-abductees their families and immediate communities to deal with the post conflict trauma.
E. MANAGEMENT OF THE PROGRAMME
The programme will be coordinated from Life Line Ministry Head office located on plot 55, Nkrumah Road, Kampala. There will be a regional office in Gulu. The program will network with Government, International Community, Christian organizations and other key stake holders that have significantly supported the peace process in Acholi land mentioned in ‘E’ above.
F. SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PROGRAMME
The sustainability of the programme is assured by participation of the local people and leaders in problem definition, the strength of interdenominational operational team, government complementary efforts and support, high caliber support staff and the other stake holders. The participatory approach especially in developing the community action plans will bring about full integration of the communities in to programme activities, which will give a sense of ownership. Enhancing the capacity of local and district based churches and organizations will improve implementation and contribute to sustainable life of the programme.
G. PROGRAMME BUDGET
(This will be done with the participating Partners on ground)
“For God and My Country”
Julius Peter Oyet
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