Emmanuel Nigel: "Peace Together Uganda Organizes World Peace Prayer Day 2025 in Kitgum Fostering Peace-building, Cultural, and Community Reconciliation."

By Emmanuel Nigel

Piemonte House

Date: Thursday, July 24th, 2025

Peace Together Uganda (PTU) is a non-profit organization that promotes peace, educational scholarships, and development in Uganda. The organization was founded in Pajule Town Council, Pader District by the then Rev. Deacon, now Rev. Fr. Leonsyo Akena Ribamoi, and his childhood friends on July 15th, 2007 at the time of Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels. They were full of the Gospel Spirit. The mission of the organization centers on fostering Peace, education, and community resilience. Peace Together Uganda employs community resilience strategies focused on education and peacebuilding, In Uganda, Peace Together Uganda prioritizes providing scholarships to vulnerable children, enhancing access to education, which is a key component of resilience. Education equips communities with skills to adapt to challenges like poverty and conflict.

Peace Advocacy and Community Engagement: The organization promotes peace and security through community-driven initiatives, where peace and security are deemed critical for resilience. The organization employs targeted peacebuilding techniques, primarily centered on education and community engagement, to foster resilience and social cohesion. Helping disadvantaged children, enabling access to education as a tool for empowerment and conflict prevention. By equipping Youth with skills and opportunities, this approach reduces vulnerability to violence and fosters long-term community stability.

"Peace Together Uganda Organizes World Peace Prayer Day 2025 in Kitgum Fostering Peace-building, Cultural, and Community Reconciliation." This year's Peace Prayer Day 2025 is being organized by the Central Organizing Committee in collaboration with Peace Together Uganda and Christ the King Parish Kitgum in the celebration for the International Peace Prayer Day scheduled for Saturday, August 2nd, 2025 at Kitgum Public School Play Grounds commencing with the Holy Mass at 10:00 AM. His Grace Raphael P'Mony Wokorach MCCJ, the Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese will be the Main Celebrant, the Keynote Speaker will be Bishop Wilson Kitara, the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Kitgum, the Guest Speaker will be Sheikh Musa Khalil from the Muslim Community in Northern Uganda, and the Chief Guest is expected to be Her Excellency Jessica Alupo, the Vice President of the Republic of Uganda. The Theme for the Celebration of the 26th Anniversary of the World Peace Prayer Day is "God Almighty Father Forgive us our Sins, Give us Peace!" (1 John 1:9).

Cultural and Community Reconciliation Activities: Inspired by regional practices, Peace Together Uganda incorporates symbolic reconciliation methods, such as communal gatherings or shared cultural activities (example storytelling or prayer meetings), to rebuild trust and social cohesion. These align with practices noted in Northern Uganda, where Women’s Groups used songs, proverbs, and poetry to foster community support and reconciliation.

Collaboration with Local Institutions: The organization works with the Church Leaders, Muslim Community, Local Cultural and Institutions to promote peace, similar to approaches in Northern Uganda where Women collaborated with elders to establish reception centers for ex-combatants, aiding reintegration and reducing conflict relapse. Advocacy for Inclusive Peacebuilding: Peace Together Uganda emphasizes inclusive approaches, likely drawing on models from events that call for the youth and women’s involvement in peace processes to address underlying causes of conflict, such as human rights violations, and advocate for peace.

We humbly ask God Almighty Father to forgive us our Sins and give us the gift of Peace as we celebrate the 26th Anniversary of World Peace Prayer Day 2025.

May the gift of Peace be in our Hearts!