25 February 2004
Dear Les and all at DCI World Christians,
Thanks for the concern and prayers with us, it is truly not well with us.
Yesterday as you might have heard over BBC, we had another bad day. The District Leadership organised a peace march and prayers in commemoration of our 239 people who were massacred last Saturday. It started well I was in the front singing some songs of prayers but as the procession continued an emotional group came from the camp where the massacre took place and they were so much violent.
These few from the camps spoiled the whole meaning of our prayer as they turned violent killing innocent Acholi tribe people they could come across. This is the tribe of Joseph Kony the leader of the rebel group who has brought all the insurgencies in the northern Uganda.
When the security men realised what was happening, they started shooting to disperse the people but unfortunately 4 more innocent people were killed. We again lost 5 people yesterday.
The situation here can not be sustained without other international peace keeping team because there is now high tension, rage and fear in the whole region. I am worried this might end up to same genocide which took place in Rwanda . Soon it might turn up to be complete tribal war and yet both Langi and Acholi tribes are innocent but they are being provoked by the insurgencies which is not being controlled by the Government of Uganda.
The International Community should know that the Government of Uganda is saying that the situation in under control but it is opposite They have completely failed in this war in northern Uganda. The UN need to send us a peace keeping team or else you may expect more worst reports than these.
Concerning the Bank for the Poor which has been so much successful and effective here, the fact is that many of the widows have taken refuge in the camps, and some have run far away to other districts in fear of their lives. In town 4 of the widows are still in Lira Hospital helping their relatives who were victims of the recent massacres. Three other ladies are in a hideout since they are from the Acholi tribe. I only have a better report from Aduku where the widows are doing very well and the scheme is blessing our people so much.
This is now the condition beyond human help. The insurgencies in the northern Uganda has put all economic activities into a stand still. God should bless all of you for every coin sent here for the poor widows and orphans. On their behalf I congratulate you all.
Yours always forward in Christ
Pastor George and Jane Purkweri
Lira, Uganda
mailto:forward@africaonline.co.ug
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