Peace Together was founded in the Catholic Church on July 15th 2007, but works with all people irrespective of one's religion or political affiliation, and it is managed by the community and for the community.
Northern Uganda has suffered the wrath of political insurgency since 1986 and thousand of people have been killed, abducted and displaced into Internally Displaced People's Camps (IDP camps). This made more than a million members of the families and children, women and the youth vulnerable and children, in particular, orphaned. As a result of this war, HIV/AIDS epidemic has rocked the community, poverty has struck most families, illiteracy rate has increased and violence in families has risen. Many adults have become irresponsible and good cultural values have faded away and replaced by immorality in the quest for the basic needs such as: food, clothing and shelter.
Peace Together Uganda is an organization that has its roots in the troubles that bedeviled the family of Odong Martin the father of Leonsyo Akena in Pajule, Pader District in Northern Uganda. Martin's family like many others was simple peasant farmers. Two of his sons were forced to serve in the rebel group in the late 1980s but they abandoned the Force and escaped back home. Later, three of his grandsons were abducted and never returned home. Again, three of his children could not study and Leonsyo was to break from studies for four years. Three granddaughters of Martin, who were already orphans, dropped from Primary school and went for marriage because they could not pay their fees. The family was displaced into the Camps with inadequate food, housing, clothing, medical treatment and no means to generate income for over two decades. Additionally, four grandchildren of Martin died as babies of diseases that could be treated if people were outside camps. The food distribution was quite unrealistic compared to the number in the family. Education then became a real luxury and the family life became extremely miserable for all. This was the beginning of deed reflection and prayers for Leonsyo. Leonsyo remembers praying to God to make him His instrument of love for the poorest, most abandoned, and most vulnerable ones.
Gripped with these sad situations he began to loudly raise awareness in June of 2007 among friends beginning with Michael Openyrwot and Bosco Oruma towards the plight of the children, the women and the youth in this war. He didn't want Acholi children to relive his sad experiences of the war and poverty again. It was then that the children's project that takes care of the children and also the women and the youth began. Nine other joined, now we called the Board Of Directors (BOD), who with the similar mind started meeting and making a contribution to the betterment of the welfare and the livelihood of the Acholi community by supporting the children and their families.
When Fr. Leonsyo tabled this initiative for discussion with David Thatcher, Lauren Spring Stroh, Fr. Godffrey Torac, Bosco and Michael on the 7/7/2007 in Lacor Seminary, Gulu at 9:00pm, it was unanimously supported. It is then that our humble desire gained an international recognition. Consequently, we received with joy a sum of $2000 from Patrick Mustain and friends in the USA this January. The organization is now registered with Pader District Local Government and is strengthening its partnership with Patrick and colleagues. Now ten kids and eleven students, totallying to 21 beneficiaries are united with their families to benefit from this program in Pajule Subcounty, Pader District.
Father Leonsyo continues his work in Northern Uganda and serves as the Executive Director of PTU.
