UGANDA 13/7/2004 15:25 ARLPI RECIEVES PRIZE FORM THE âWORLD PARLIAMENT OF RELIGIONSâ Church/Religious Affairs, Brief The Achioli Religious Leadersâ Peace Initiative (ARLPI), which has been seeking a peaceful solution for North Uganda for the past eight years, has been assigned the âPaul Carusâ Prize by the Parliament of world religions a day ahead of the closing day of its convention held in Barcelona (Spain) as of 5 July. Almost 8.000 representatives from most of the worldsâ faiths were at the convention. This is the first time a prize has been awarded at the convention. The recognition was given the name of the German philosopher who organised the first âParliament of religionsâ in 1893, in Chicago (US). The prize was presented to ARLPI for its âexceptional contribution to interfaith movements in the worldâ. ARLPI is formed by representatives from the Catholic Church, the Anglican Church and the Muslim community in Uganda, who are working together to put an end to the conflict in the Acholi districts, whose civilians are the targets of systematic violence by the rebels of the âLordâs resistance Army (LRA). The ARLPI is working on establishing a dialogue with the rebels and the Ugandan army in the name of non-violence. Chosen among approximately 60 analogous groups from all over the world, the Ugandan ARLPI has received a prize consisting of 50,000 dollars, donated by the Carus family. âThanks to these funds, we will build a âpeace centreâ in Gulu where we can instruct youngsters on non-violence and favour the peaceful reinstatement of former guerrilla fighters and former child soldiers into societyâ, Father Carlos Rodriguez Soto, a Comboni missionary, head of the Justice and Peace office of the Gulu Archdiocese and member of ARLPI has told MISNA. To receive the prize, were Father Soto and other members of ARLPI, including Bishop Emeritus of Kitgum, McLeod Baker Ochola and his successor Bishop Benjamin Ojwang of the Anglican Church of Uganda. Also present were Matthew Ojara Episcopal Bishop of Kitgum (in the Archdiocese of Gulu) and Muslim representative Karima Laniero. [CO]
