Anglican Communion News Service

(ENI) Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has agreed to talk "peace and war" with the rebels in the north of the country who are trying to overthrow his government.

"We shall pursue both peace and pressure on bad people [the rebels] and have that combination: peace and harsh ways," he told a huge congregation last month at the consecration of Nelson Onono Onweng, Anglican Bishop of Gulu, capital of northern Uganda.

Presiding at the ceremony was the head of the Anglican Church of Uganda, Archbishop Livingstone Nkoyoyo, who was on a pastoral visit to northern Uganda. The consecration - at St Philip's Cathedral in Gulu on 13 May - took place under tight security.

For the past 10 years, a former Catholic catechist, 36-year-old Joseph Kony, leader of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), has been fighting to establish what he describes as rule by the 10 Commandments. However, Kony and his ragtag army, most of them based in neighbouring Sudan, use brutal methods. As they go into battle, LRA soldiers often sing hymns. But not only do they burn down houses and granaries, they also kill and maim civilians, cutting off the ears, noses and lips of those suspected to be government supporters.

According to Amnesty International, the LRA has abducted between 5000 and 8000 children in the past three years. Many of the children have been forced to commit atrocities, including murder, against fellow Ugandans. Many of the abducted girls have undergone brutal sexual abuse and it is claimed that some have been sold into slavery.

Over the past few years leaders of the Anglican, Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches have repeatedly called on President Museveni's government to hold peace talks with the rebels. Until now the president has refused. President Museveni told the congregation at St Philip's Cathedral on 13 May that pressure must be applied if the peace talks were to be successful: "Our Ugandan experience over the years is that bad people cannot voluntarily give up their bad ways unless put under pressure. Even Saul who was persecuting Christians was put under pressure by Jesus Christ before he left his bad ways and converted to Paul."

Shortly before President Museveni's speech, Bishop Onweng had called on the government and the LRA to hold peace talks.

"Today, we call upon the people of Uganda to reconcile," the new bishop said. "Today we call upon Joseph Kony, the leader of the LRA, and his forces to stop this destructive strife. Today we call upon His Excellency the President of Uganda and our government to talk peace with the rebels in northern and western Uganda."Today, we also call upon the international community to respond to the cries of our people in this region, and take active and speedy interest to influence all the concerned to end the conflict."

Bishop Onweng also called on the government of Uganda to talk with the government of Sudan in an effort to end the conflict. (Uganda has accused Sudan of giving sanctuary to the rebels, arming them and sending them back to Uganda to kill their own people.)

Many within the Churches hope that President Museveni's agreement to talk to the rebels could lead to the end of the bloody civil war.

Museveni said that about 85 per cent of Ugandans were Christians and 11 per cent Muslims. And yet, he said, some of these believers had killed their fellow citizens.

"Why such bad acts among believers of God? How can you say you love God and hate your neighbour?" he asked.