One killed as peace protest turns violent in northern Uganda

Published: 2004-02-25

NAIROBI, Kenya (CNS) -- One person was killed and several people injured when a peace march in the northern Ugandan town of Lira turned violent, said Father Sebat Ayala, a Catholic missionary stationed in the area. Several thousand people gathered Feb. 25 in Lira to mourn and protest the deaths of more than 200 people massacred by rebels at the Barlonyo displaced persons camp Feb. 21, said Father Ayala, one of the peace march's organizers. Father Ayala said the peace march was scheduled so that people could pray for the dead and urge the Ugandan government and international community to intervene in the nearly 18-year-old civil war. Protesters carried banners and shouted slogans such as "Kofi Annan, what are you doing?," "United Nations, intervene immediately!" and "We want peace, stop killing innocent people." But people became increasingly angry because of the longtime insecurity in the North, Father Ayala said in a telephone interview from Uganda. "There was some confusion," Father Ayala told Catholic News Service. "There was a lot of tension, a lot of anger, and, unfortunately, one was killed by the mob -- I saw with my own eyes."

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