By our Correspondent
The Bishop of the Fort Portal Catholic Diocese, in Uganda, the Rt. Rev. Robert Muhiirwa has condemned the recruitment of minors into rebel activity by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels.
Most recently the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) shot dead several ADF rebels and captured over 10 of them.
And this was after they crossed River Semuliki from the Democratic Republic of Congo and attempted to attack Uganda.
Meanwhile, in his Christmas message on December 25, Bishop Muhiirwa said the recruitment of minors into rebel activities is an indicator that all is not well at the family level, which he said is the main pillar of peace.
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As he put it, “Something is wrong with our families that is why we see children of such a minor age recruited into such criminal rebel activities,” Muhiirwa said.
For Bishop Muhiirwa, the captured minors could have been brainwashed to join rebel activities.
And he said, “This is a very big challenge to us as a Church and religious leader to protect young people from joining such groups by showing them the right way of life.”
The Bishop thus calls for total rehabilitation of captured child rebels by the government and other stakeholders.
He said, “These kids need rehabilitation because they have been trained right from their childhood to kill,” he said.
Bishop Muhirwa has also asked both the Church and State leaders to strive to address the issues for the service delivery for common good.
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Continuing he said, “There is more need to listen to the cry of the oppressed and the poor. We need to bridge the widening gap between the poor and the rich in our country by addressing unemployment, corruption and injustice.”
The Bishop then called on the faithful to take advantage of the festive season to repent and change their lives.
