The Archbishop of York,
Dr. John Sentamu said:

“This walk for Africa aims to bring hope and to help alleviate the suffering of the people of Northern Uganda after some 20 years of civil war. Please help support this essential work to help to build a future for the forgotten people of Lango”.

Candover 100

“100 miles for 100 students needs £100,000”

20^th to 23^rd September 2007

Patrons :
The Bishop of Winchester ~The Lord Sainsbury ~ The Lord Ashburton ~ The Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Mrs Mary Fagan ~ Mrs Jackie Swan ~ 

From the dreaming spires of a great seat of learning at Oxford University to the ancient seat of Christianity in the close of Winchester Cathedral (via the Candover Valley), Revd David Keighley and Chris Tully will be making this pilgrimage to raise funds for the continuing work of the Diocese of Lango in Uganda. This walk will make the link between the educational needs of the people and the Christian faith which sustains them through such terrors.

 This will be a major fund-raising project, involving both corporate and local sponsorship, to help alleviate the suffering of the people of Northern Uganda after twenty years of civil war with the Lords Resistance Army and follows on from David Keighley’s visit there from 27^th October to 5^th November 2006 when, against Foreign Office advice, he travelled throughout Lango diocese to see the conditions there at first hand.

 The background to the war situation in northern Uganda is frightening. The violent death rate is three times higher than in Iraq. Estimates are that 146 people die in the conflict each week. Two million people, 80% of them women, have been displaced, driven into concentration camps, while the LRA is said to have abducted 25,000 children. It is one of the world’s worst war zones, a tragedy of the worst proportions and a conflict which cannot be allowed to fester any longer. In addition HIV / AIDS adds to the suffering and stigma; the HIV and AIDS Initiative in Africa “begun because the churches were burying more people than they were baptising”. 

 The suffering is horrendous and tends to be ignored by the international community and the media. These current horrors only add to the legacy of suffering from when Idi Amin was in power and killed 300,000 opponents, followed by Milton Obote who killed another 100,000. Then, on 26 Jan 1986 Lt Gen Yoweri Museveni seized power in a military coup. He continues to rule the country.

 The Bishops of Northern Uganda have called for immediate action to end the 20 years of civil war between government forces and the rebel group the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in the north of the country. The fragile peace which exists at present appears to be holding and people are leaving the camps to return to their home lands. Three bishops involved have lost children and family members in the struggles.

 Since 1986 Joseph Kony and his ‘army’ have been battling for a government based on the TEN COMMANDMENTS. They are reported to believe they are immune to bullets, to kidnap young children as child soldiers and sex slaves, and mutilate their victims. Which all suggest their grip on theology is tenuous to say the least.

This pilgrimage aims to raise funds to contribute directly to projects on the ground which will provide some hope and future for the people of Lango. Education is at the heart of all of this in order to provide a sound foundation for future generations, and assisting agricultural regeneration and church care are the essential supports in this work.

Your donation will fund :

      Sponsorship of a girl through secondary education at St Katherine’s School

      Purchase of school equipment at St Katherine’s School

      Training fund for the theological education of clergy

      Supplying seed-corn for farmers returning to farms 

•        God bless Africa

•        Give Peace to Uganda

•        Guard her Children

•        Guide her Leaders      Amen

Contacts         Revd David Keighley : 01256 389 245 Mobile : 07736 389 245

                        davidkeighley@hotmail.com

                        Chris Tully : 0870 1600 201             Mobile : 07764 468 392

                        chris.tully@layton-blackham.co.uk