The Voice / East Africa / Luo

Background

Northern Uganda was the operational area of the so-called Lord’s Resistance Army. This violent guerrilla group conducted a campaign of terror against local people, including rape, murder and the kidnapping of children. The result was destroyed communities and hundreds of thousands of displaced people. For now, the conflict has ended, and people are returning to their home areas.

Against this backdrop, Joshua Ssali, Program Coordinator of Words of Hope Uganda, reports,

“Luo is spoken in Lira, northern Uganda, but can be heard in all the neighboring districts. This is becoming another great territory in our broadcasts. It is over a year now, since we started doing production in the broadcast areas. This particular one has been so overwhelming. The production was done well, the broadcasts have been received very well. Every end of the program, there is an overwhelming number of phone calls and text messages coming in – at the station of broadcast, to the programmers and here at the office. People are hungry for the word and need prayer seriously. Whereas others need money, many others crave for the word and prayers. They have more trust in the Lord than in anything else. Northern Uganda is famous for the war that has been there for over 20 years; all they need is prayer, encouragement and a sense of belonging and acceptance.”

Ministry Updates

“This ministry is so efficient. Every day I receive many people who want prayer support, others counseling and others just want to give their lives to Christ. Many are returning to church and recommitting their lives. Others are joining full time ministry in church and they say they are tired of living purposeless lives. May the Lord continue to uphold the ministry and please convey our thanks to the ministry partners and sponsors.” [Luo Producer Charles Owiny Abata]

April 2010 In Uganda, 6000 women die every year in pregnancy and childbirth. WOH Programmer Susan Olwa seeks to address these problems with her programs in the Luo language.

Listener Responses

Thank you for your programs. I am a new born-again Christian. I always listen to your programs. Please help me with Christian literature or send me audio records of your programs.

Thank you for thinking about us. We are always neglected but you have followed us up. We love your programs and we continue to learn many things and to know that God has not abandoned us. May God bless your ministry.