Mothers of Peace: How the Mother’s Union is Healing and Uniting Communities
In the heart of Uganda’s Obongi and Moyo districts and across the border in South Sudan’s Kajo-keji county, a quiet revolution is unfolding. It is not waged with weapons or loud proclamations but with the gentle, unwavering strength of women who have made peace their mission. The Mother’s Union, a pillar of women’s voice in the Anglican church, is leading this charge, stitching together the torn fabric of communities with threads of healing, dialogue, and reconciliation.
Funded by Act Church of Sweden under the Cross-Border Initiatives for an Inclusive, Peaceful, and Sustainable Livelihoods project, this initiative is breaking barriers and fostering peace among refugees and host communities. Implemented by the Diocese of Kajo-keji in South Sudan and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Uganda, the project is targeting host communities and refugees with an aim to enhance local ownership and ensure the inclusive participation of women and youth in leadership and peacebuilding.
From Wounds to Wisdom: Healing Through Dialogue
For many people in these communities, the scars of conflict are not just physical but deeply emotional. Displacement, bereavement, and chronic uncertainty have left wounds that often cannot be seen but are profoundly felt. Recognizing this, the Mother’s Union has stepped in, offering group counseling, mediation, and constructive dialogue sessions to help families find their way back to peace.
“Before, I carried my pain like a heavy stone on my back,” shares Achan, a refugee mother in Palorinya Settlement. “I had no one to talk to. But when I joined the Mother’s Union sessions, I realized I was not alone. Now, I see hope where there was once only sorrow.”
Through psychological first aid, stress management, and suicide risk mitigation training, these women have transformed into beacons of hope. Over 60 participants from the Mother’s Union, Christian Women Fellowship, and youth leadership groups have been equipped with skills to support their peers. Their work is already bearing fruit, 49 community members have received direct counseling, with the most severe cases referred to LWF for professional psychosocial support.
Pedaling Towards Peace
Like rivers flowing through a dry land, these peace champions are reaching even the most remote corners of their communities. Thanks to the provision of 15 bicycles by LWF, Mother’s Union members can now travel farther, ensuring that no one is left behind.
“These bicycles are more than just a means of transport,” says Janet, a Mother’s Union member in Obongi. “They are lifelines, allowing us to bring comfort and counseling to those in despair.”
A Ripple Effect of Change
Beyond individual healing, the Mother’s Union is fostering a culture of collective resilience. They are engaging men and youth, ensuring that peace is not just a women’s concern but a community-wide responsibility. Through mediation efforts, they have helped resolve conflicts over land, family disputes, and resource-sharing between refugees and host communities.
“I used to see women’s gatherings as mere church meetings,” admits Peter, a young father from Moyo. “But after witnessing how they helped my neighbor overcome his grief, I now understand the power they hold. Peace starts in the home, and these women are teaching us how to build it.”
Building a Future of Peace, One Conversation at a Time
In a world where conflict often dominates the headlines, the Mother’s Union is proving that peace is not just an abstract ideal; it is a lived reality, nurtured by human connection and shared understanding. Through their work, they are turning pain into purpose, despair into determination, and fractured communities into united families.
Their message is clear: peace does not happen by chance. It is built, nurtured, and sustained by those who refuse to give up on it. And in Obongi, Moyo, and Kajo-keji, it is the mothers union, these silent warriors of hope, who are leading the way.
