By Jude Walubo, Gulu, Uganda (March 2015)- This month we began outreaches in Gulu, northern Uganda. This is the area where terror, by a rebel group called ‘the lord’s resistance army,’ led by Joseph Kony, began 20 years ago. The people here have endured great suffering. The scars of that tragedy still remain, and the memories are vivid in the minds of the people. Kony and his men carried off children to be child soldiers, committed rapes, and killed many people, sometimes whole villages. The priests in the region have been asking for UCE to come for over 2 years. At long last, due to successful fundraising in the USA, we were able to reach our brothers and sister in the north.
The spiritual ground here seemed a bit tougher than usual. We arrived in Gulu with great expectation and excitement, being convinced that our God is able to do for Gulu what He did in Mbale, Kasese, and other places where UCE is reaching the youth. Fr. Phillip Okello, our host, told us of a common song that plays in Gulu called No more Virgins in Gulu. We stayed at a hotel the first night. As we tried to sleep, we could hear the song play into the dark night and through the streets. We prayed for the Holy Spirit to intervene and for God’s message to be received well in Gulu. He did not abandon us.
In Gulu and nearby places, where unimaginable evil prevailed, we witnessed special grace that abounds all the more. I agree with our host Fr. Phillip Okello who said that the Lord sent UCE to Gulu for a very specific reason. In five days of outreach we saw an extraordinary response to the UCE message.
Our training of 10 new UCE-Gulu volunteers took place on Monday February 23rd 2015. It involved a number of sessions: prayer, basic facts about HV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases, chastity, predisposing factors like pornography and drug abuse, commitment to be chaste, communication in regards to sharing the UCE message, and a question and answer session. Walubo Jude, Andrew Obo and Christine did the training. Because our work is amongst the unreached youth, especially those in rural areas, it meant doing a lot of ground work, and identifying youth leaders with a send-able heart to share the life-saving message of chastity. Fr. Phillip did this groundwork. We are grateful to God for bringing us alongside youths with a heart for outreach, who are willing to be trained to reach some of the unreached communities of northern Uganda. We’ve had the opportunity to work alongside, Fr. Phillip Okello, a wonderful team leader with a passion for seeing young people free from HIV/AIDS.
In the week that followed the training of new volunteers, we experienced God’s faithfulness as we did in Mbale and other regions. God began to move upon the youth as we conducted outreaches. We watched as God poured out his love, mercy, forgiveness, hope, healing, and new life upon the youth. Many were touched by the message: tears turned to joy and bitterness turned to forgiveness. Over 5 days, we managed to reach 7,900 youth, and 6,640 made a commitment to abstain from sex until marriage and be faithful thereafter! Jesus Christ is truly the same yesterday, today and forevermore, He is transforming lives in Gulu!
Here are some stories from the outreach: At two o’clock in the afternoon, just after the team had had lunch, the sun was shining brightly and intensely! We arrived at Gulu Army Secondary school. At this school, students are taught both academic and military skills. The outreach turned out to be absolutely massive and Mercy Adongpiny, a UCE volunteer shared her testimony of how she has decided to live a pure, chaste life and the benefits that she is getting from it including being free from sexually transmitted diseases. Jude Walubo shared the main UCE message. Not even the scorching sunshine could stop the youth from turning up in big numbers. The youth responded to the message with great joy, and the question answer time was very interactive. 1104 committed to chastity!
At Gulu senior secondary school the deputy head teacher, who is the patron of the scripture union club, welcomed us and informed the students that the UCE message was one that ‘brings light to take away darkness.’ Fr. Phillip opened in prayer and gave a brief message about UCE. He reiterated the comments of the deputy head teacher by emphasizing that “Yes, Jesus is the Light” and that we should walk with Him to overcome darkness, disease, teenage pregnancy, lust, and instead embrace freedom and true love. Walubo Jude shared the main UCE message after which a call for chastity was made. 964 youth committed to chastity. Thanks be to God!
At Gulu College, we spoke to over 700 youths, sharing with them the message of UCE and the love of Jesus Christ. Fr. Phillip opened the session with prayer thanking God for the gift of life and His love for Gulu. 577 young people made a commitment to abstain from sex until marriage. Many opened up about their struggles at home and school, and expressed bitterness. We helped these learners to understand that in order to break free from the past, they needed to forgive those who have hurt them. Fr. Phillip spoke about forgiveness. He told the youth that he has personally forgiven the rebels who killed members of his family. During the anonymous question and answer time, some girls reported that a group of boys had been assaulting them at school and on their walk back home. The girls had been afraid to speak. The UCE team helped to shed light, and the school administration swung into action. The head teacher of the school investigated the report and summoned 3 boys that were named the following day.
The outreach at St. Joseph’s Secondary School was indoors in the school hall which was packed to capacity on a Friday afternoon. The UCE message was given by Fr. Phillip and the response was overwhelming. All 777 youths made a commitment to abstain from sex until marriage! One young lady of 17 years came to us after the outreach and said she was 2 months pregnant and was considering an abortion in order to continue with her studies. She had planned to go for one with her elder sister that afternoon. Fr. Phillip had emphasized that abortion is killing of an unborn child as he presented the UCE message, “No child is a mistake.” This spoke straight into the young girl’s heart, and she said she had decided to keep the child. She asked the team to pray for her, and said that after listening to the UCE message, she has made a commitment to keep herself pure until marriage. Please pray for her, for the 6,640 youth who committed to chastity, and also for those who did not yet make that choice. Please also pray for our team, that God would protect them, and consider joining the UCE Prayer Warriors to receive their monthly prayer requests.
From the UCE Executive Director: Although we now have a foothold in northern Uganda, we need to keep pushing forward. We desperately need your support, the list of schools in northern Uganda waiting for an outreach is pages long. There are tens of thousands of youth who are waiting to hear the Gospel message of love, forgiveness, hope, chastity, and second chances. Please consider making a personal sacrifice, and sponsoring a school for $250, or for as much as you are able. I often talk about how the wall of the Culture of Life has been breached, and that we need people willing to come stand in the gap and shore up the defenses of Life. In Gulu, as you can see from the team’s report, we are on the offensive. The wall of the culture of death, the stronghold of the enemy, has been breached. We need people willing to run through the breach with us and tear down the stronghold of the enemy! Will you join us?
Gulu Army Secondary School 
A UCE volunteer shares her testimony 
A UCE volunteer shares on chastity 
Youth in Gulu, northern Uganda