by Paolo Loriga
He risked becoming a child soldier. The Comboni missionaries helped him study. He became the leader of the refugee children in the parish. Ordained a priest, he conceived the “Peace Together Uganda” project, which welcomes 250 children and brings religious and political leaders together in dialogue.
People call him “Ribamoi”, which in the Acoli language spoken in northern Uganda means “Hero of Unity”. And there are plenty of reasons why. He has pacified the difficult relations between two tribes that had been in open conflict, with houses burned down and families forced to abandon their villages. Don Leonsyo Akena, a Ugandan, has been in Loppiano since 25 August 2024 to graduate from Sophia in ‘Dialogue, Peace, Communication’ as part of the ‘Culture of Unity’ programme. But he should not need it.
‘I grew up in the midst of war. I was 11 years old when fighting broke out between rebels and the government army in northern Uganda in 1986. Many adults, elderly people and children died. The population was forced to flee, and we lived in refugee camps for 15 years.’ He comments: ‘Civilians always pay the highest price.’ He remembers the two Italian Comboni missionaries who were killed and the catechists murdered by the rebels, but Don Leonsyo felt another heart-rending pain: ‘Almost 30,000 children were kidnapped by the rebels to be turned into soldiers. It could have happened to me.’
The Comboni missionaries asked him to help out in the parish. He was impressed by their witness. The Comboni missionaries received a lot of aid from Italy, including clothing, medicines and other goods. ‘For me, it was a school of life. Everything that arrived was generously distributed to those in need. That’s why one of these priests was killed.’ Don Leonsyo continues: ‘These missionaries helped me in everything. I lived with them and with the children who came to find refuge in the parish. Without meaning to, I became their leader.’
In this context of war, the young Leonsyo wondered how the politicians of his town, Pajule, with 60,000 inhabitants, had lived. ‘They protected the population. So did the national politicians in our district. They are Anglicans, but there was great collaboration with the Catholic priests.’ He adds: ‘How important it is for children to see leaders who think about the people and not about their own party, and who dialogue with everyone.’
Leonsyo was ordained a priest during the war, which ended in 2008. But peace did not automatically begin. He discovered the spirituality of the Focolare Movement in 2000, when he was in the seminary in Gulu, near South Sudan. ‘A charism born during a war, Chiara helping the needy. For me, it was the same story. I was very impressed and got to know the focolarini.’ Then came a decisive visit. Three young people from the United States came to see him and left him $2,000. It was December 2007. ‘I had the opportunity to educate and train children, just as I had been. Chiara’s charism inspired me greatly.’
The adventure began. He set up a committee to manage scholarships for 21 students. The analysis was dramatically illuminating: ‘99 per cent of rebels in Africa have not been to school and follow the logic of war.’ The ‘Peace Together Uganda’ project was born. In 2013, long-distance adoptions began with Barletta (in Puglia), the city of Fr Raffaele, who was killed by rebels. In 2018, two classrooms were built for students aged 3 to 14, followed by a dormitory to accommodate 350 pupils.
Too good not to encounter obstacles. Covid-19 has made its financial impact felt. ‘Donations from Italy have decreased and long-distance adoptions are still on hold.’ As a result, the number of children accommodated has fallen to 250. But Don Leonsyo is not giving up. On the economic front, he is developing microcredit projects for women, while on the health front, he is working to spread a culture of proper nutrition and has set up a small dispensary. According to Ribamoi, dialogue is essential for building peaceful relations between people. He has thus succeeded in bringing together government officials, Catholic bishops, Anglican priests and Muslim leaders to live in dialogue and pray together. In 2010, this experience gave rise to an annual event to celebrate the World Day of Prayer for Peace, with a week-long programme and a prayer on the last day. This event, which in 2010 had around 200 participants, was attended by almost 4,000 people on 2 August 2025. Don Leonsyo confides: ‘School for children is education. School for adults is dialogue.’
How to support the project
Anyone who is able to do so can financially support the “Peace Together Uganda” project by contributing to the construction of a children’s dormitory, or by offering their services as a primary school teacher, nurse or microfinance operator, or by contacting organisations in their city interested in collaborating with Don Leonsyo’s initiatives. For more information, please write to him at: leonsakena@yahoo.co.uk.