Joseph Kony, the infamous leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), cast a long shadow over Northern Uganda, orchestrating a reign of terror that lasted over two decades. Beginning in the late 1980s, Kony and the LRA waged a brutal insurgency that was marked by extreme violence and massive human rights violations. His goal was to overthrow the Ugandan government and establish a regime based on his own interpretation of the Ten Commandments. Joseph Kony is suspected of 36 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, allegedly committed between at least July 1, 2002, until December 31, 2005, in northern Uganda.
The human toll of Kony’s war is staggering. It is estimated that over 100,000 lives were lost, and about 2 million people were displaced from their homes, forced into uncertainty and fear. The LRA was notorious for its cruel tactics, which included the abduction of children. Over 60,000 children were kidnapped, forced to become child soldiers or sex slaves, robbing them of their innocence and altering the course of their lives irrevocably.
The psychological and socio-economic impacts of Kony’s insurgency are profound and ongoing. Ugandan communities were shattered, families torn apart, and an entire generation was left to rebuild from the ashes of conflict. The economic development of the region lagged significantly behind the rest of the country, with vital infrastructure destroyed and agricultural productivity hampered by insecurity.
This is where Petros Network has been diligently working with indigenous church planters to establish over 30 churches. The vision to build the Beacon of Hope Fellowship and Petros Network Training Center was born out of necessity for the continued work in the region and we are working diligently to raise donations. Completion of the building is scheduled for October 2024.
Considering these facts, we pause and ask this simple question. How many?
How many people can we reach?
How many souls will be saved?
How many communities can be transformed?
Here at Petros Network, we are willing to do the work and find out, because it’s personal for us. We believe where a person is born shouldn’t limit their access to the Gospel. This is why we love partnering with people like you to strategically share, show, and spread the Good News of Jesus among unreached and underserved people… especially in Kitgum, Uganda.
Today, while Joseph Kony remains at large, his influence has waned, and the LRA no longer operates with the same intensity. However, the scars of his actions remain visible across Northern Uganda. As the region rebuilds, the impact of the conflict is underscored by the urgent need for healing, reconstruction, and redemption.
The Beacon of Hope Fellowship and Petros Network Training Center fundraising project aims to directly address these lingering wounds. By focusing on education, healthcare, and economic development, we seek to empower the communities devastated by Kony’s reign of terror.
