Hundreds ride for peace in Yambio town
March 28, 2016 (YAMBIO) – Hundreds of Yambio county residents rode bicycles for peace as part of celebrations to mark Easter Monday in town on Monday.
The Bishop of Tombura Yambio Diocese, Edward Hiboro, has for the past two years, been organising bicycle rides to promote peace and unity among people.
Tombura Yambio Diocese embarks on bicycle riding annually because it brings together different categories of people to participate in sports activities, despite their positions and ethnicity in order to promote peace in the community, said the Bishop.
The renowned cleric said he would continue to advocate for this sports activity to be extended from the Boma to state levels as well as at the national levels where people can ride their bicycles or compete to win a trophy.
The exercise, the Bishop said, will heal the trauma people have after experiencing horrible things during the conflict which erupted last year between the armed youth and government soldiers.
Most of the people in Western Equatoria take bicycles as a useful means to do business, go farming and carry the sick people to hospitals, among others.
During the event, however, medical services were also provided to treat those who had minor injuries as traffic police were deployed to maintain road safety.
The first winner from 10 kilometer bicycle race won a new motorbike. Others also won tool boxes as part of the event that attracted hundreds of civilians.
Meanwhile, the acting governor of Gbudue state, Victor Edward congratulated the Catholic Diocese of Tombura Yambio for organizing such activities which aims to bring people together and promote peace.
Edward said the government was committed to peace, and Western Equatoria in general has been undergoing conflict which many people lost their lives, looting, rape and houses are set ablaze destroying properties of citizens.
He urged people to embrace peace and be ready to welcome home youth who opted for rebellion to claim their rights and that people should forgive one another because there was no way peace can prevail if there is no forgiveness.
(ST)