The God City or Agro-Industrial Center

Opening Insights: God's City

God’s grace, quite simply, is God’s mercy and goodness toward us.
BILLY GRAHAM

The 20-Year War between the Lord's Resistance Army and the Ugandan government ended in 2006 leaving the country and its people in a state of shock and disarray. Progress has been made in the last 15 years to undo the direct and indirect damage caused by the 20 years of war, but the rebuilding process has been slow and arduous.

As Uganda rebuilds and grows stronger aspiring communities are engaged in the business of selecting a vision and identity to help guide them and shape their path forward. Many others have already chosen their vision and identity for the community, or "tagline," but one city has yet to make that decision.

The newly minted Gulu City is described by many to be a center of agriculture and commercial development. It is also a gathering place for the Acholi people, who are known for their prowess in cultivating the agricultural bounties of the land. The Acholi are also known to possess a strong faith in God and will structure much of their lives in parallel with His guiding doctrine.

Is Gulu City a place of God, or a place of Agricultural Commerce?

Informational Insights: A Choice

The following article was published by The Independent, Uganda, "You buy the truth, we pay the price." It was written by a staff reporter for The Independent, Uganda.

Gulu, Uganda |  THE INDEPENDENT  Mixed reactions have emerged in Acholi over the proposed agro-industrial identity of the newly elevated Gulu City. Founded in 1912, Gulu attained city status on July 1, this year, alongside Arua, Mbale, Jinja, Masaka, Mbarara and Fort Portal.

The former Municipalities of Lira, Hoima and Soroti were later added to a list of other regional and strategic secondary cities to break Kampala’s monopoly as a single city created at independence in 1962.

Several of the newly created cities have since proclaimed their taglines, for instance, Hoima is now known to be the Oil City, Lira, the Commercial City, Fort Portal, the Tourism City and Jinja, the country’s Industrial City, to reveal their uniqueness in globalizing cities.

Gulu District Chairperson Martin Ojara Mapenduzi who played a pivotal role in the creation of Gulu City creation says the agro-industrial tagline has been chosen for visibility, recognition, and global connectivity for the Acholi people. But a debate immediately ensued among some elite Acholi people questioning the agro-industrial rationale of Gulu City. 

Livingstone Okello Okello, an Acholi elder aged 78, argues that to win attention in international markets and rise above national agendas, an agricultural and industrial name tag is befitting for Gulu City because originally, Acholi people depended on agriculture.

Similarly, Gulu District Council Speaker John Okwonga upholds the identity as befitting given the fertile soils in the region arguing that historically, Acholi sub-region has been the food basket of the country.

But Pius Ayella, a resident of Gulu West City Division contends the urban economy of Gulu in Acholi sub-region is far away from an industrial metropolitan and industrial production aspiration which is characterized by a large number of factories. 

https://www.independent.co.ug/acholi-leaders-divided-over-proposed-agro-industrial-identity-for-gulu-city/

The people of Gulu City have received guidance from differing viewpoints on how to define their vision and identity. It seems that a choice must be made between God or Industry.

The Acholi people, the majority population in the region, are known to be a very spiritual people with strong ties to the Christian Church.

Emmanuel Okanokodi, a journalist dismissed the gesture as incompatible and prefers Gulu be called The God City given the diversity of activities and religious beliefs of the indigenous Acholi.

Some elders hold the opinion that Gulu befits to be a Tourism City given its unique history derived from past events and geographical features like Amuru hot spring, Guruguru Caves where Lamogi sub-clan of the Acholi people rebelled against the British in 1911. 

They add that war artefacts from the two-decade-long LRA war, the unique traditional foods like boo and malakwang; Aruu Falls, military Fort which was built by Sir Samuel Baker, an English explorer in 1864 in Patiko Sub County among others are good for tourism. The fort was initially constructed by the Arabs as a slave collection centre. 

Meanwhile, the Paramount Chief of Acholi Rwot David Onen Acana II questions the rationale in the aggressive creation of the so many cities in the country including Gulu. To Rwot, the process lacked well facilitated and meaningful bottom-up approaches which would clearly define the true identities of the cities.

Oral literature indicates that Gulu, is a name derived from running water down a wide rugged gully in a valley located in near St. Philips Cathedral Church of Uganda in the merged Bardege-Layibi, now Gulu West City Division. However, human settlements around the valley is threatening its existence.

https://www.independent.co.ug/acholi-leaders-divided-over-proposed-agro-industrial-identity-for-gulu-city/

This article was published on August 21, 2021 by THE INDEPENDENT UGANDA: Acholi leaders divided over proposed agro-industrial identity for Gulu city

Why not both?

An example of a blend of both God and commerce development is alive and well in the newly organized town of Awach. Previously a municipality, Awach has taken on the role of government seat for the county. Awach is characterized by a population with a strong foundation in the Christian faith with 70% of individuals reported as practicing Christians.

In addition to a very strong Cristian faith, Awach is a center for agricultural commercial activity and enjoys a variety of locally cultivated goods. The vision and identity of Awach is not limited to one or the other as it relates to agro-industry and Christianity.

A local Parish Priest from the Catholic Church is blending spiritual principles with entrepreneurial mindset and commerce to resuscitate a dying Parish and foundering community. His efforts have resulted in both the Parish and surrounding community growing and blossoming into something even greater than they once were.

After joining the AwareComm® Co-Lab™ and accepting the mentorship of Dr. Richard Jorgensen (AwareComm's visionary leader & CEO), Fr. Santo began instituting the guidance of the Co-Lab™ and has since overseen the installation of both power and water into the formerly dilapidated and disused Queen Assumed Into Heaven Parish grounds. Additionally, Fr. Santo and his people have taken charge of their agricultural needs as well as instituting the means for an exchange of goods, services, and ideas.

Perhaps Gulu City can follow the example of its little brother, Awach, and become a center for both God and Agro-Industry.

A Real Solution for Commerce: Founded in Spiritual Principles

A real solution, fully developed (tested, proven and paid for), is found in AwareComm's proprietary Adaptive Intelligence (AdI™) Algorithm.

The AdI™ Algorithm aligns with the intent of Pope Francis's call for a 'Good Algorithm,' to reverse the damage done by the irresponsible use of technology.

Rebuilding Community Commerce - - Rebuilding the Soul of a Community

AwareComm's AdI™ Algorithm is available in a community Collaboration Laboratory (Co-Lab™) Research and ePublishing Institute, where people learn to take charge of their communities by transcending adversity to diversity and solidarity through the application of responsible commerce. Success is assured by applying the principles of Adaptive Intelligence to entrepreneurial thinking using socially responsible capitalism.

What comes from an established foundation of commerce rooted in spiritual principles and AdI™ is a new business model. This business model, for the application of Socially Responsible Capitalism, is our theme and driving inspiration.

A Co-Lab™ is the implementation mechanism of the result of 30+ years of field research.

Co-Labs™ create an environment conducive to learning, solidarity and change (old ideas are more quickly learned and new ideas are more quickly accepted and implemented).

Our Next Step

The AwareComm® Team is attracting partners in order to awaken in the people a desire for peace and solidarity as a way to fulfill their personal needs.

Through a careful blend of AI + BI + HI + SI the Co-Lab™ Research Institute has the correct balance of technology, methodology, human understanding, spiritual principles and data science to put us on the right track to individual social and cultural empowerment.

Due Diligence classes offer a deeper dive into the Co-Lab™ Research and ePublishing Institute to determine if this philosophy is effective for your community. You will learn:

• The logical power of the AI + BI + HI + SI = AdI™ Algorithm for communication and learning
• The communication power of Co-Lab™ Research and ePublishing Institute to provide secure:
  • self-funding
  • self-perpetuating
  • self-regulating networks
• The commerce power of Socially Responsible Capitalism, blending nonprofit and commercial applications
• The application of Social Partnerships, bringing ethical business principles to overcome social challenges
• The joy, satisfaction and pride of taking a role in returning our world to a state of freedom and opportunity - being proud to be a patriot

Through the use of the Co-Lab™ resources, a dream awakened...

A Dream Awakened

New life is being breathed into one Ugandan priest's dream for his countrymen. He has chosen to follow the Co-Lab™ principles and partner with Dr. Richard Jorgensen (as his shepherd) and as a result his Parish is thriving.

Read A Dream Awakened to see the Co-Lab™ technology, methodology, human understanding, and data science in action as it rebuilds commerce in Awach, Uganda.

Get it Straight From the Horse's Mouth
How we did what said we were going to do...

Inviting Potential Partners

For more information
and to receive your invitation to a Due Diligence class
email: SOS@AwareComm.com