The
national celebrations for the international day of peace (21st
September) in Uganda were held at
Mbarara independence grounds with a number of participating organizations;
local, national and international.The theme of the celebration was "partnership for peace" Dignity for all and participating organizations included UNICEF,
UNHCR, World food program, international alert, Nile dialogue platform, CEWIGO,
Uganda joint Christian council ,RWECO (consortium where RIC-NET is a member
organization),office of the prime minister and the president’s office.
A
number of key dignitaries attended the celebrations and among these was
British
high commissioner to Uganda Miss Arison Black burn, representatives from
the
office of the president, representatives from the office of the prime
minister,
representative of the UN resident coordinator ,chair person peace
committee Mbarara Capt. Martha Asiimwe
among other dignitaries and the chief guest professor Tarsis Kabwegyere
who urged citizens to always keep peace as this country went through a
lot of destruction due to lack of peace and so such unrest should be
avoided.
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| The representative of the UN resident district coordinator delivering her speech |
Rwenzori information centres network(RICNET) also participated in the celebrations under the umbrella consortium of RWECO.
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| RWECO consortium members at their table during the celebrations |
A
number of activities were carried out during the day and these included, peace
match that was led by the army band as other members of the community followed, performances from school children and cultural groups about peace,
speeches from key dignitaries, civil society fraternity and the chief guest and
the function was closed by burning of fire arms from disarmed groups and all
fire arms that were owned illegally.
