WE CAN SIT TOGETHER FOR PEACE

participants in the District Dialogue on peace

On 20^th July 2016 Rwenzori Information Centers Network (RIC-NET) organized an interface/dialogue meeting with the leaders of Bundibugyo District. The meeting was attended by District leaders as (CAO, LCV, DISO, RDC, and CO of Kanyamirima Army Barracks), leaders from cultural institutions (King Batwa tribe, Prime Ministers of Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu (OBR), and Obudingya Bwa Bwamba (OBB), Leader of Esyamango and Information officer of these institutions, District leaders of religious institutions, Town Clerk  of Bundibugyo Town Council, local Council leaders in the sub counties where the intervention is taking place, the elders forum and some specific individual heading the District peace committee for reconciliation.

Rt. Hon Wilson Prime Minster of OBB and Rt Hon Jeremiah Mutoro of OBR in peace meeting

The Objective of the meeting was to localize the action, and interface with cultural leaders, policy makers and implementers of the policies to dialogue and make actions aimed at achieving the objectives of the interventions.

RIC-NET is implementing an initiative aimed at strengthening civic competence in Bundibugyo District. This action is called “Community action to prevent and manage conflicts and human rights violations in the Rwenzori region of Uganda”. In Bundibugyo District the action is implemented in the sub counties of Bubukwanga, Kirumya, Ntotoro, Ngamba and Kasitu. The project targets grassroot citizens to take lead in the prevention and management of conflicts and human rights violations directly from the community through the local leadership at Sub County level.

King Zito Geoffrey of the Batwa asked the participants to promote peaceful coexistence. He said, "my people suffer for nothing yet for us we have no problem with any tribe in Bundibugyo".

The OBR Prime Minister Rt Hon Jeremiah Mutoro mentioned that peace and unity can be achieved if the leaders of the institutions can sit together and iron out their difference. He said “today is one of the historical moments when the two prime Ministers can sit together to discuss peace and reconciliation in the Rwenzori after the collapse of the Mubende peace talks”. These moments must continue even without the interventions of NGOs. On the other hand the Prime Minister of OBB Rt. Hon Wilson mentioned that “ it’s important to identify items that unite us as people from Bundibugyo and stick to the principles of peace and Unity”. Items that unite the Bakonzo and Bamba are for example the 30th June anniversary.

The Esyamango Chairperson of OBR mentioned that agreement, meetings, comminiques and talks cannot bring peace reconciliation and unity if the “individual mindset and attitude of our leaders” are not focused to the same. It was agreed in the meeting that cultural institutions have a big role to play in peace and reconciliation in bundibugyo District.

Such roles were identified as; Support close relationship within the communities, mobilize the community to participate in actions towards unity, promote co-existence among people through promote cultural values that unit people, support the sharing and disseminations of credible information, strengthen the communication channel with the cultural institutions and Strengthen institution capacity to prevent and manage conflicts.