CSO CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE- BOMA FORT PORTAL

Geust of Honour  visiting  RIC-NET Stall

The theme for the International Day of Peace in 2018 is “The Right to Peace - The Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 70” resound in both songs, plays and speeches at the international day of peace celebration in Boma fort portal.

Graced by Gen. Salim Saleh as chief guest, the celebration started with a walk through Fort portal Municipality, the NGOs show of documentation of their peace efforts and development work and presentation of Foot Peace Ambassador Youths.

Gen Salim Saleh takilng to Foot peace Ambosandor Mr. Abraham from BYEAH

“We the peace actors of the Rwenzori region including, security, religious, political, CSO and cultural leaders gathered here at St. Joseph's inn, Fort Portal, Kabarole district on this 20th Day of September 2018 in commemoration of the international day of peace celebrations; We recognize the continued existence of inter-ethnic tensions within our region anchored on struggle for political, social, cultural and economic leverage;

RIC-NET was among other CSOs that participated in the peace celebration by supporting 48 youth to attend and present songs, poems and memorandum on peace efforts and supporting the Batwa- as ethnic minority group to express their peaceful coexistence concerns.

M John Silco from RIC-NET presented the regional leaders Peace Week Communiqué; the communiqué stated that: "We recognize the intractable tendencies of geo-ethno-political tensions within our region due to deep-seated disagreements over governance issues relating to service delivery, access to and control over resources, creation of ethinicised administrative units and political intolerance; We recognize the complexities involved in upholding the respect for human rights for all and the much needed efforts towards furthering human rights for all; We are cognizant of tendencies of some leaders, elders and the elite in socializing the youth to hate and perpetuate acts of conflict and violence; We are aware of continued delays by some political and cultural actors in our region to embrace dialogue, reconciliation and mutual respect;

 AS We Commemorate the International Day of Peace, We Call Upon Leaders and all people in the Rwenzori region to value the inter-ethnic diversities of our region and uphold the right of every ethnic group to live and work peacefully in any part of the Rwenzori region; Local and central governments to commit to efficient and effective service delivery for the common good; All leaders and the general public to uphold human rights for all; Leaders and elders to respect the youth and mobilize them into acts of promote nonviolence; All leaders to embrace dialogue, reconciliation and mutual respect.

Finally on this day, we commit to use our available resources to further values of peace, nonviolence and respect for human rights in our region and country; Engage those who propagate violence, conflict and human rights violations in our peace building, violence prevention and human rights work; Engage government, cultural and religious institutions as well as other actors to further peace, nonviolence and respect for human rights”

Gen. Salim Saleh addressing people at Boma- Fort Portal for international peace celebration

NO PERSON IS FINE BUT SITUATIONS TEND TO BE FINE.

The community of Bubukwanga Sub County held a massive community meeting with the district leaders on 19^th September 2018. The meeting was at Bubukwanga secondary school grounds. The meeting was attended by the CAO, RDC, district speaker, LCV, DPC, and DISO. Other was the representatives from Obundingiya Bwa Bwamba and Obusinga bwa Rwenzururu, LCIII chairperson, and many other local leaders in their different capacities.

community members presenting issues.

According the citizens challenges as were presented by Mr. Tibakunirwa Michael the LCI chairperson of the area, he mentioned that conflicts in the areas are looked at in an unequal distribution of resources, politics of favoring certain individuals and community.


 some leaders relating specifically with certain community and leaving others, radicalism among the youth a trait being forced to them by the leaders of cultural institutions basing on the environment and then the relationship between the security personal and the community especially when it come to arrests of suspects. 
Ill treatment, torture as well as segregate handling of conflicts make citizens loose trust in the security personnel thus taking matters into their own hands.

In responding to the matters raised during the discussing on conflicts and human rights violation in the community, the speaker hon. Bagambe Moses mentioned thus “each person should play his/her role either as a leaders or and as community member….no person is at peace when the neighbours house is on fire”.

Ms jesca from human rights commission mentioned that protection of life and property is the role of every citizens. Rights to life should not be tempered with in the pretence of defending cultural values. “Our problems should instead bind us together regardless of our cultural diversity”.

According to the DPC, citizens have misused their rights in engaging in actions that violate other people rights. He highlighted that youth are engaged in gambling and end up stealing or involved in crime, citizens are forced to confront the security personnel thus forcing the police and other sister security people to shoot at them. Shooting is first to scare but if the group is not scared then some force can be used to ensure calm is restored and the culprits brought to book.

It was agreed from the meeting that, community should continue reporting human rights violations and suspected occurrence of conflicts to police. Befriend the security people and report the correct information, avoid confront other people and the security, facilitate team work and invest in information sharing as key to improve human rights protection. Rev Bigumisa thanks the CSO for their role in unifying the different cultural faction though some radical leaders of institutions still exist.

members listening to the duty bearer on human right related violations at Bubukwanga ggrounds

SCHOOL PEACE CLUBS ARE TRANSFORMING THE YOUTH ON CRITICAL THINKING.

Youth are considered as peacemakers and peace builders, or conversely, as troublemakers. They represent the future of the community. 78% of the Uganda population comprise of the youth and most of these youth are unemployed this pose a challenge to both the government, church and the entire community. In light of these youth in the school have been debating on role of the youth in peace process in bundibugyo district. 

peace clubs members of Kabango SS after discuion on role of youth in peace process

Debates had be conducted in the schools of Kabango, Bulambagira, three angels and Bubukwanga SS as well as youth out of school engaged in public discussions on how they can get involved in prevention of human rights violations.700 youth have been involved in these formal discussions.

It was realized that engaging youth in peace processes and socialization as peace builders early on is important. Bringing their perspective on the conflict as well as on how peace can be built, their experience and resources, not only help having access to a new set of knowledge but constitute an important experience of inclusion. It was revealed that the existence of supporting networks and communities by children themselves in those are that experienced bloodshed and a lot of human rights violations are key in healing process.

debating at Bubukwanga SS

It was learnt in the debates that discussion and interaction of children created supportive communities in time of need. Youth shared limited resources and created their own system of ideas governing the community. 

Youth provided each other with surrogate family and community, physical protection, and emotional support in ways that are also part of a peace building and human right protection.

debate clubs of Three angels and Bubukwanga schools

The youth called up their leader for proper guidance and encouragement, motivate them to work and provide platform that encourage participation in community decision making than simply talking about hatred and cultural values that are already segregating their friends. Relying on that experience and that potential in the peace building can be crucial not only for their own individual recovery but also for the benefit of their community.

BUNDIBUGYO YOUTH FORM INTER-RELIGIOUS UNION ON PEACE AND CONFLICT ISSUES.

Bundibugyo is currently undergoing an intense debate about ethnicity manipulation and its implications for unity in the district. The trigger point for this conflict lies in the history of how the District was created in the manner the term 'tribe' or community or just reward without term during the Amin times. Today it may be was deployed by some citizens as a policy for 'divide and rule' in cocoa community and administering them beyond their ability to realize their worthiness in Uganda.

youth leaders from different religious institutions in sensitization meeting.

This was realized during the sensitization meetings for the youth from different religious institutions that was conducted by UNCIDA and MuSA the youth CBOs under community action to manage and prevent conflicts and human rights violations in the district. The institutions that were represented were the Catholics, Anglican church of Uganda, SDA, Pentecostal movements, Muslims and the Bisaka cult youth.

participants listening to each other during the open dialogue.

The 'tribe' is being used as a tool of mapping and controlling the population for exploitation and domination. The manner the 'divide and rule' policy being used is so intense that it is socialized in the consciousness of the youth political elite who will later became the rulers of post-conflict communities. 

This is the reason ethnic manipulation has become an important tool of political power and political control and political management of society in Uganda. The religious institutions have not been spared of these political manipulations; religious leaders have joined the war with state with ought knowing their mandate.

After intense discussion on the understanding the role of religious youth in the peace process, it was agreed that a union of all the Youth leaders from different denominations be formed and this was called “inter-religious youth council Bundibugyo chapter”. 

OC police bubukwanga sharing with inter religious youth

Leaders were selected among the participants and were given mandate to transverse the district sharing peace message among the youth. It was also agreed that religious leaders who are engaged in conflicts and human right violation should be brought to the book of shame by the joint action of the youth.

The meetings were also graced by some clan leaders and civil servants who too shared their experience working in a society where there is a lot of mistrust based on tribe and religious. They called on the youth to use the agreed platform towards unit

RIC-NET ACTIVITIES FOR CELEBRATING THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE 21st SEPTEMBER 2018

Every year, Uganda joins the rest of the world to celebrate the International Day of Peace. 

Sustainable Development Goal 16 “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions” calls for promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

A peaceful society is one where there is justice and equality for everyone. Peace will enable a sustainable environment to take shape and a sustainable environment will help promote peace.

The theme for the International Day of Peace in 2018 is “The Right to Peace - The Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 70” The selection of this theme is against the background that the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) does not include the right to peace as a separate Article. This non-inclusion, in face of intractable globalized and localized threats to peace calls for candid conversations on what the right to peace means to us, both in our local and shared settings.

In the context of Rwenzori region, threats to peace anchor on social, political and economic injustices linked to several interwoven factors including; the management, use of and access to land and other natural resources; governance deficits and the growing culture of political violence; cultural and political extremism in the context of cultural and political pluralism that characterizes the region; corruption and the diminishing culture of accountability and; inadequately tapped potential of women and youth to influence the peace agenda with their communities.

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the Rwenzori region have a long tradition of celebrating a peace week preceding September 21^st. In this tradition, CSOs value the uniqueness of the region and the need to domesticate and localize the international day of peace celebrations. In line with this year’s international theme, CSOs propose to pay special attention to inter-ethnic collaboration in the pursuit of peace and reconciliation.

During the peace week, CSOs seek to achieve the following objectives

1.  To raise public awareness on social and cultural rights in the Rwenzori region. 
2. To generate consensus on the respect for social and cultural rights in the Rwenzori region
3. To amplify voices of youth and women using media and other spaces as avenues for engaging with key regional stakeholders on the pursuit of inter-ethnic dialogue and reconciliation.

ACTIVITIES

• Interactive and informative radio talk shows in the Rwenzori region
• District-specific dialogues on matters pertaining to peace, governance, social accountability, land and natural resource management.
• Dialogue meeting among  the  youth from Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu (OBR), Basongora, Banyabindi, Obukama bwa Tooro Kingdom, Obundighiya bwa Bwamba (OBB), security agencies and Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MOGLSD).
• peace caravan in Ntoroko District
•  youth sports for peace football competition
•  Civil society fair
• inter-school peace gala to kick start the civil society fair
• District Peace marathon 2018
• Public celebration of the international day of peace

EXPECTED OUT PUTS

1.         At least 1000 members of the public aware of social and cultural rights.
2.      Generated consensus on at least one aspect of respect for social and cultural rights.
3.     . At least 5 spaces created for women and the youth to interface leaders on aspects of interethnic dialogue and reconciliation.
4.     At least 30 CSOs able to showcase their works to the public on aspects of good governance, transparency and accountability.