Asset Publisher

Workshop

The role of religous leaders in peace building and conflict management

In Cooperation with the Teso Peace and Human Rights Development Initiative

The workshop focuses on the influence of spiritual headmen and -women in their home area and how they can use it to solve conflicts.

Asset Publisher

Details

On 31/5/2013 Teso witnessed an extra ordinary incident.Un suspected people invaded a sub-location known as Akobwait in Teso South District, armed with crude weapons and unleashed terror in the sub-location killing and stealing money from their victims. This very sad incident caused the death of 2 people while 17 people were left with serious injuries.

When the above incident was brought to the limelight it elicited a lot of attention from the government and civil society organizations. The government sent in high ranking officers to the scene of crime while the civil society-Peace net in particular carried out a survey to ascertain the root cause. While this was continuing, the villagers of the same village loaded with anger lynched 2 youths whom they suspected to be the informers of the gang.

Given the ongoing reforms and the challenges the government is faced with in implementing devolution, the police and the provincial administration officers seem to be in a dilemma and in a state of panic. They are not serious with their jobs. This explains the reason why there is insecurity and lack of faith and trust in these state agencies by citizens- which has occasioned the citizens to take the law into their own hands. The only lot of people which command respect and trust are religious leaders. They command many followers who pay attention to their counsels more than any other class of people. This activity intends to bring on board religious leaders of diverse faith so that they may be taken through peace concepts that will increase their knowledge in peace building and conflict management. The assumption is that if religious leaders are equipped with knowledge and skills in peace building and conflict management and are active, levels of criminality and revenge will reduce and conflicts will be addressed positively- hence a just and peaceful society. We hope that the religious leaders who will be trained will be able to counter the attitude and mentality that is mounting in teso-indiscrimate killings; stereo typing and revenge. The interaction between these leaders in course of the workshop will also enhance bonding amongst themselves-a matter that will reduces conflict even among themselves and their followers.

The identification of these leaders will be based on ethnic balance, faith and hotspots.A total of 25 leaders will be trained.

Asset Publisher

Add to the calendar

Venue

Jaki Guest House, Teso

Contact

Beatrice Rachuonyo

Asset Publisher

Asset Publisher