On 21st September 2011, ACFODE joined the rest of the world to celebrate the International Day of Peace.
The celebrations which were marked under the theme “A COUNTRY IS ONLY IN PEACE IF EACH WOMAN ENJOYS A PEACEFUL LIFE” were extraordinarily outstanding and absorbing.
The objectives were to: celebrate the World Peace Day in Uganda, advocate for the enactment of the sexual offences bill as a means to ensure a peaceful environment for women and girls, and to bring together women and peace focused CSOs from all over Uganda to raise awareness on peace as an issue of women’s rights.
The celebrations featured the launch of an International Exhibition, a March for Peace and a Peace Concert later in the evening. The Walk for Peace was mainly attended by women, men and children who had solidarity for peace with Hon. Betty Bigombe - the State Minister for Water and renowned peace negotiator being the Chief Walker. International and local NGOs, and women activists were also well represented during the Walk for Peace.
After the March, participants were welcomed by enthusiastic exhibitors from like minded civil society organizations, women`s groups and private companies. These showcased their work, interacted amongst themselves and shared opinions with the general public. The exhibition was attended by over 35 organisations with the likes of Song factory X majorly dealing in song production, concert performances and jingles productions, Dezy Business Solutions dealing in furniture and office stationeries, Forever Living which deals in health products, Celebrity Magazine and AFRIPADS, showcasing their goods and services. Among the NGOS, we had representation from UWONET, DENIVA, UMWA, BAHAI FAITH, KYC (Kawempe Youth Centre), East African Counseling Institute, FAWE, UMDF, Rafiki Theatre, UYONET, and Rainbow House of Hope among others.
The Chief Guest Ms. Franziska Roetzer from GIZ and Dr. Jones Kyazze - ACFODE's Chairperson for the Board of Trustees launched the International Peace Exhibition that was basically meant to share visions of peace in regards to youth and women’s rights. This was done by signing on the Peace Quilt.
There were various forms of entertainment for the day from the likes of Rainbow House of Hope (Rafiki Theatre Performers) who acted a play based on domestic violence, and a musical performance from Kisuule Primary School. Later, the evening was graced with musical performances from the Blood Brothers Reggae Band and Dr. Tee. To make the celebrations more rewarding, we had other supplementary activities for example - a Candle Light Vigil, Talent Search Iinterludes and a Peace Concert where Angela Kalule, a popular local artist launched a specially composed peace song “I Wanna Be Free” alongside her other famous hits like Katikitiki and Kakondo. The celebrations ended with a Dance for Peace, and this saw participants doing all kinds of jigs to harmonious living.
The International Day of Peace was established by a United Nations resolution in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the General Assembly. The first Peace Day was celebrated in September 1982. By creating the International Day of Peace, the UN devoted itself to worldwide peace and encouraged all of mankind to work in cooperation for this. ACFODE is very proud for having associated herself to this cause.
Our special thanks go out to all those that participated in the Walk for Peace, and in other supplementary activities that were organized on the Peace Day. Your involvement did not only make the celebrations more colorful, but also amazingly exceptional. And in a special way, we would like to thank EIRENE, GIZ, WAVAH WATER, MILLENIUM SUPERMARKET and the various Media Houses for the very generous sponsorship they gave to support our noble cause of celebrating World Peace Day.
We are very grateful to all of you and to even those that that involved themselves in making this day a success. We hope that this is the beginning of a continued partnership.
Click to see pictorial of the whole event: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.253025348066579.53056.175465652489216&type=1
Submitted By Sandra Nassali
Public Relations & Communications Officer
Action For Development
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