Posts by Stephen Oola

From the field Beyond Kony 2012: Local peacebuilders advice to Invisible Children

Steohen Oola, Insight on Conflict’s local correspondent for Uganda, writes on the local reaction to Invisible Children’s Kony 2012 campaign. Particularly the reatcion of respected local peacebuilders, such as the Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative (ARLPI), a local interfaith peacebuilding organisation in northern Uganda, which has urged Invisible Children to work with people in the region to find a lasting solution to the LRA situation. Read more >>>

From the field A Ugandan reflection on the Kony 2012 campaign

Stephen Oola, Ugandan peacebuilder and Local Correspondent for Insight on Conflict, provides a Ugandan perspective on Invisible Children’s controversial Kony 2012 campaign. Although positive about Invisible Children’s work on the ground in Uganda, Stephen questions the lack of involvement of Ugandans in the campaign. Read more >>>

From the field Uganda: Trail of LRA Commander Kwoyelo halted

The Constitutional Court in Uganda has halted the trial of former LRA commander Col. Thomas Kwoyelo. Kwoyelo was facing trial on multiple charges amounting to crimes against humanity. Kwoyelo had applied for amnesty, for which he was entitled under the law, but the Director of Public Prosecution and the Amnesty Commission had not issued him with a Certificate. Kwoyelo appealed the decision, and in a unanimous judgement a Constitutional Court has granted him amnesty. Read more >>>

From the field Kwoyelo’s trial and Uganda’s search for justice

Civil society organisations working for peace, justice and reconciliation in Uganda have welcomed the trial of former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) Colonel, Thomas Kwoyelo for atrocities he allegedly committed during the over two decade LRA insurgency in northern Uganda. Read more >>>

From the field Uganda: Understanding the walk to work protest

Uganda is in the spotlight again, following brutal police and military suppression of an ongoing public protest – the “Walk to Work” campaign. The rising cost of fuel, high transport cost and the unaffordable food commodities add to a growing frustration over poor social service delivery and the lack of fiscal discipline by the government. Peacebuilders and religious leaders have all condemned the brutal nature of the state response on unarmed civilians, called for dialogue and urged the government to respect citizen’s rights. Read more >>>

From the field Uganda’s 2011 elections: any lessons for local peacebuilders?

Uganda’s recent presidential election reveals strategic challenges for local peace actors and civil society, in terms of sustainable peacebuilding and the democratisation process in Uganda. Some of the lessons from it may be useful for peace builders elsewhere, when designing and advocating peaceful, legitimate elections. In general, it begs the question – How broad must our definition of a ‘peaceful’ election be? Read more >>>

From the field Ugandan Election 2011: Local Peacebuilders Speak Out

Ugandans head to the polls in four days time to cast their ballot to elect a new president and members of parliament. The 18 February election this Friday is considered one of Uganda’s most hotly contested multiparty elections in the history of the country. Seven presidential candidates are vying to unseat Uganda’s longest serving leader, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, and end his 26 year reign. Many political observers, civil society organisations, and local peacebuilders, had warned that this election might turn violent but the campaigns have thus far been uncharacteristically “peaceful”. Stephen Oola, Uganda Local Correspondent, caught up with Charles Toolit Atiya, a local peace builder, and Coordinator of the Northern Uganda Transitional Justice Working Group (NUTJWG) to ask his views about the forthcoming elections. Read more >>>

From the field Is Uganda ready for a peaceful, legitimate election?

The Opposition Candidates in Uganda have called for the postponement of the forthcoming presidential and general elections until Voter’s cards are issued to over four million newly-registered voters to avert a possible crisis. This call was made at a joint press conference held in Kampala addressed by four opposition candidates. Read more >>>

Interview The Peacebuilding Podcast: Stephen Oola on Ugandan Elections

In the second episode of The Peacebuilding Podcast, local correspondent for Uganda, Stepehn Oola, talks about the upcoming elections. In 48 years of independence Uganda has yet to have a peaceful, democratic transfer of power. Stephen describes the fears of violence, the impact of the LRA, and the role civil society is playing to ensure a peaceful, free, and fair election period in 2011. Read more >>>

From the field Religious leaders in Uganda Urges Electoral Commission to Expedite Release of Voters Register

The Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC), a local inter-faith peacebuilding organisation in Uganda had called the Electoral Commission (EC) to move quickly and release the Voters register to harness credibility and demonstrate its readiness to organise a free, fair and peaceful elections. In his appeal to the Chairman of the EC, UJCC Executive Secretary, the Rev. Fr. Dr. Silverster Arinaitwe Rwomukubwe called for the postponement of nomination of presidential candidates which ended on Tuesday, October 26. Read more >>>