Contributing to a Peace Economy in Northern Uganda: A Guide for Investors

International Alert has developed Contributing to a Peace Economy in Northern Uganda: A Guide for Investors with the input of business leaders from Northern Uganda gathered at several workshops and events during 2008-09. War remains a fundamental problem of our contemporary world. Armed violence exacts a terrible human, economic and social cost - and the 22-year long conflict in Northern Uganda has been particularly painful. As societies descend into war, peace can seem ever more elusive. Mistrust, revenge, short-term self-interest, chaos and destruction become the order of the day. Promoting and sustaining peace is a formidable challenge for the 21st century. Strikingly, more peace agreements have been signed since the end of the Cold War than were agreed in the entire two centuries prior. But peace is complicated - about half of all peace agreements fail within five years of being signed. A sustainable peace is much more than just an agreement - indispensable though the written agreement may be. Peace requires long-term commitment by political and military leaders and the broad population alike. All social groups have a role to play: the media and academics, citizens' organisations, and the private sector. It is often assumed that economic development led by the private sector will alleviate conflict and assure peaceful development. There is evidence to support this argument, but there is also evidence that shows how misjudged private sector development can exacerbate the potential for conflict. In some places, specific businesses have played particularly negative roles. Good business can be good for peace, but in practice the mechanisms for achieving this are complicated. read more...

Venue: Naura Springs Hotel Arusha.

Date: June 5^th 2009.

1.      Introduction.

The Great Lakes Parliamentary Forum on Peace-AMANI Forum participated in a consultative Forum on enhancing the role of Civil Society at the East African Community. The meeting was convened by Kituo cha Katiba in Arusha, Naura Springs Hotel. It was attended by over 30 civil Society leaders from East Africa.

The 2009 General Assembly of the AMANI Forum was hosted by the Kenyan Chapter in Nairobi, Kenya between the 16 and 17 June 2009. The Assembly focused its attention on current policy trends with regards to the resolution of internal displacement and their contribution towards sustainable peace in the Great Lakes region. The Forum reviewed the theories, facts and remedies of the problem of internal displacement in an effort to address the question of sustainable peace in the region. Emphasis was also placed on analyzing the inter-linkages between ethno-ideology, politics and internal displacement. In addition to the Kenya National Assembly, other partners and friends of AMANI Forum who were present at the Assembly included: the Regional Analysts Network (RAN), the Open University of Tanzania, International Alert, the Institute of Security Studies, International Refugee Rights Initiative, East African Law Society, Local Government representatives, Oxfam GB, Action Aid, the United Nations Development Fund and the Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa. During the meeting it was brought to the attention of the parliamentarians that there are more IDPs in the region than in any other area of the world. From Sudan through to Angola, scores of people have been forced to move from their homes as a result of conflict and, or persecution. The precarious status of IDPs is not currently covered by any specific international instruments thus their rights are not guaranteed internationally, instead their rights fall under domestic law, which at times can be applied in a discriminatory manner or not applied at all.