UGANDA: UEC Justice and Peace Department holds Workshop on Reconciliation for its Staff
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| Prof Philpott (left) and Msgr Kauta address the participants at the workshop |
Employees of
the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC) on Thursday July 9, 2015 gathered for a
resourceful workshop on reconciliation to share experiences and discuss future
strategies and actions on reconciliation processes.
the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC) on Thursday July 9, 2015 gathered for a
resourceful workshop on reconciliation to share experiences and discuss future
strategies and actions on reconciliation processes.
The one-day
workshop, which was organized by the UEC Justice and Peace Department, in
collaboration with the University of Notre Dame Center for Civil and Human
Rights in the U.S.A, focused on lessons learned and good practices in thematic
areas within reconciliation such as healing, the relationship between truth,
justice and reconciliation, the importance of the Eucharist in the healing
process and the role of the laity in reconciliation process.
workshop, which was organized by the UEC Justice and Peace Department, in
collaboration with the University of Notre Dame Center for Civil and Human
Rights in the U.S.A, focused on lessons learned and good practices in thematic
areas within reconciliation such as healing, the relationship between truth,
justice and reconciliation, the importance of the Eucharist in the healing
process and the role of the laity in reconciliation process.
In his
presentation Prof Daniel Philpott, the Director of the Center for Civil and
Human Rights, University of Notre Dame, said that reconciliation is a key
objective in building sustainable peace and preventing a relapse into conflict.
presentation Prof Daniel Philpott, the Director of the Center for Civil and
Human Rights, University of Notre Dame, said that reconciliation is a key
objective in building sustainable peace and preventing a relapse into conflict.
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| The participants (UEC staff) pose for a group photo with Prof Philpott |
“Through my
many conversations with Archbishop John Baptist Odama, his life and witness
have taught me enough about reconciliation for a lifetime,” said Prof Philpott
who was also the key facilitator. “So many people in the Ugandan Church in so
many ways have been witnesses to reconciliation through so much violence after
many decades, dating back to colonial times.
You should think about God’s plan for reconciliation as God has revealed
it through the Scriptures and through the Church, most recently through the
great Synod for Africa and the document Africae
Munus that came out of it.”
many conversations with Archbishop John Baptist Odama, his life and witness
have taught me enough about reconciliation for a lifetime,” said Prof Philpott
who was also the key facilitator. “So many people in the Ugandan Church in so
many ways have been witnesses to reconciliation through so much violence after
many decades, dating back to colonial times.
You should think about God’s plan for reconciliation as God has revealed
it through the Scriptures and through the Church, most recently through the
great Synod for Africa and the document Africae
Munus that came out of it.”
He further
stated that reconciliation is about building relationships among people and
groups in society and between the state and its citizens, stating that moral
vision, truth and justice are the vital parts of the process of healing.
stated that reconciliation is about building relationships among people and
groups in society and between the state and its citizens, stating that moral
vision, truth and justice are the vital parts of the process of healing.
“For many
decades, apartheid was the national vision for South Africa based on racial
separation. Under apartheid, blacks,
colored, and Asians suffered greatly, both from economic discrimination and from
violence. But certain practitioners of moral vision insisted that it would not
be any old amnesty but one that would tell the truth about South Africa’s past
towards the end of national reconciliation. Archbishop Desmond Tutu brought to
the proceedings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission reconciliation as a
vision for all of South Africa. He
exhorted those who had committed horrible crimes to tell the truth and to
repent publicly, victims to forgive to see reconciliation as their nation’s
future,” he explained.
decades, apartheid was the national vision for South Africa based on racial
separation. Under apartheid, blacks,
colored, and Asians suffered greatly, both from economic discrimination and from
violence. But certain practitioners of moral vision insisted that it would not
be any old amnesty but one that would tell the truth about South Africa’s past
towards the end of national reconciliation. Archbishop Desmond Tutu brought to
the proceedings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission reconciliation as a
vision for all of South Africa. He
exhorted those who had committed horrible crimes to tell the truth and to
repent publicly, victims to forgive to see reconciliation as their nation’s
future,” he explained.
Dr Aliba
Kiiza the Executive Secretary of the UEC Justice and Peace department called on
the participants to always reflect on their lives since it is a key element in
reconciliation.
Kiiza the Executive Secretary of the UEC Justice and Peace department called on
the participants to always reflect on their lives since it is a key element in
reconciliation.
In his
closing remarks Msgr. John Baptist Kauta, the UEC General Secretary urged the
participants to seek God’s grace during reconciliation.
closing remarks Msgr. John Baptist Kauta, the UEC General Secretary urged the
participants to seek God’s grace during reconciliation.
“Reconciliation
takes place internally in the victim and leads to forgiving the wrongdoer but
all this need God’s grace. Unity always comes as a gift of the Holy Spirit and
is a sign of God’s Spirit at work,” he said.
takes place internally in the victim and leads to forgiving the wrongdoer but
all this need God’s grace. Unity always comes as a gift of the Holy Spirit and
is a sign of God’s Spirit at work,” he said.
By Jacinta W. Odongo; Media
Officer, Uganda Episcopal Conference
Officer, Uganda Episcopal Conference
