UGANDA: Sisters Advocate Against Human Trafficking
Sisters in Uganda advocate against trafficking in persons after mapping out ministries and institutions that could help to mitigate trafficking in persons.
The three-day workshop was organized and facilitated by Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) Washington at the Secretariat of the Association of Religious in Uganda (ARU). Animated by Sr. Eucharia Madueke, Fr. Aniedi Okure and team, the Sisters were motivated to witness their prophetic mission.
A team of 32 sisters with AFJN coordinator; set out to inquire from various ministries and stakeholders what they are doing about this inhuman act after gathering data from Pope John Paul II Justice and Peace Centre (JPIIJPC)-Uganda.
In various meetings with stakeholders, a common point was expressed: Need for collaboration to combat human trafficking. They also confessed that it is a complex undertaking “… because prominent government officials are involved,” Rt.Hon. Rebeca Kadaga Alitwala the Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda lamented.
“This is a world- wide problem; security organs and the international mafia are part of it, hence we call for concerted effort to address it,” another officer from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs added.
The team visited the Ministry of Internal Affairs who are responsible for issuing travel documents; Ministry of Foreign Affairs who ought to know the destinations of the victims; the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development who register the recruiting organizations that export labour; Human Rights Commission who ought to protect the rights of the citizens.
Lastly, a representative of 13 Sisters with a woman lawyer and advocate for social justice (women peace and security) Lina Z. Waru, met the Hon. Kadaga who promises to support the move.
The Sisters also made a press statement and called for a press conference after which the cry of the nuns went viral through the various media outlets: the New Vision and Vision Group, Daily Monitor, Urban TV among others.
There is an on-going sensitization about this evil at all levels: at institute and regional levels. For instance, there will be a sensitization seminar on trafficking in persons for Sisters and members of the Association of Religious in Uganda (ARU) Branch of Lira Diocese in northern Uganda on the 6th April 2019.
The sisters are also planning for a joint meeting with various stakeholders and collaborators to forge a way forward in addressing the issue of trafficking of persons, Gender Based Sexual Violence (GBSV) and similar atrocities committed in the society.
The decision for advocacy was reached at ARU Secretariat with over 6,000 members in a workshop held on November 2018, where the Religious sisters critically analysed their society which is being robbed of its basic humane and moral values.
The force behind the Sisters’ motivation among others include: Sacred Scriptures; the principles underlying Catholic Social Teaching (CST); lives of the saints; and African proverbs.
Sisters during the reflection discovered that greed for power; short-sighted lawmakers destabilizing the society; some of the business people destroying local economy by making Africa a home of old and discarded items like used refrigerators, computers, poisonous body lotions and edibles.
Other issues at stake include the devaluation of currency “… yet Africa has half of world’s Gold reserve; the absence of servant leadership; and lack of rule of law and accountability, with common good taking the back seat.”
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By Sr. Mary Lilly Driciru MSMMC
