 | ||
| Conference Banner
Kasese United Humanist association was among the participant
organizations that were invited to attend the IHEYO REGIONAL AFRICAN WORKING
GROUP MEETING AND TRAINING that was organized by IHEYO in Conjunction with
HIVOS and HALEA, a local NGO. More about Kasese United Humanist Association HERE
The conference kicked off in high gears with representatives
from the East African region countries namely Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, South
Sudan and Finally Uganda. Uganda took the top lead in having several secular
organizations participating in the conference.
Humanist Association for Leadership, Equity and
Accountability was the main organizer of the event and hosted several local
organizations who work under the umbrella of Uganda Humanist association.
Organizations that were present at the conference were Kasese United Humanist
Association represented by Bwambale Robert, HELU represented by Aggie Ajera, Havrev by Mark Baguma, UHASSO by a team of board of trustees who included Mr.
Deo Ssekitoleko, Kisirinya Peter, Mark Baguma, Halea by Mr. Lukyamuzi Joseph.
Opening remarks of the conference was made by Lukyamuzi
Joseph who is the current Chairperson HALEA who welcomed all the participants.
The turn up was good as all the invited delegates turned up.
Self introduction of the participants followed next.
A short video was played showing HALEA Teens performing
promoting Humanism through Music, other videos about witch hunting by Nigerian
pastors and Boko Haram fundamentalists were played. There was one scary and
horrible video showing the Boko Haram fundamentalists killing a Christian
faithful by cutting her throat with a knife and beheading her. This exposes the
atrocities committed on the African soil and anywhere in the world in the name
of religion. The participants were not happy with the act and condemned the
act.
The next item was to call on the invited groups to present
to the delegates their activities .Freedom and Roam Uganda (FARUG) opened the
exercise where Ssenfuka Warry presented a speech backed with a presentation
about the organization plus their activities. Farug is a feminine organization
advocating for women and minority rights like LGBT and women emancipation.
Warry cited a number of challenges being faced in their works and appealed for
legislators and Human rights campaigners to work tooth and nail to ensure that
civil liberty and minority rights are observed.
 |
Second on the Agenda was a speech and presentation from
Aggie Ajera of HELU Uganda which is based in Gulu, she made a presentation
about the organization activities and the delegates were so happy to see that
many people’s lives of people in Gulu are being transformed in the right
direction politically, socially and economically. Gulu people are just healing
the wounds after being victims of the aimless war by the Lords Resistance Army lead
by renegade Joseph Kony, a native of the area. Many people have lost their lives,
property and spent most of their time in camps and of recent they are trying to
rebuild themselves.
Third item was a presentation from George Ongere of Center
for Inquiry Kenya who informed the participants about on campus seminars and
debates in several Universities around Nairobi where students are enlightened
about Humanism and how they can be good people to take Kenya Forward. He also
organizes anti superstition campaigns.
Mr. Ongere told the delegates about his new project of the
Humanist Orphans where through his efforts, he has managed to put several
children in school by paying fees and uniform.
Mr. Ongere is a Writer and informed the delegates of his new
book not yet published, its title is Does Africa Need God?.
A speech and presentation from Rwanda was made by Daniel
Twesigye who informed the delegates about free thought in Rwanda. He however
said that Humanism is still a new thing in their country and in this regard
appealed for well-wishers worldwide to supply them with free thought
literature, books, magazines and DVDs such that the elites can understand the
philosophy with ease. Daniel is a University Student in Kigali doing Business
Administration.
A presentation by James from South Sudan followed who told
the delegates that Humanism has been deep rooted in the South Sudan army and
that they are passing it to local Sudanese in an effort to debunk the
prevailing superstitions and beliefs in magic.
A speech by Kasese United Humanist association was made by
Bwambale Robert who made a mention about the activities being done to promote
humanism, Bwambale talked about the Free thought library and how it has helped
to expose to the local people free thought and science knowledge. A mention was
made about Kasese Humanist Primary School and Kasese Humanist Botanical
Gardens. The delegates were happy with KUHA activities of promoting humanism in
several ways.
More information about the school is online at Kasese Humanist Primary School and Kasese Humanist Botanical Gardens
On day two, began with the recap of Day One activities by
Kato Mukasa.
Thereafter the delegates had training on Human rights and
the Educator was Ms Kisubi Esther who is a lecturer at KIU accompanied by a
Professor who taught the participants many issues on Human rights including its
history, the role of Non Governmental Organizations in promotion of human
rights, positive rights and negative rights and a mention about the Human
rights treaties and relevant documents.
The Trainers emphasized local NGO to employ networking with
local and international organization in their efforts to promote people’s
rights.
A mention was made about the hierarchy of rights.
A German Expatriate working
with GTZ by the names Ms. Anke Weisheit made a brief well illustrated
power point presentation citing out most
influence prominent personalities on the African and western soil and she
stressed that Ubuntu or living by the golden rules, humanist values and ethics
can bring peace, compassion and harmony in the world. She also gave tips on
fundraising strategies and mentioned what donors would expect from donor
seeking organizations.
In an effort to strengthen the smooth running of activities
done in the Africa working group, a number of issues were discussed ranging
from social networking, creating sustainable projects to take local
organizations towards self reliance, fundraising strategies, lobbying, creation
of more humanist schools, magazines, newsletters and setting up of a radio
station to advance secular views.
Ms. Anke making a presentation
As the past Leadership did not work to the Member
Organizations expectations, some leadership changes were made. Mr Kato Mukasa
from Halea has been the Country Coordinator for IHEYO in Uganda for 2 years since 2011 and suggested to step
aside to allow new members to also ride the boat.
Some of the Participants in the conference
On this vacancy Bwambale
Robert from Kasese United Humanist Association showed interest in the post together
with Aggie Ajera from HELU. There was a cast of ballot papers where Bwambale
Robert got 11 votes while Aggie came up with 4 votes. In this case Bwambale
Robert is now the Country Coordinator for IHEYO.
Other Country Coordinators for
the other countries were:
George Ongere Kenya
Rwanda Daniel
Twesigye
Sudan, Lugobya James
All in all, the conference ended at mid day on Sunday 27th.
Special thanks go to HALEA Uganda for the nice reception,
care and conduct of the conference and the Member Organization pledged to work
harder in our effort to make this world better for us all. Thanks HALEA, Thanks IHEYO and thanks all the organizations that participated in this conference.
 |
