NAWOU Report: Kampala-Johannesburg Women's Peace Train, August 15-16, 2002
PEACE as a theme for Ugandan women at the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD)

When the idea of the Women's Peace Train started during the preparations for the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD) by African Women, the National Association of Women Organisations in Uganda (NAWOU) did not hesitate to be part of it. We agreed to be one of the seven focal points in Africa to work with Litha Labantu based in South Africa and the African Center for Empowerment, Gender and Advocacy (AC-EGA) in Nairobi to campaign for peace in the world. The Peace Train was one of the activities to take place in Johannesburg at the Women's Tent during the World Summit for Sustainable Development.

In addition to marking the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), the Peace Train project was an activity to mark 10 years of existence for the National Association of Women Organisations in Uganda (NAWOU). Following is a report on the Peace Train activities in Uganda.

Background

The idea of the Women's Peace Train started at the second Preparatory Committee for the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD) by the African women in New York. This is not the first time women are organising an inter-country train to mobilise around a global event. In 1915 women had a Peace Ship from North America to Europe, in 1995 a Peace Train started from Helsinki/Scandinavia to Beijing, China. Kampala was the starting point for the Peace Train to Johannesburg.

The objective of the Train was to pass on a strong message to the African leaders, war mongers, armies, guerrillas and traders in big and small arms on the African continent that African women want peace and stability for their children and future generations and to call upon the ringleaders and perpetrators of these wars to end them forthwith.

Women in Africa bear the brunt of the war burden and therefore saw the WSSD as a good opportunity to campaign for the end of wars. The women of Uganda have and continue to suffer from wars, so they joined those in the Great Lakes Region and Africa in general, to use the Peace Train (PT) to pass on the message to people in Uganda, in the continent and in the rest of the world. The Peace Train was also a key component of the Women's Tent in the WSSD and was to mobilise support from men and women in countries it will pass through. Women who have been affected by wars will participate in the call for peace.

The Peace Train traveled through six countries namely: Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana to enter South Africa on August 25th 2002 in time for the start of the WSSD.

From Kampala the train was scheduled to make stop-overs at Jinja, Iganga, Busembatia through Budumba, Tororo and then Malaba-Kenya. There would be brief ceremonies at these stations. The Train's arrival in Johannesburg would be a key event in the Women's Tent opening Programme.

Matching from Constitution Square to the Uganda Railways Corporation headquarters, Kampala

The women of Uganda under the leadership of National Association of Women Organisations in Uganda (NAWOU) marched through Kampala road to welcome the Peace Train and receive the Peace Torch.

The match was flagged off by the State Minister for Ethics and Integrity, Hon. Miria Matembe, who is also Woman MP for Mbarara District. Omega Brass band and the Police force led the matches from the National Constitutional Square to the Uganda Railways co-operation headquarters, holding placards and banners with messages of peace. Matchers included women from war torn areas of Uganda, i.e., Gulu, Arua, Kasese, Katakwi, Kotido, Moroto, Nakapiripirit and from the NAWOU district networks like Mubende, Mpigi and Kampala. Also in attendance were the NAWOU NGO members notably the Network of Disabled Women, with their banner "War causes Disability", the deaf and their interpreters, those on wheel chairs, crutches, etc. School children from Kyagwe road Primary School, Omega Primary school and Joy Primary School attended.

The Minister in her speech emphasized that women involvement in peace negotiations is important.

Peace Train Launch

The Women's Peace Train to the WSSD in Johannesburg started in Kampala Uganda on 15th August and run through Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Botswana and finally to South Africa - Johannesburg in time for the WSSD on 25th August 2002. The objectives of the Women's Peace Train was to carry a peace torch from the war torn Great Lakes Region to Johannesburg and to use the torch as a symbol for peace. The peace torch passed on a strong message to the continent leaders, men, women and the youth in different countries that African women want peace and stability for their children and future generations and called upon the ring leaders and perpetrators of these wars to end them forthwith.

Women of Africa bear the brunt of the war burden so they saw the WSSD as a good opportunity to campaign for the end of wars in Africa, the Peace Train passed on the Peace message to people in the continent and the rest of the world.

The launching and receiving of the Peace Torch ceremony was held at the Uganda Railways Coorporation station/offices on the 15th August 2002.

The Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda Hon. Rebecca Kadaga represented H.E. the President of Uganda Yoweri K. Museveni who was on a Peace building mission in Gulu, Northern Uganda. Gulu is a district that has been affected by insecurity and wars for the last fifteen years. The Deputy Speaker delivered the President's speech but emphasized that the media should stop reporting about the former girl children abductees as Kony's wives because they are forced into marriage and so should be referred to as abductees.

"Why don't you call male abductees Kony's in-laws and yet you call the girls Kony's wives."

Present also was the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development Hon. Zoe Bakoko Bakoru whose Ministry worked closely with NAWOU in preparation for the Women Peace Train. In her remarks she emphasized the importance of women as peace negotiators and thus the need for government to recognise their role and include them on peace negotiation tables.

Also present was the State Minister for Environment Hon. Maria Mutagamba who gave a brief on the WSSD as she had attended the Summit PrepComs. In attendance also was Hon. Benigna Mukibi the State Minister for Public Service who had attended some of the WSSD Prepcoms.

The Chairperson UWOPA (Uganda Women Parliamentarians Association) requested women to participate in peace building and ending of conflicts by discouraging their husbands, sons and male relatives from joining rebel groups. She also emphasized that peace negotiations have to go on alongside the government fighting back the rebels because rebels never stop.

Among the Members of Parliament who attended the function were those representing war torn districts: Hon. Lochiam Rose (Woman MP, Moroto District, Karamoja region) and Hon. Mindra Joyo Eugenia (Woman MP, Moyo District).

Speeches, dances and songs characterized the Launch of the Peace Train.

Receiving of the Peace Torch from the Rwanda Delegation

On the arrival of the Chief Guest, Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, the Uganda National Anthem was sang followed by the Uganda Women's Anthem.

The Peace Torch was brought by ladies from the Republic of Rwanda of the Profemmes - Twese Hamwe, the umbrella of women NGOs and groups in Rwanda. They were accompanied by the Rwanda Ambassador to Uganda. The Rwandese torch bearer held the lit torch high as she lead her delegation amidst ululations from the Ugandan women welcoming the torch. The delegation had female youth delegates who carried the Rwanda flag. The torch was then handed to the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Uganda who received it with pride and humility and pledged Uganda government's commitment to keeping peace and supporting peace keeping in Uganda.

The torch was then handed over to the Ugandan Torch bearers, ladies from Gulu and West Nile, who were to hand it over to the Kenyans.

Launch and welcoming the train

The train was welcomed by Ugandans and the delegates from Rwanda, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament cut the ribbon amidst songs of peace, ululation, playing of the band.

The ministers present, Hon. Loyce Bwambale - the chairperson Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA), the Rwanda Ambassodor to Uganda, and the Deputy Speaker boarded the train and were driven to the parking. The Kenyan delegation which came on the train joined the function and were welcomed.

Delegates from Rwanda and Kenya were amazed at the vigour, solidarity and momentum of the women movement in Uganda.

The theme song for the day composed by Joanita Kawalya Muganga of Afrigo Band was performed with the children of Joy Primary School. The title was "Twewale Okulwana" which literally means "Avoid fighting". Other groups that performed were Kisenyi Women's group and Mulago II Women's group. The congregation joined in the song affirming their commitment to making peace an commitment to lobby for Peace.

The role of NAWOU was the Uganda focal point for preparations of the Women's Peace Train to the WSSD.

NAWOU played a role of mobilizing support for the initiative, coordination with other countries that were involved especially Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia. NAWOU brought together members of the civil society, central government, local government and security organs for this cause. Meetings were held in preparation for the occasion, a lot of fundraising was done. But most importantly making sure that there was a train to start in Kampala, Uganda as originally planned by initiators of the Women's Peace Train project -- in view of the fact that Uganda Railways Co-operation no longer operate passenger coaches. Negotiations were made between Uganda Railways and Kenya Railways to provide the train for the project.

NAWOU also mobilized signatures for the petition for Global peace, which was signed at the July 2002 Women's World Congress to be presented to the leaders at the summit.

Flagging off of the train

The flagging off of the peace train took place on the morning of 16th August 2002 by the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development Hon. Zoe Bakoko Bakoru. The Minister commissioned the Peace Train to travel down through six countries to Johannesburg in South Africa carrying a Peace Torch which was provided by UNIFEM in New York. The train was to convey a message of peace from African women to the Heads of states and delegates attending the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD) that is being convened in Johannesburg from 26th August - 4th September 2002. The train made several stops in Uganda as it meandered through the green countryside to Malaba, Kenya. At every stop, it was welcomed by cheering crowds of women, school children and local officials of the relevant districts. The train made stops in Jinja, Iganga and Tororo before reaching Malaba, Kenya.

In the above districts through the mobilization of the NAWOU chairpersons, they organised matches through their towns to the railway station. Brief ceremonies were conducted at every stop and a message of peace delivered by the NAWOU President and the District officials of the respective districts.

There was a lot of music and dancing as the crowds matched with their placards with Peace messages.

Conclusion

The Peace message was shared by many people and women realised their role in bringing about peace and were stimulated to start thinking about peace as a prerequisite for development.

Visit the photo gallery for pictures of the Peace Train events:

• Flag-off activities (photos)
• Peace placards (photos)
• Torch/Train stops in Uganda (photos)

Uganda Peace Train contact person:

Sadres Twinomugisha, NAWOU
Email: nawou@uol.co.ug
Profile: NAWOU profile

FIRE Covers Women's Peace Train Through Africa, Margaret Thompson
[Source: http://www.fire.or.cr/agosto02/ingles/peacetrain.html, August 2002]

Women from several African countries are escorting a Women's Peace Train on a multi-country journey from Rwanda to South Africa, demanding an end to wars and conflict in their countries, promoting the strong message that without peace, there can be no sustainable development. A peace torch is being passed by the women across every frontier, starting in Rwanda, continuing on through Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, and arriving in Johannesburg, South Africa in time for the UN World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), August 27-September 4, 2002.

Feminist International Radio Endeavour (FIRE) is presently covering the Women's Peace Train via cell phone and Internet, with interviews with women from the various African countries, and will meet the women from the train in person in Johannesburg, South Africa, when it arrives there. FIRE will cover an afternoon presentation by participants in the Peace Train on Monday, August 26th from the Women's Tent at the WSSD in Johannesburg.

According to Sadre Twinomugisha of NAWOU (National Association of Women's Organizations in Uganda), which is serving as one of the focal points for the peace train, "We women look at it that with development when we don't have peace is not development at all. Because when you develop your city and your country, and in a few years war breaks out, you go back to square one. So as women we decided that what we need is peace before you get development, because if we have a peaceful world, then development will definitely come."

At http://www.fire.or.cr/agosto02/ingles/peacetrain.html, you can listen to:

• Litha Musyimi-Agana of Kenya as she explains via cell phone from Kampala, Uganda, the goal of the peace train and what motivates the women to lead this peace effort. Litha is Regional Director of AC-EGA (African Center for Empowerment Gender & Advocacy) of Kenya, the main organizer of the peace train, which left Kampala on August 16th and is scheduled to arrive in Johannesburg on or about August 27th.
• Sadre as she reports via cell phone on the ceremonies for the passage of the peace torch from the Rwandan women to the Ugandan women on August 16th at the train station in Kampala, Uganda

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Last update: August-30, 2002