Religion and faith have often time been a force for good in promoting the respect and sanctity of human dignity and peace. On the other hand, history is awash with evidence that religion has also been used as a tool of oppression; promoting narrow, partisan and divisive ideological purposes for exploitative and socially unjust political advantage. Uganda has experienced both faces of religion and faith.
The Religion, Rights and Peace Fellowship (RRPF) at the Human Rights and Peace Center (HURIPEC), School of Law Makerere University started in September 2012. It aims to provide an intellectual space and pedagogic opportunities for perspectives on the centrality of religion and faith in promoting Human Rights, Peace, Social Justice, equity and transparency in governance in Uganda.
PROJECT OBJECTIVE:
Support the promotion of Human Rights, Peace and Good Governance in Uganda with a particular focus on the role and place of religion within the University student communities, academic, religious leaders, civil society and the general public.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:
- Provide a platform aimed at reviving and restoring the historical place of Universities as centers for research, innovation and enduring solutions, focusing in particular on the religious dimensions to human rights and peace;
- Provide a platform around which Religious leaders, Academia and University communities in all their diversity can constructively engage with issues of governance in order to secure enhanced peace, good governance, and stability in Uganda;
- Support strategic partnerships and linkages with different civil society organizations and networks and State Actors and institutions, whose efforts are aimed at improving good governance in Uganda.
ACTIVITIES:
- Advanced seminars: Held at the Human Rights and Peace Centre during the academic semester, the aim of the Advanced Seminars is to foster serious intellectual discourse on the role of religion and faith in promoting human rights and peace in Uganda. These seminars are fully integrated into the post graduate programmes offered by the School of Law and open to other students offering advanced degrees and diplomas in related disciplines at Makerere University, as well as human rights actors and religious leaders beyond the university.
- Public Lectures at Public Universities: These thematic lectures are intended for Academia, students and the wider University community, and are convened in partnership with the different universities, including Gulu, Kyambogo, Uganda Christian University, Uganda Martyrs University, Islamic University in Uganda and Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
- Radio Talk Shows: RRPF is collaborates with some Media houses across the county to provide airspace at which the topical issues around religion, rights, peace and good governance are discussed, as well as providing a platform at which the wider public can share in the substance of the public lectures.
- Conference on Religion, Rights and Peace: The Fellowship in collaboration with the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) will convene a National Conference on Religion, Rights and Peace in October this year (2013).
- Publication of Monographs and other materials: The presentations made at Advanced Seminars, Public Lectures and the aforesaid Conference will be published as monographs which will be shared and distributed at other institutions of learning including Universities where the lectures may not be held as well as audiences beyond University communities.
- Reflection Retreats: Spearheaded by the Fellowship Steering Committee (FSC), these retreats will bring together lecturers and facilitators involved with the Fellowship, in order to ensure a shared vision for the activities.
TARGET AUDIENCE:
- Academia: Students, University teaching staff, researchers etc;
- Religious Leaders: Sheikhs, Bishops, Priests among other leaders of the various religious faiths;
- Civil Society: Human rights and other NGOs, the media etc;
- State officials: Policy makers, civil/public servants and mainstream politicians.