The seminar which opened at 9.00 am, was chaired by Mr. Godber Tumushabe, who welcomed everyone to what he hoped would be a fruitful exchange of ideas. He requested all those present to introduce themselves. He informed the invited participants that the research seminar was organized by HURIPEC where two papers on cutting edge issues, that needed to be sharpened to a higher level, would be presented. He called upon the Director of HURIPEC to make opening remarks.
The Director said that HURIPEC was making an attempt to break out of the Ivory Tower and to go public everywhere; to engage with policy-makers, the media, activists, and other stake-holders to promote human rights. He used the example of public health to demonstrate the necessity of engaging the public in debates that would be helpful in combating environmental degradation in harmful practices like the rampant reclamation of swamps and allocation of forests to investors. By the same token, human rights require this type of engagement.