Prime Minister, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda has Wednesday morning officially opened the Global Peace Leadership Conference 2018 at the Munyonyo Speke Resort Hotel.
The three-day conference is running on the theme; ‘Moral and Innovative Leadership: New Models for Sustainable Peace and Development’ and is expected to build consensus on response towards pressing regional and international challenges.
It will attract the participation of Heads of State, First Ladies, Religious leaders, Cultural leaders, Entrepreneurs, Youth, Innovators, Women, Community organisers, Development partners, Teachers, Policy makers, Media, Environmentalists and Civil Society Organisations. All participants are from East Africa and Great Lakes Region.
While opening the conference, Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda said that the theme chosen is timely for the world today and complements the ongoing regional efforts for peace, security and development in Africa.
“It further echoes the urgent call for countries to build consensus towards pressing regional challenges guided by a shared vision, principles, aspirations, and innovative values-based approaches to peace building, security and development,” said Rugunda.
He told delegates that a harmonious agreement on new models for sustainable peace and development is key because it will guarantee a safe and prosperous future for citizens.
Rugunda said that the choice of Uganda to host the Conference is appropriate because working with neighbors, Uganda has been playing a role for peace and reconciliation in the region.
He further said that hosting the global peace leadership conference is an occasion for countries to take stock of and to celebrate achievements in overcoming conflict and its daunting challenges.
Rugunda said that the conference will also enable countries to devise ways of mobilizing the required resources to move forward in an integrated, collaborative and sustainable fashion.
“As you are aware, amidst great development potential, the Great Lakes region has for many decades been characterized by identity-based conflicts, violent extremism and refugee crises. I would like to thank the leaders in the region and international community for standing with us and supporting us in our quest to resolve these conflicts,” said noted.
He said that the delegates from different countries and areas of specialty will now jointly build consensus on response towards inter-related national, regional and international challenges towards peace and sustainable development.
He cautioned that the new models for sustainable peace and development should be a central element of the global aspirations, if the States are to achieve and attain development for the people.
“I have no doubt that at the end of the two days, you will have distilled best practices that will inform and shape the future,” Rugunda concluded.
