Sunday, October 28, 2007

President Bush to Meet with Ugandan President Museveni

According to White House press released, President Bush will welcome President Yoweri Museveni of the Republic of Uganda to the White House on October 30, 2007. The President and President Museveni will discuss Uganda's leadership in Somalia, the Lord's Resistance Army, and President Museveni's development plan for northern Uganda, as well as their strong partnership to combat malaria and HIV/AIDS in Uganda.

According to the press reports, top on the agenda of the White House Bush-Museveni meeting will be the Northern Uganda Peace Process in Juba, the LRA and President Museveni’s plan for the development of Northern Uganda. This is the first time the Northern Uganda Crisis, the LRA and/or plans to develop Northern Uganda have been on the agenda of the White House.

As a matter of fact, the US, UK and Uganda Governments hold the master key to peace with justice in Northern Uganda, and genuine national reconciliation in Uganda. Thus, President Bush’s invitation to President Museveni is a unique window of opportunity that could finally usher peace with justice in Northern Uganda, provided the voices of the weak and vulnerable victims of Northern Uganda will be heard during the White House meeting. This could signal the beginning of genuine national reconciliation and healing in Uganda.


President Bush needs to deliver the message to President Museveni, that the U.S. fully supports these negotiations as the best way to end the war, and that U.S. expect the Ugandan government to demonstrate the patience and leadership needed to ensure their success.

Follow the links and read more:

Museveni: The African leader US loves to hate

Museveni, Bush discuss LRA war

LRA rebels to meet Museveni

The New Vision.

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Friday, October 26, 2007

Northern Uganda Children are remembered!!


Get involved support Northern Uganda Children!


Don't Miss Knoxville Jazz for Justice Concert!! Follow the link below and mark your calender and while you're at it do order a T-Shirt for yourself or your friends!!

Thanks to “Knoxville Jazz for Justice,” a music activism project initiated in 2006 to raise funds, awareness, and support by UT professor, Dr. Rosalind Hackett and concerned students, together with musicians in the local, national and international jazz community, some of those young people are overcoming their trauma and rebuilding their lives. All of the proceeds from KJfJ concerts benefit the Northern Ugandan Girls’ Education Network (NUGEN). And this East Tennessee connection is being felt in Northern Uganda, where some of the girls in the program call themselves “University of Tennessee girls.”

For more information, contact Dr. Rosalind Hackett, Coordinator, rhackett@utk.edu; Lindsay McClain, Public Relations Campus Coordinator, lmcclai4@utk.edu; or visit the Knoxville Jazz for Justice website at: www.knoxjazzforjustice.org. Other team member includes:


Joshua Russell
Music Coordinator
jrussellsound@hotmail.com

Erin Bernstein
Schools Coordinator
ebernste@utk.edu

Scott Livingston
Web Designer
Sliving2@utk.edu
Phone: 865-588-1562

The Knoxville Jazz for Justice Email is : KJfJ@utk.edu


Project Healing war-ravaged Northern Uganda through the power of music activism, follow the link below, you can also order your T-shirt from there!

http://www.knoxjazzforjustice.org/

Uganda's 20 Year Holocaust

Children of northern Uganda

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Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Uganda Conflict Watch

Follow the link and read on:
Sudan’s Bashir to host northern leaders, envoy reinforces support for Juba talks

Northern Ugandan religious, political and cultural leaders announced today that President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan has invited them to Khartoum to discuss the prospects of the Juba peace talks.

Monday, October 8, 2007

In Memory of Margaret Alerotek


Tragically on July 31, 2007, Margaret Aloyo Alerotek, passed away shortly after being taken to Gulu Municipal Hospital. Her death is being investigated by Uganda police for suspicion of murder by cyanide poisoning

Margaret, 27, served as a communications officer for World Vision in Uganda.

A former sponsored child from Gulu, Margaret worked for World Vision in Uganda since October 2004. Her story — along with her passionate pursuit of peace in northern Uganda — represents the best of World Vision's first fruits in its work in that region. In 1986, Margaret's parents were murdered by rebels from the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA); she and her siblings were adopted by a woman in their community.

Read more about Margaret by World Vision here....

The Passion of the Present: Margaret Alerotek: In Memory of ...

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Watch video about Northern Uganda

VIDEO

BBC Hardtalk with Tim Sebastian
The Way Forward for Uganda
Reagan Okumu, MP


BBC Hardtalk with Tim Sebastian
Why Uganda government failed to end northern conflict and prevent serious human rights abuses
Gilbert Bukenya, Uganda's Vice President


Saturday, October 6, 2007

Knoxville Jazz for Justice making a difference!

Lobbying policymakers, taking political action, building movement are some activities many, US colleges have done to raise awareness for Northern Uganda but Knoxville Jazz for Justice have gone one more step further, they have Lobbyed policymakers and they visited Northern Uganda to have first hand experience of the condition there and to show their commitment to the cause of Northern Uganda, Knoxville Jazz for Justice will hold a fundraiser discotheques on Saturday October 6th at the World Grotto in Market Square, at 9 p.m. featuring an Africa Dance Party, to help raise money for the Jazz for Justice Concert scheduled for Nov. 2.

According to the Daily Beacon online, the editorially independent student newspaper of the University of Tennessee,

McClain a sophomore in college scholars, said “the dance will feature a performance by the Kuumba Kan African Drum and Dance Group. Also, an African DJ will be playing music from across the continent.”

“People should expect lots of afrobeat and reggae,” McClain said. “It’s going to be an energetic environment.” The the Daily Beacon online said.

It’s not like a big rock concert where you raise a lot of money and then it’s over,” Prof. I.J. Hackett said. “People forget and move onto something else. We’re trying to build relationships, we’re trying to build linkages.

“Knoxville Jazz for Justice began early in 2006 with a concert to raise awareness on the war in Uganda. Now Justice’s goal is not to just raise money but to bring the community together with music,” said Prof I.J Rosalind Hackett, professor of religious studies.

Prof. I.J Hackett said, “She hoped the dance party would not only raise awareness but bring a different kind of attention to Africa, especially, northern Uganda.”

Music is one of Africa’s great contributions ...because of it rhythm, vibes and it’s very danceable. It’s very popular, so we hope that even if students think they don’t know what African music is about, they should come and try it because it’s a learning experience.

Unlike most humanitarian organizations, Hackett said, “Knoxville Jazz for Justice focuses on bringing people together. We really firmly believe that music is also a way of sharing interest,” and other cultures.

Erin Bernstein, a junior in college scholars, also said, “Knoxville Jazz for Justice is different than other humanitarian organizations.”

Yes, a lot of these organizations are doing good works, but the most neglected problem ... is trauma, she said. (Ugandans) are in need of emotional healing right now and not many big organizations can provide such services, and that is where the Knoxville Jazz for Justice Project comes in.

Bernstein saw the suffering first hand on a trip to Gulu, Uganda over the summer with Hackett and McClain. She said they were embraced by the people because they weren’t just passing through, they met the real people in need of emotional, spiritual and material supports. (Some photos by McClain)

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You can read more of this report in The Daily Beacon Online, the editorially independent student newspaper of the University of Tennessee Friday, October 05, 2007 issue by Yasmine Alotaibi -

http://dailybeacon.utk.edu/showarticle.php?articleid=52018