ARUA CITY PARTNERS WITH SIHA-NETWORK AND RED-NET COMMEMORATE INTERNATIONAL PEACE DAY 2026

Arua City leaders, SIHA-Network and RED-NET officials with other stakeholders during a group photo moment after closing the event at Desert Breeze Hotel in Arua City ( photos by Onzoma Albert)

By Onzoma Albert

Arua City

The Arua City Council, in collaboration with the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) Network and RED-NET, commemorated the 2026 International Day of Peace on September 21.

This annual observance underscores grassroots peacebuilding and community safety, with this year’s theme “Together for a More Peaceful, Inclusive and Sustainable Future.”

The event emphasized understanding and promoting the principles of the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), among its key focus areas were the Local Action Plan (LAP) initiatives and recent achievements.

Rt Maj Betty Akello Otekat, the Resident City Commissioner of Arua, committed to maintaining peace within the city, vowing to address any actions that threaten stability.

“As the Resident City Commissioner of Arua City I want to make solemn commitment today that we shall protect this hard earned peace and protect our gains, my office will not tolerate anyone who attempts to disorganize or disrupt or destabilize the peace we already have, we shall defend it firmly by working together with our partners and all other partners in the city,” she said.

Group one participants during the group discussion session at the event.

Judith Drate, the Senior Community Development Officer, advocated for peaceful coexistence between the residents of West Nile and neighboring countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan, leveraging the strategic location of the region to foster harmony.

“Let’s look at each other as brothers and sisters having the same blood, big African origin so that we can be able to promote each other, when you feel someone is not doing the rightful thing have a peaceful approach to see how the problem can be solved in order to co-exist together” she said.

Jaka Joyce, a South Sudanese refugee, lauded Uganda’s efforts and the host communities’ hospitality, highlighting the peaceful co-existence between refugees and residents.

“The host communities in Arua City have really been good with us the urban refugees up to the extend us buying land here without any discrimination is an aspect of co-existence, we worship together with the host communities, we as well access the same social services with them it’s really the true meaning of peaceful co-existence between us the refugees and the host communities” she said.

Group two participants discussing issues affecting women during the event.

The event also aimed to celebrate women’s contributions as integral drivers of peace, progress, and national development. It examined the implementation of the LAP on Women, Peace, and Security, and discussed persistent barriers hindering women’s meaningful participation in peace processes, conflict prevention, and decision-making.

Furthermore, the program addressed challenges faced by women rights defenders, women leaders, and organizations advocating for peace, gender equality, and the protection of women and girls from violence. Practical strategies to enhance women’s safety, strengthen protection mechanisms, and improve institutional responses to threats were emphasized. Creating an enabling environment for women to participate safely and meaningfully in peace and security initiatives was a key focus.

The event attracted diverse stakeholders, including women market vendors, refugee-led organizations, refugees themselves, Uganda Police, Arua City leaders, FIDA Uganda, community-based organizations, media, religious, and cultural leaders, highlighting a collaborative approach to peacebuilding.

Written by newsroom-radiopacis