Will Besigye-M7 play Foot-ball for Peace?

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Tony Owana

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Written by Tony Owana Friday, 30 July 2010 08:36

Millions of Ugandans who support President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and millions of Ugandans who support Dr. Kizza Besigye will remain convinced that they are sworn enemies whose duty is to harm each other, unless their leaders demonstrate that this is not true.

Political soccer
That sad reality is not peculiar to Museveni and Besigye but has engulfed you and your own neighbour on a one-way course to disaster and the time to change course was…YESTERDAY! That is the gist of The Gospel According to Global Peace Festival Foundation, as delivered at a press conference GPFF held at 'The Zone Peace Gardens' in Bukoto this week.

GPFF revealed that it is organizing a soccer tournament that will involve all of Uganda's formally registered and recognised political parties. The landmark event is slated to kick off on 29th September 2010 at Mandela International Stadium Namboole.

'Violence costly'
Guided by their vision, 'One Family Under God', GPFF strives for a world without violence and exploitation, which they hope to promote by inculcating the values of the brotherhood of mankind. ~

And they do not speak of violence lightly. At least two of the GPFF have stared violence in the face, in its ugliest forms. Country Director Milton Kambula and Partnerships Director James Mukasa Mwagaziwaddembe have done tours of duty in Iraq, one of the world's most unpredictable flashpoints.

A statement read to the media by GPFF Public Relations chief, Andrew Irumba revealed that they had managed to contact about 20 of Uganda's 29 registered parties and that these included FDC, NRM and DP. "That we can bring them to play football may not seem a big deal to some but it is a powerful signal," Irumba emphasised.
27 July Coup

I was appointed to spread the GPFF gospel in the Central Region (Buganda) and I could not help pointing out the remarkable coincidence of the GPFF press conference and the fact that it was held on 27th July 2010.

In case you do not know, or had forgotten, the 27th of July marks the 25th anniversary of the overthrow of the Uganda People's Congress (UPC) government led by the late Dr. Apollo Milton Obote. On that day the government's own Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) rose against constituted authority. It was the second time the government army was removing UPC from power, the first time having been in January 1971, bringing Gen. Idi Amin to power for eight long, harrowing years.

I recalled that it would have been impossible for us to converge at the Peace Gardens in Bukoto 25 years ago on this day because chaos reigned supreme. Scores of civilians were gunned down in the city centre as looting became the order of the day. "That is a situation which GPFF is committed to burying forever," I emphasised.

Powerful message
Country Director Milton Kambula stressed the significance of the planned Political Soccer tournament, saying that it would send a very powerful message of solidarity among opposed politicians , especially the ordinary ones, who frequently go at each others' throats as the leaders themselves discuss the future over tea.

Mr. Kambula also revealed that they had traced the source of human conflict right to a person's upbringing, which is why they plan peace clubs at major and minor institutions of learning. "This will inculcate the Peace Ideal among the youth at the earliest stage," he said.

The GPFF members also emphasised that even if the top political leaders were not actually interested in peace, their supporters who would see them playing football would not carry on their mission of hatred and this would ultimately serve the interests of peace.

GPFF is a major international concern founded by Dr. Hyun Jin Moon, son of the late Rev. Moon and is based in the USA. Dr. Moon has dedicated his life to the service of mankind under the guiding light 'One Family Under God'.