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| Detective Kantono makes a presentation to the UEC employees |
Detective Senior Superintendent of Police in Uganda, Lydia Kantono, also the HEAD CT- Intel, has called on all the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC) employees to use their positions to promote dialogue among peoples of different religions and culture to prevent radicalization and violent extremism.
Speaking as a lead facilitator at a workshop on terrorism and security held on July 27 at the UEC premises, Kantono highlighted the vital importance of dialogue with religious institutions in understanding, preventing and resolving violent extremism.
“Terrorist carry out terror attacks on innocent civilians regardless of their political, social, religious or tribal affiliations,” she said adding. “They (terrorist) execute their cowardly and heinous acts through a number of forms and limited to the following: bombings, assassinations, kidnapping, hostage taking, armed attacks, maiming, arson poisoning and cyber terrorism.”
The one-day event, which was organized by the UEC Inter-religious Dialogue and Ecumenism Department, was held under the theme, ‘Globalization, religio-cultural pluralism and the threat of Global Terrorism: Inter-religious dialogue as an Approach to sustainable Peace.’
Rev. Fr Vincent Karatunga, the Executive Secretary of the UEC Inter-religious Dialogue and Ecumenism Department, said that the purpose of the workshop was to induct the UEC staff on the threat and dangers posed by global terrorism and illustrate to them how religion has been hijacked and abused to promote hatred as well as division.
“While carrying out their ministry, the UEC staff should use the opportunity to promote dialogue among peoples of different religions and culture while at the same time, sensitize communities of the impending danger of global terrorism. Religion shapes the consciences of people and therefore, it should be used to promote peace, love and respect between and among peoples,” Fr. Vincent stated.
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| UEC employees listen attentively to detective Kantono |
She also emphasized the importance of a coordinated, international use of dialogue as a strategy for peace building.
As a process of the on-going formation and community sensitization, the department will go on organizing similar workshops.
By Jacinta W. Odongo, Media Officer, Uganda Episcopal Conference