Tête-à-tête with Hurinet’s Muhammad Ndifuna

Headquarters of Hurinet

By Ali Balunywa

The Human Rights Network (Hurinet) is a national network bringing together 32 different organizations dealing with different human rights issues. The network brings in different national coalitions, each of which can have more than 200 members.

Mr. Muhammad Ndifuna is the national coordinator and I got to interview him to get some background information on the upcoming symposium, International Criminal Court Review conference and other events.

Mr Muhammad Ndifuna at work

Muhammad explained to me the workings of Hurinet. He assured me that there are many coalitions that are supported by Hurinet by way of carrying on wide ranging campaigns. Among many others he quoted the campaign for freedom of information (COFI), Police Accountability, Economic-Socio and cultural rights (to do so, Hurinet partners with organizations like UN Human Rights Commission, World Health organization, Makerere University and Human Rights and Peace Centre).

Programmes are executed by way of organizations initiating campaigns to share information and Hurinet comes up with the resources and other technical structures in support.

The link between the International Criminal Court (ICC) and Hurinet came into being through a coalition partner; Uganda Coalition for the International Criminal Court (UCICC) whose purpose is providing a platform for local civil society to discuss issues of the ICC and domestication of the Rome Statute in Uganda.

Hurinet is a member of the steering committee of the Global Civil Society Coalition that campaigns for an independent, effective and efficient International criminal Court headquartered in The Hague and New York.

The ICC was set up in Rome in 2002. It was agreed to review it after 7 years. Uganda applied and was granted the right to hold the review conference. It takes place between 31 May and 11 June 2010.

Hurinet together with the Danish Embassy in Uganda, the International commission for Jurists, No Peace Without Justice (OSIS) and the Uganda Coalition on the ICC organized an International Symposium on the stock taking process. It took place in Kampala on 27 and 28 May 2010 at Hotel Africana.

The International Symposium had 2 tracks; the first was the proposal for amendment track and second states to take a review of the Rome Statute since inception to reflect on:

1. The impact of the Rome Statute on victims

2. State cooperation with the ICC

3. Complimentarity and with local jurisdiction intervening where state is unable or unwilling.

4. Peace and justice

The second event after the symposium was held on Sunday 30 May 2010 at Namboole near Kampala. It involved the Uganda war victims, H.E. Ban Ki-Moon, the UN general secretary, HE President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, the president of the Assembly, NGOs and other individuals participating in a football match whose objective was to highlight the significance of justice and appreciate the need for fair play as well as creating awareness.

The third event to be organized is the People’s Space to take place at the Commonwealth resort Hotel Munyonyo from 31 May to 11 June 2010. A series of activities will be held and they will include: participation of the 32 organizations, raising issues on the question of the day, civil society to use the space to highlight critical issues, opportunity for civil society to interact with the States and a market place for highlighting the importance of the ICC.

The last event will take form of the state delegates visiting Teso sub region in Uganda to interact with the affected communities and stakeholders in order to optimize engagement to provide an opportunity for Uganda to showcase other states.

These side events by civil society are supposed to influence the main event; The Review Conference being organized by the ICC and hosted by Uganda.

Have n MBA...?

Just come to think of it ..................... A boat docked in a tiny Mexican fishing village. A tourist complimented the local fishermen on the quality of their fish and asked how long it took him to catch them. "Not very long." they answered in unison. "Why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?" The fishermen explained that their small catches were sufficient to meet their needs and those of their families. "But what do you do with the rest of your time?" "We sleep late, fish a little, play with our children, and take siestas with our wives. In the evenings, we go into the village to see our friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs. We have a full life." The tourist interrupted, "I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you! You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat." "And after that?" "With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City , Los Angeles , or even New York City ! [ From there you can direct your huge new enterprise." "How long would that take?" "Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years." replied the tourist. "And after that?" "Afterwards? Well my friend, that's when it gets really interesting, " answered the tourist, laughing. "When your business gets really big, you can start buying and selling stocks and make millions!" "Millions? Really? And after that?" asked the fishermen. "After that you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends." "With all due respect sir, but that's exactly what we are doing now. So what's the point wasting twenty-five years?" asked the Mexicans. And the moral of this story is: Know where you're going in life.... you may already be there

G.O.D

The Maker of all human beings (GOD) is recalling all units
manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in
the primary and central component of the heart.

This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code
named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect
in all subsequent units. This defect has been technically termed
"Sub-sequential Internal Non-Morality, " or more commonly known as
S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed.

Some of the symptoms include:

1. Loss of direction
2. Foul vocal emissions
3. Amnesia of origins
4. Lack of peace and joy
5. Selfish or violent behavior
6. Depression or confusion in the mental component
7. Fearfulness
8. Idolatry
9. Rebellion

The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect,
is providing factory-authorized repair and service free of charge to
correct this defect.

The Repair Technician, JESUS, has most generously offered to bear the
entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no
additional fee required.

The number to call for repair in all areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R
Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the
REPENTANCE procedure. Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair
Technician, Jesus, into the heart component.

No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, Jesus will replace it with:
1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self control

Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E. (Believers'
Instructions Before Leaving Earth) for further details on the use of
these fixes.

WARN

Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important
recall notice, and you may contact the Father any time by 'Knee mail'.

Because He Lives!

God Bless you abundantly

ING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction
voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and
problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being
permanently impounded. For free emergency service, call on Jesus.

DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action
will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be
permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that
facility. Thank you for your attention!

- GOD

The 10 worst U.N. Security Council resolutions ever - By Colum Lynch | Turtle Bay

The 10 worst U.N. Security Council resolutions ever - By Colum Lynch | Turtle Bay

George Carlin's Views on Ageing

Do you realise that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about ageing that you think in fractions.

'How old are you?' 'I'm four and a half!' You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key

You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.

'How old are you?' 'I'm gonna be 16!' You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life .... .. You become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony. YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!

But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?

You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away.. Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone.

But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!

So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60.

You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!

You get into your 80's and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30 ; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there Into the 90s, you start going backwards; 'I Was JUST 92.'

Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. 'I'm 100 and a half!'
May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!

HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay 'them'

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.'
And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love , whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9.. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next country; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER :
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,but by the moments that take our breath away.

Flickr

Flickr

The Battle to Stop Drink from Destroying Uganda

The Battle to Stop Drink from Destroying Uganda

Rachel Magoola : National Geographic World Music

Rachel Magoola : National Geographic World Music

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Why Boys certainly need Parenting!