- For starters, Mr. Jaffar Remo is the son of Ugandan former President, Field Marshal Idi Amin Dada who ruled the East African State in the 1970s.
- Thirty years after the war that should have been resolved by peaceful means, the two sons of the protagonists saw it fitting to meet face-to-face for the first time.
- Jaffar has embarked on promoting a message of Peace, Truth and Reconciliation while implementing projects and programs through the Al-Amin Foundation.
On April 13, 2024, hundreds of religious, political, opinion and cultural leaders converged, danced to traditional and religious tunes and surrounded one another to initiate an accord and reconciliation at Nyangilia in Koboko District, West Nile in Uganda.
Distinct leaders from Northern Uganda instigated the peace process between West Nile, Lango and Acholi to rebuild the scars of conflict where acts of vengeance were meted out on citizens by soldiers during the reign of Idi Amin Dada, Dr Milton Appolo Obote and Gen Tito Okello Lutwa respectively.
During the reconciliation function, where religious leaders from diverse groups congregated, the occasion was commemorated with speeches, dances and ecclesiastical hymns from West Nile, Acholi, and Lango, and a lamb was offered as a symbol of peace.
There was a wealth of speeches from honoured citizens like the Chief Justice Of Uganda, His Lordship Alphonse Owiny Dollo, Retired Archbishop of Uganda Henry Luke Orombi, Chairperson of Moyo District Mr William Anyama, and Mr Jaffar Remo Idi Amin who is the son of Idi Amin among others.
During the two-day occasion, the families of Janan Luwum (Ambassador Olara Otunnu), Obote’s family (led by Hon. Jimmy Akena) also UPC President and Idi Amin’s family, led by Jaffar were in attendance.
In as much as it was the position of everybody in truth, peace and reconciliation, there was and has invariably been the outstanding role that Mr. Jaffar has influenced in the said process.
Who is Jaffar?
“The peacefulness of River Nile should be our example,” Jaffar notes.
For starters, Mr. Jaffar Remo is the son of former Ugandan President, the late Field Marshal Idi Amin who ruled the East African State in the 1970s.
He is an author of eminent pedigree and Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Al-Amin Foundation.
He provides leadership for the Foundation while strictly adhering to its vision and philosophy to be a socially responsible entity.
The Al-Amin Foundation was incorporated as a Non-Profit, Non-Partisan Entity on August 17, 2009.
One of its objectives among others is the promotion of truth, peace and reconciliation through myriad initiatives.
Mr. Jaffar has walked a long way in the arena of truth, peace and reconciliation.
“Looking back at my very short 57-year journey on God’s Earth, we inaugurated this journey of Peace and Reconciliation in 2005 when together with Akena Obote, Andrew Lawoko, Peter Otim Angole and a group of what I call the “Casava Republic at SteakOut”; we set to Akokoro in Lango to bury the Father of Our Nation in 2005.
Even with dissenting voices in the media before we discovered social media in 2008, we gathered like today, a staggering estimated 2 million strong in Akokoro Lango Region to say farewell to the Father of the Nation, Dr. Milton Obote.
Inspired, I participated in the Peace Week in 2007 in West Nile with an NGO called African Pact; Then I dared Africa a third time in 2009 when I set for Butiama Tanzania with a week coverage by BBC to pay my respects at the Mausoleum of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere,” Jaffar says of his journey.
He continues: “We then on a momentous day gathered for 4 days at the Lango Convocation in Lira in 2012.
“Today, 2024 seems to be the reciprocal gathering in Koboko in response to that very day. We have to bear in mind that His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni in 2012 did the impossible at Namboole when he gathered a multitude of Inter-Religious Groups of Eminent to seek forgiveness for past deeds of Heads of State of Uganda at Namboole,” Jaffar notes.
As the peace and reconciliation trends show the way for National Cohesion, he says that he must acknowledge the work done by Hon Komakech when he worked with the refugee law project on this endeavor.
“I dare him today, as a now bonafide politician to revive his 2009 National Reconciliation Bill that is gathering dust in the August House,” Jaffar said at Nyangillia, Koboko District on April 13, 2024.
The War by The Fathers
On Thursday, April 9, 2009, The Truth, Peace and Reconciliation Initiative was formally launched during a historic event between Jaffar and Madaraka Nyerere, in Nyerere’s hometown of Butiama, northwestern Tanzania.
The meeting and reconciliation ceremony was part of a programme offered and sponsored by the BBC World Service, spearheaded by Solomon Mugera, head of the BBC Swahili language service.
It occurred on the eve of the 30th anniversary of a war that erupted between Uganda under Idi Amin and Tanzania under Julius Nyerere in 1978 and led to the ouster of Idi Amin from power on April 11, 1979.
Thirty years after the war that should have been resolved by peaceful means, the two sons of the protagonists saw it fitting to meet face-to-face for the first time and participate in a long overdue reconciliation process.
When their fathers went to war and dragged other Ugandans and Tanzanians along, Jaffar and Madaraka were just youngsters.
However, like all Ugandans and Tanzanians, they felt and experienced the devastating effects of the unprecedented war between two neighbouring African countries for which their fathers were politically responsible for.
The historic meeting and reconciliation ceremony between Jaffar and Madaraka was to commemorate the 30th anniversary of a vicious war that would not have happened if the fathers subscribed to the message the two sons wished to convey to local and global communities.
Their message was: “Promoting peace in the world over war and advocating for the resolution of conflict through peaceful means and not violence”!
Local And Global Communities
The historic meeting and reconciliation ceremony was, also, to honour the memory of the victims of the war while emphasizing the efforts and a commitment by a younger generation of “First Sons and First Daughters” to correct mistakes made by their parents.
In addition, the meeting and Reconciliation Ceremony spoke to the responsibility of “First Sons and First Daughters” to seek Truth and Reconciliation for their nations of origin following years of conflict between opposing parties, as Jaffar Amin is advocating for and participating in the country’s National Reconciliation Committee.
Building on the historic meeting and Reconciliation Ceremony he had with Madaraka Nyerere on April 9, 2009, Jaffar has embarked on promoting a message of Peace, Truth and Reconciliation while implementing projects and programs through the Al-Amin Foundation.
Events are being planned in cities across Canada and the United States of America during which Jaffar Amin will engage audiences in conversations about his vision for Peace, Truth and Reconciliation in local and global communities.
“…peace is like our shared calm mighty River Nile that divided us as it flows northwards to distant lands. We must take note without disturbance,” argues Jaffar.
In the eyes of many, rooting for Truth and Reconciliation through the Al-Amin Foundation is the crowning gift of the former First Son to his country, and the world as well.
Through his position in leading the Al-Amin Foundation, appearing in interviews, and through literature using his books, he regards peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation, wisely and widely as a goodwill reconciler.
The Big 5 Key Issues
- Jaffar Remo Amin: Forgiveness, Justice and Reconciliation on a national scale.
“Imagine a world with no ethnic or sectarian fights, political wars, or inherited ethnic hatred. It sounds amazing, right?” He said during his speech on April 13, 2024 in Koboko District.
In the boulevards of media and on the ground, hundreds of thousands were dancing and singing. Indeed, in the whole country, there was a taste of jubilation.
The New Northern Uganda and West Nile had arrived.
This was after intense division, wounds of the history that were for long striking in the souls of the people of West Nile, Lango and Acholi.
The vexing questions of the past were lectured. Old adversaries from the three sub-regions found faith and trust in one another once again.
2. More than the face of reconciliation.
In many aspects, Jaffar has become the heart and soul of the process. He does not work alone. He is a worthy and erudite patriot, a seasoned author and a champion of goodwill. He has conveniently been around on media platforms, sharing his understanding of truth, forgiveness, and reconciliation, mapping the way towards nation-building.
In his interviews on both national and international media, he has elaborated on forgiveness and reconciliation, on truth and confession.
3. Defining Reconciliation.
What is the true meaning of ‘reconciliation’?
“It is such moments of truth, a reality check that only mothers can remind brave men determined to fight to the last man standing, that bring peace and reconciliation rather than boots on the ground determined to pacify a reluctant cluster of men determined not to be part of this Nation we call Uganda.
“Yet, achieving peace is not easy we must appreciate it. It is like building a tall tower. In conclusion, peace is not just a dream. It is something we can build, brick by brick. We can all contribute to peace through forgiving, respecting and being kind. Remember, every small act of peace adds to the big tower of global harmony.
Let’s work together to build this tower and make our world a peaceful place to live,” Jaffar says as he explains what reconciliation truly is.
Mr. Jaffar has over the times, formulated doctrines that are organized to foster reconciliation and a true sense of society in the nation.
These encompasses the peculiarities of good citizenship, common good in brotherhood; [and] the declaration of an international credible establishment which is in keeping with the prominent beliefs of truth, peace and reconciliation as our integrity.
4. Truth will set you free.
Mr. Jaffar acknowledges reconciliation and truth go hand in hand.
The pilgrimage for truth is not ever lenient, but it goes beyond assembling realities and reflecting upon discoveries, far beyond documenting chronological phenomena.
Truth-finding involves tolerance, acknowledging responsibility and recognizing obligation.
Everyone should hear the truth, be met face-to-face with the often heartbreaking and harrowing testimonies, and debate the monstrosities of history, in the expectation that the truth would free them.
5. Reconciliation, confession and forgiveness.
Mr. Jaffar has often demonstrated that reconciliation compels perpetrators to gratify both parties: a heartfelt, candid admission from the perpetrator, as well as the readiness of the victim to forgive.
Mr. Jaffar emphasises every time that a fundamental and permanent reconciliation can only be earned if and when perpetrators and perpetrator societies demonstrate their readiness to honestly recognise their remorse towards God and their fellow human beings, to admit guilt, and to humbly plead for forgiveness.
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Reconciliation is prominent to that wisdom which moves millions of souls, indivisible from the feat of a united civilization which prizes the vibrant assortment of our people.
And so, it is my delight to document our admiration of Mr. Jaffar Remo Amin, for the service he contributes to Uganda and the world at large and for the pursuing work of truth, peace and reconciliation.
His allegiance to a hard and agonising undertaking has encouraged us through a notable spotlight in our pilgrimage towards a good society.
Dear Kili,
I have just become aware of your writings and wish to congratulate you on your socially responsive human rights perspective writing. I publish the http://www.theplatform.co.ke digital publication and I am seeking permission to republish some of your articles.
Dear Kili…i am so much grateful for your insights on the works of Mr. Jaffar Amin. I would therefore like to inquire if the Al Amin foundation is open to researchers and documentary writing which is a great tool for reconciliation…thanks once again and kind regards!