Civil society groups in Uganda elect new leaders, urge Kiir-Machar to form Unity Government in February
NoSSCOU members pose for a picture after the election (Photo: Ter Manyang Gatwech.
December 28th, 2019 (SSNN)—The Network of South Sudan Civil Society Organizations in Uganda (NoSSCOU) has elect new leaders at the 6th Annual General Assembly Meeting held on December 27th , 2019 in the Ugandan Capital, Kampala and urged President Salva Mayardit and Opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar to form a Unity Government in February without further delay.
Speaking to the media after the election process, the outgoing Coordinator of NoSSCOU, Ter Manyang Gatwech who is also the National Coordinator of Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA) pointed out that leadership is not about the position or title but rather it’s all about examples that one demonstrates.
“Good leaders are role models, I have set an example for young people during my leadership, so it is now their turn to follow the steps and work for peace as I’ve been doing since joining the network on January 3, 2018,” said Ter Manyang Gatwech, National Coordinator of Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA).
“I respect you and the constitution and therefore, civil society leaders should be exemplary to the political leaders who do not respect the will of the people in the county, Ter added.
The newly elected Coordinator Kuol Arou Kuol of NoSSCOU and Executive Director of Shabab Peace and Environment Action Group (“SPEAK”) says: “I’m here to lift NoSSCOU at the peak where Mr. Ter Manyang has stopped during his leadership. “I will respect you and I will protect your rights and I will work for the interest of Network of South Sudan Civil Society Organizations in Uganda as its leader.”
Kuol urged Kiir and Machar to implement the peace agreement and form a unity government without further delay, citing that ordinary citizens have borne the brunt of the conflict and that there’s an urgent need to listen to their concerns and give them hope for the future.
Mr. Arou who met Dr. Machar in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 1st December with the rest of NoSSCOU members called on South Sudan leaders to implementation peace deal.
Abanya Ajwok Mary Valentino, a representative of Makerere University South Sudanese Students’ Association and incoming Deputy Coordinator of NoSSCOU, says: “we are here to work and we are here to promote the gender equality. Organization without women is nowhere to move”.
Alikanya Aligo Samson, who is executive director of Concerned South Sudanese and Chairman of electoral committee during yesterday’s elections, noted: if elections were to be conducted in such a transparent manner on the African continent, I believe that change could have come and real democracy prevailed.
Professor Melha Rout Biel, who is an observer, says: “I congratulate you the incoming leadership and outgoing leadership for peaceful transition. I really thank you young people. Young people have the future and one person can change the world. You should work together as a team. In our country, South Sudan, we are not the first people to fight each other. Conflicts are normal in societies. You see what happened in Rwanda in 1994 Genocide. Let’s learn from the past history and let’s forgive each other now! Team work is important in any organization to succeed. We are now in peace implementation and let’s speak in language of peace.”
Here are the newly elected leaders of NoSCOU 2020
1. Kuool Arou Kuol– Coordinator (Director of Shabab Peace and Environment Action Group (“SPEAK” )
2. Abanya Ajwok Mary Valentino– Deputy Coordinator (Makerere University South Sudanese Students’ Association)
3. John Jal Dak- Secretary-General (Youth Social Advocacy Team)
4. Monica Kiir Michael Secretary for Finance (South Sudan Women Building Association in Uganda in Kiranyondong)
5. James Wek Bol– Secretary for Information & Publicity(The Organization for Children’s Harmony)
6. Flora Kiko Emmanuel– Secretary General (Diversity Centre)
7. Stephan Wanduo Bimo – Secretary for Finance (I can South Sudan)
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