On 23 November 2024, the High Commissioner of the Republic of Uganda, HE Dr Betty Oyella Bigombe, delivered a peace lecture entitled “Promoting Dialogue for Conflict Prevention and Resolution” at the SGM Culture Centre.
As a distinguished diplomat with a long career dedicated to conflict prevention and resolution, HE Dr Bigombe urged the youth to become advocates for peace, saying, “Peace has to be yours because you’ve just started your life. You want to have families, you want to pursue your profession, you want to do good to the world and therefore, you must stand up and speak for peace.”
Acknowledging that even peaceful nations are not immune to the consequences of war, HE Dr Bigombe urged everyone to pay close attention to global conflicts. She emphasised that peace begins with individuals who take action and speak out, advocating preventive diplomacy as a tool to foster peace.
HE Dr Bigombe also stressed that dialogue is a key instrument in conflict prevention and resolution, highlighting that addressing the root causes of disputes through discussions and negotiations is essential for creating lasting peace.
Attendees shared positive feedback about the lecture. Gan Ee Zen from Negeri Sembilan remarked that the lecture taught him about the responsibility young people have towards the future, noting that even small actions can have a significant impact. Kavetta Kalaiventhan from Penang reflected on the role of a global citizen and expressed her determination to study President Ikeda’s Peace Proposals more deeply.
The lecture was attended by over 700 participants on-site and viewed online by more than 200 people. Among the attendees were International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation, International Islamic University Malaysia dean Prof Datuk Dr Abdelaziz Berghout, as well as Honorary Prof Dato’ Dr Ahmad Hidayat Buang, Prof Dr. Raihanah Abdullah and Associate Prof. Dr Durriyah Sharifah Binti Haji Hasan Adli from University of Malaya. Also in attendance was CEO of Malaysian Institute of Art Dr Lok Lay Keng and CEO of Sejahtera Leadership Initiative Dr Zulkifly Baharom.
HE Dr Bigombe, who had met President Ikeda in Tokyo in March 1975, previously expressed heartfelt gratitude for his unwavering dedication to fostering peace during a special tribute event held on 2 December 2023 at the SGM Culture Centre.
