Uganda National Focal Point 2004-2008

The inclusiveness of civil society in the national processes

The role of civil society in support of the implementation of a National Action Plan might be a mystery to some international and national actors but it is vital in many of the African processes for arms control and disarmament. The partnership amongst those most affected (civil society) and those responsible for resolution and control (government) was cemented in Africa during the creation of the Bamako Declaration as well as the Nairobi Declaration and its ensuing Co-ordinated Agenda for Action.

The Bamako Declaration allocates a very specific role to civil society in support of all aspects of the Declaration. In fact, the Declaration was created in a very special manner: not only was it intensely work-shopped by practitioners and implementing agencies from the bottom up but it had the benefit of inclusiveness of civil society in all its consultations.

The Nairobi Declaration followed suit in this approach and this transparency, and the fact that the Co-ordinated Agenda for Action and its Implementation Plan was created by practitioners, implementing agencies and civil society acting in conjunction, gives it its force. In our region we have experienced the creation of the political will and the setting up of instruments to act against the scourge of small arms and light weapons. We have also experienced the successful creation of the first ever National Plan of Action – jointly created and implemented by government and civil society – in Uganda.