Renowned local entrepreneur  Capt. George Micheal Mukula has been awarded by the Always Be Tolerant Organization (ABETO) for his efforts towards peacebuilding in society.

Mukula a professional pilot who is also Vice Chairperson of National Resistance Movement (NRM) in the eastern region received the award on March 1 at Hotel Africana in Kampala.

 Several top government officials and entrepreneurs also received similar recognition

In his acceptance speech, Mukula emphasized the importance of peace in governance, urging ABETO to continue promoting it, especially through social media to educate the youth on the dangers of violence.

The NRM vice president eastern region Mike Mukula (left) displaying a plaque during the peace awards ceremony given by Always Be Tolerant Organisation (ABETO) at Hotel Africana in Kampala on March 1, 2024. Looking on are Prof Abidi Syeid and Stella Mystica Sabiiti advisor African Union on women peace and security. Photo by Francis Emorut

He therefore urged young people to prioritize peace, acknowledging Uganda's nationwide peace while cautioning against internal disagreements.

“The memories of bodies that came through River Kagera were the first records of the Rwanda genocide. There was one particular woman I remember; one whose body came with a baby on her back. It was her child. Both of them were long gone but that was when it hit us that the situation was very bad. Members, peace is very vital,” Mukula said.

He cautioned against the proliferation of intolerance and hate speech on social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), stressing the potential for such behavior to incite civil unrest and tribalism, particularly among inexperienced young people.

The chief executive officer of the Electricity Regulation Authority Eng Ziria Tibalwa Waako (left) displays a plaque during the peace awards ceremony given by Always Be Tolerant Organisation (ABETO) at Hotel Africana in Kampala on March 1, 2024. Looking on are Prof Abidi Syeid and Stella Mystica. Photo by Francis Emorut

“Young people be very careful with peace in this country. Uganda is now peaceful nationwide; we thank President Museveni for the efforts he has made. You may have a disagreement with your government but never have a disagreement with your people,” he added.

He appealed to the youth to be mindful of their language and behaviour online, highlighting the detrimental impact it could

have on society.

Mukula's peace and reconciliation award recognized his efforts not only in Rwanda but also in Burundi and other conflict-affected regions like Kenya and South Sudan.

Other ABETO award recipients  

 Silver Mugisha the Managing Director of National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), Mary Karooro Okurut, the Senior Presidential Advisor public relations, Ziria Tibalwa Waako the Chief Executive Officer Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA), Ambassador Adonia Ayebare, Uganda’s permanent representative at the United Nations in New York, Margaret Sekaggya the Chairperson Human Rights Network, Sam Mwandah the Executive Director Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), Tom Obong Okello the Executive Director of National Forestry Authority NFA), Julia Sebutinde the Vice president of the International Court of Justice ICJ), and Owek Nelson Kawalya, the former speaker of the Lukiiko of Buganda.

The managing director of NSSF Patrick Ayota (left) displays a plaque during the peace awards ceremony given by Always Be Tolerant Organisation (ABETO) at Hotel Africana in Kampala on March 1, 2024. Looking on are Prof Abidi Syeid and Stella Mystica Sabiiti advisor African Union on women peace and security. Photo by Francis Emorut

According to ABETO chairman , Moses Musana, the awardees are selected by the ABETO committee of persons who look at the performance of each individual in their respective areas of operation.

“The committee vets them to see how they have performed in their respective areas of operation, so we award them according to that. The committee solicits nominations by consultation, they do their research on an individual who is supposed to receive this award and based on that they recommend for nomination,” Musana explained.

ABETO is a volunteer-driven, non-governmental, non-partisan, and not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting peace, harmony, and conflict resolution through peaceful methods among the people of Uganda, Africa, and globally.