Terry Waite: Negotiator, humanitarian, author
Terry Waite is not just Terry Waite. He is more than that. He is a hostage negotiator, humanitarian and author.
Terry Waite is not just Terry Waite. He is more than that. He is a hostage negotiator, humanitarian and author.
This celebrated lecturer, writer, and broadcaster, who has appeared in North and South America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and throughout Europe, is in Uganda until Monday, July 30, to oversee various Uganda Society for Disabled Children (USDC) projects round the country.
This morning, Waite will address a New Vision/USDC selected audience over breakfast in the Rwenzori Ballroom at the Sheraton Hotel.
As the special envoy of the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Waite, became a household name when on behalf of the Archbishop, he successfully negotiated the release of several hostages in Iran: Jean Waddell (who was secretary to the Iranian Anglican Bishop Hassan Dehqani-Tafti), John Coleman and Coleman’s wife.
His success in hostage negotiations did not end there. In 1984, he negotiated with Libyan president Col. Muamar Gaddafi for the release of British hostages held in Libya and again was successful.
But is was in 1985 that the cookie crumbled as he became involved in hostage negotiations in Lebanon. Crisscrossing the globe, he assisted in successful negotiations that secured the release of Lawrence Jenco and David Jacobsen. However, his use of an American helicopter to travel secretly between Cyprus and Lebanon and his appearance with Oliver North meant that he was compromised when the Irangate scandal broke. Against advice, Waite felt a need to demonstrate his continuing trust and integrity and his commitment to the remaining hostages. Arriving in Beirut in early January 1987 with the intention of negotiating with the Islamic Jihad, who were holding the men, he agreed to meet with the captors of the hostages as he was promised safe conduct to visit the hostages, who he was told were ill. The group broke trust and instead took him hostage in February and was to remain in captivity for 1,763 days, the first four years of which were spent in total solitary confinement. He was eventually released in November 1991.
Following his release, he quit the church and has been in constant demand as a lecturer, writer and broadcaster.
There has been a particular interest in the lectures he has delivered relating his experiences to the pressures faced by business executives, as stress, loneliness and negotiating under acute pressure are, but some of the issues with which he has a unique experience. His ability to communicate clearly and with good humour has meant that he is in constant demand as a speaker, not only to the business community, but also to professionals in religious groups, social work, education and medicine.
Waite, who flew into the country on Sunday, is not new to Uganda. He has been the patron of USDC since its inception in 1985.
USDC was founded in United Kingdom to help the millions of disabled children in Uganda that Waite and his friends had seen during their stay here in the 1970s. At that time, the people in the local communities had a very negative attitude towards children with disabilities and they were totally neglected and hidden away from society.
Several children who had been disabled during the 1970-1980s wars were also discriminated against and had no access to health services due to the general break down of health and social services because of the political instability at the time.
Waite had lived and worked in Uganda in the 1970s and had been a witness to this discrimination against children. He has since devoted his time to humanitarian efforts around the world and is a key advocate for disadvantaged children and is dedicated to the pursuit of social justice.
On Thursday in conjunction with USDC and the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, there will be a public dialogue with Waite at the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative Gardens, Human Rights House, Plot 1853 Lulume Road, Nsambya, Kampala starting at 2.00pm.
The theme of the Dialogue is: “Promoting Rights of Vulnerable Groups in Conflict Affected Areasâ€. During the dialogue, Waite will share his experiences in a motivational speech to enlighten on the rights of vulnerable groups in conflict affected areas with a special focus on children. He will also share his opinion on the situation in northern Uganda and other human rights issues in the country.
Early career
In 1963, Waite was appointed education adviser to the Anglican Bishop of Bristol, Oliver Tomkins, and assisted with Tomkins’ implementation of the Stewardship and Laity Training programme in the diocese. During this time, he married Helen Frances Watters and moved to Uganda in 1969, where he worked as provincial training adviser to Erica Sabiti, the first African Anglican Archbishop of Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. In that capacity, he travelled extensively throughout East Africa.
Together with his wife and their four children, he witnessed the Idi Amin coup and both he and his wife narrowly escaped death on several occasions. From his office in Kampala, he founded the Southern Sudan Project and was responsible for developing programmes of aid and development for this war-torn region.
He moved to Rome in 1972 as an international consultant to the Medical Mission Sisters, a Roman Catholic order that was seeking to adapt to the leadership reforms of Vatican II. From this base, he travelled extensively throughout Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe, conducting and advising on programmes concerned with institutional change and development, inter-cultural relations, group and inter-group dynamics and a broad range of development issues connected with both health and education.
Compiled by Timothy Bukumunhe
This celebrated lecturer, writer, and broadcaster, who has appeared in North and South America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and throughout Europe, is in Uganda until Monday, July 30, to oversee various Uganda Society for Disabled Children (USDC) projects round the country.
This morning, Waite will address a New Vision/USDC selected audience over breakfast in the Rwenzori Ballroom at the Sheraton Hotel.
As the special envoy of the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Waite, became a household name when on behalf of the Archbishop, he successfully negotiated the release of several hostages in Iran: Jean Waddell (who was secretary to the Iranian Anglican Bishop Hassan Dehqani-Tafti), John Coleman and Coleman’s wife.
His success in hostage negotiations did not end there. In 1984, he negotiated with Libyan president Col. Muamar Gaddafi for the release of British hostages held in Libya and again was successful.
But is was in 1985 that the cookie crumbled as he became involved in hostage negotiations in Lebanon. Crisscrossing the globe, he assisted in successful negotiations that secured the release of Lawrence Jenco and David Jacobsen. However, his use of an American helicopter to travel secretly between Cyprus and Lebanon and his appearance with Oliver North meant that he was compromised when the Irangate scandal broke. Against advice, Waite felt a need to demonstrate his continuing trust and integrity and his commitment to the remaining hostages. Arriving in Beirut in early January 1987 with the intention of negotiating with the Islamic Jihad, who were holding the men, he agreed to meet with the captors of the hostages as he was promised safe conduct to visit the hostages, who he was told were ill. The group broke trust and instead took him hostage in February and was to remain in captivity for 1,763 days, the first four years of which were spent in total solitary confinement. He was eventually released in November 1991.
Following his release, he quit the church and has been in constant demand as a lecturer, writer and broadcaster.
There has been a particular interest in the lectures he has delivered relating his experiences to the pressures faced by business executives, as stress, loneliness and negotiating under acute pressure are, but some of the issues with which he has a unique experience. His ability to communicate clearly and with good humour has meant that he is in constant demand as a speaker, not only to the business community, but also to professionals in religious groups, social work, education and medicine.
Waite, who flew into the country on Sunday, is not new to Uganda. He has been the patron of USDC since its inception in 1985.
USDC was founded in United Kingdom to help the millions of disabled children in Uganda that Waite and his friends had seen during their stay here in the 1970s. At that time, the people in the local communities had a very negative attitude towards children with disabilities and they were totally neglected and hidden away from society.
Several children who had been disabled during the 1970-1980s wars were also discriminated against and had no access to health services due to the general break down of health and social services because of the political instability at the time.
Waite had lived and worked in Uganda in the 1970s and had been a witness to this discrimination against children. He has since devoted his time to humanitarian efforts around the world and is a key advocate for disadvantaged children and is dedicated to the pursuit of social justice.
On Thursday in conjunction with USDC and the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, there will be a public dialogue with Waite at the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative Gardens, Human Rights House, Plot 1853 Lulume Road, Nsambya, Kampala starting at 2.00pm.
The theme of the Dialogue is: “Promoting Rights of Vulnerable Groups in Conflict Affected Areasâ€. During the dialogue, Waite will share his experiences in a motivational speech to enlighten on the rights of vulnerable groups in conflict affected areas with a special focus on children. He will also share his opinion on the situation in northern Uganda and other human rights issues in the country.
Early career
In 1963, Waite was appointed education adviser to the Anglican Bishop of Bristol, Oliver Tomkins, and assisted with Tomkins’ implementation of the Stewardship and Laity Training programme in the diocese. During this time, he married Helen Frances Watters and moved to Uganda in 1969, where he worked as provincial training adviser to Erica Sabiti, the first African Anglican Archbishop of Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. In that capacity, he travelled extensively throughout East Africa.
Together with his wife and their four children, he witnessed the Idi Amin coup and both he and his wife narrowly escaped death on several occasions. From his office in Kampala, he founded the Southern Sudan Project and was responsible for developing programmes of aid and development for this war-torn region.
He moved to Rome in 1972 as an international consultant to the Medical Mission Sisters, a Roman Catholic order that was seeking to adapt to the leadership reforms of Vatican II. From this base, he travelled extensively throughout Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe, conducting and advising on programmes concerned with institutional change and development, inter-cultural relations, group and inter-group dynamics and a broad range of development issues connected with both health and education.
Compiled by Timothy Bukumunhe