It is never easy to say bye! Especially to a person that has grown so dear to you. This was the challenge that both Mr. Hakan Ulus the Outgoing Chairman of the Nile Dialogue Platform and ‘dialoguers’ faced as they both bid farewell to each other at a luncheon hosted at the Peace Centre.

“I am happy. Thank you for this. I am leaving in body but not in spirit” said Mr. Hakan. He also thanked everyone for the good team effort and involvement between staff and students at the Peace Centre and the Nile Dialogue Platform. He urged the team to continue the dialogue on peace and to extend the same enthusiasm to the incoming chairman.

Speaking at the luncheon, Dr. Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala the Coordinator of the Peace Centre thanked Mr.Hakan for supporting the Peace Centre in a number of key activities. She also welcomed Mr. Iskandar Demirkan the incoming Chairman of the Nile Dialogue Platform and pledged to continue working with him.

Hajji Katende Abdul-Fattah a lecturer in the Department of Religion and Peace Studies expressed gratitude at the cordial working ties that Mr. Hakan had extended to the Peace Centre and welcomed Mr. Iskandar Demirkan the new Chairman of the Nile Dialogue Platform. He also urged that the collaboration between the Peace Centre and the Nile Dialogue Platform should continue since it has been of benefit to students and staff the Peace Centre.

On behalf of the dialoguers, Dr. James Ocita, a lecturer and Research Associate at the Makerere University Institute of Social Research (MISR) and also Chairman of the Nile Dialogue Readers’ Platform at Makerere University expressed gratitude towards the close working engagements that Mr. Hakan had anchored. He pledged to work towards the magazine and book publication targets as had been planned.

The incoming chairman of the Nile Dialogue Platform, Mr. Iskandar Demirkan expressed optimism towards the task awaiting him. “I have some experience working in Africa. I have been in DR Congo and look forward to keeping the dialogue on peace alive” said Mr. Iskandar.

Mr. Hakan Ulus has been Chairman of the Nile Dialogue Platform for a period of over 5 years and has left to join the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.