There were times I felt I was going to die, but the idea of giving up was never in my mind. I was ready to risk my life for peace," says Betty Bigombe, former Minister of State for Northern Uganda, reflecting on her journey to restore peace and end the civil war in Uganda.

Achieving peace requires understanding and engagement at the community level, where conflict's impact is felt most deeply.

Insider mediation is a transformative approach where trusted and respected community members become agents for peace. These individuals possess the cultural fluency, local knowledge, and credibility needed to navigate sensitive issues and foster reconciliation from within. As the United Nations Secretary-General emphasized in his New Agenda for Peace, prevention must be a political priority to stop fragility from leading to violence and conflict. By empowering local actors to contribute to peace, resist divisive narratives and build social cohesion, communities become better equipped to resist violence and conflict.

"Peace is not a project; it's a commitment to humanity. It requires empathy, trust, and the courage to sit with those we fear" -- Betty Bigombe

As a Minister of State responsible for the pacification of Northern Uganda, Betty Bigombe was a lead mediator during the conflict with the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in Uganda. Despite facing life-threatening challenges such as ambushes and landmines, Betty's determination to end the suffering of the Ugandan people gave her the strength to persevere. Her courage and commitment to peace impressed both the LRA and the Ugandan government.

Her perseverance and ability to connect on a personal level with those involved in the conflict helped lay the groundwork for dialogue and reconciliation.

"It was about building trust, one conversation at a time. You have to show that you're not just there to talk, but to listen and understand."