Alice Lakwena, the self-proclaimed prophetess whose rebellion against the government of Uganda spawned the Lord's Resistance Army, died in a refugee camp in Kenya on Wednesday, the BBC reported . Lakwena was reported to have mystical powers and asserted that her fighters could not be killed by bullets. After Lakwena left the scene, her cousin, Joseph Kony, picked up the bloody mantle and for twenty years has continued the insane killings, kidnappings and raids that have characterized the war in northern Uganda.

It is distressing that one woman can cause such mayhem. However, in these days when the international press is reporting her death, AFJN wishes to point out the role that women have played in the past and are playing today in restoring peace to northern Uganda.

Betty Bigombe, former member of the Ugandan Parliament, worked for years, oftentimes alone, to act as mediator between the government and the Lord's Resistance Army. She continues to travel the world and to speak out, encouraging all who are working for a speedy resolution of the conflict. Bigombe played a major role in last October's Northern Uganda Lobby Days in Washington, DC, sponsored by AFJN.

She is not alone. This week several of her compatriots have been in Washington, DC, meeting with women from several war-affected regons of the world. Seven Ugandan women, six of them members or former members of the Ugandan Parliament and another who is a District Councilor, participated in a colloquium of The Initiative for Inclusive Security. The goal is to increase the number of women involved in peace negotiations and mediation efforts. On Wednesday afternoon they met with NGOs at the Woodrow Wilson Center. (To watch a video of the event click here )

Currently, they pointed out, the delegation of the government of Uganda to the Juba Peace Talks has no female member. This is surprising given the fact that 30% of the Uganda Parliament is nade up of women, a fact of which they were very proud. This is also in contrast to the delegation from the Lord's Resistance Army which, in spite of its smaller pool of qualified women from which to choose, includes one woman.

Betty Amongi-Ongom, one of the participants in the colloquium, is the current head of the Observer Team at the Juba Peace Talks. She explained their role as being, in part, mediators between the government and the Lord's Resistance Army.

The seven women leaders will be returning to Uganda with a list of recommendations that encourage a larger representation of women in the negotiating teams, in the confidence-building teams and in the reconstruction efforts that will ensue.

Despite the terrible legacy of war and atrocities left by Alice Lakwena, the women of Uganda, like their sisters in many past and present war-torn areas bearing the brunt of the suffering, are working for peace and insisting on being included amongst those who officially make peace. Would their gender make a difference in the negotiations? They certainly are convinced of it. AFJN wishes them the best as they return to Uganda to do their part in undoing the harm unleashed by Alice Lakwena.

-Phil Reed