“GREED AND POVERTY, KILLING KASESE"

Deputy RDC, Mr. Aminadab Muhindo making comments during a District Meeting

On 20^th October 2017, District leaders including Deputy RDC Mr. Aminadab Muhindo, Kasese CDO, OBR Spokesperson Hon. Clarence Mumbahya, HIVOS M&E Officer Daisy, JBM Consultants, RWECO CU Coordinator, LCIII Chairpersons, Religious leaders represented by IRC Chairperson and Secretary; Rev Ezra Mukonzo  Yongeza and Rev.  Fr. Expedito, Foot Peace Ambassadors (FPAs) from Munkunyu, Katwe Kabatoro town Council, Kitswamba, Karusandara and Lake Katwe Sub Counties, and Media  all totaling to Thirty six (36; 15 Females and 21 Males) converged at Verina Hotel in Kasese Municipality to discuss the state of Conflicts and human rights in Kasese District. This was organized by Good Hope Foundation for Rural Development.

RWECO-CU Coordinator, Mr. Jimmy Odyek, during project review presentation

The Meeting revealed facts about Kasese Conflicts and the following were highlighted as common Conflicts in the District;

·        Land conflict between the cultivators and the pastoralists whereby Cultivators critic the method of land allocation. Pastoralists were given more land than the cultivators during settlement but they still grab the cultivators’ land to graze their animals which destroy the cultivators’ crops,

·        Cultural conflict between Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu (OBR) and Obudingiya Bwa Bwamba(OBB)which is believed to be caused by Politicians who are using these  cultural institutions to front their political interests for selfish benefits,      

·        Civil-Military conflict where the military is alleged to have attacked the Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu cultural institution for political purposes,

·        Human life versus wildlife conflict especially frontline communities of the National Parks feel they are not considered and given protection against the wild animals that destroy their crops and yet they don’t realize what they benefit from the national park,

·        Population pressure on land attributed to polygamy and absence of good family planning practices where a man after producing so many children and the land is not enough to produce for their needs leaves everything to God for intervention. In another perspective also refugees were settled on the land of the indigenous people who claim ownership of it,

·        The driving force for conflict in Kasese District is said to be politics for those interested in achieving their selfish motives,

      

The Inter religious committee Secretary Rev. Fr. Expedito, the Chairperson, Rev Ezra Mukonzo and OBR SpokesPerson Rt. Hon. Bwambale Clarence during the Meeting

The Kasese District CDO representative Mr. Bweruka Wilson also commented on domestic issues as seriously causing a lot of conflicts in the communities, “Even if you struggle to control or end other conflicts without giving priority to Domestic violence, then you are missing a point”  this opened up a discussion on the causes of Domestic violence as below;

·        The men have run away from their responsibilities leaving  women as the sole bread winners of the families,

·        Laziness and poor body hygiene by especially women,

·        Mis-interpretation of policies (rights of women and children),

·        Poor communication among couples,

·        People no longer respect family values and morals,

·        Traditional beliefs that for instance women cannot own valuable assets like land, women are supposed to be submissive under whatever circumstances,

·        Poverty in homes especially when man fails to provide for his family then the wife starts despising him since she can go to a saving group for a soft loan to cater for her own needs, women also may opt to have extra-marital relationships with the men they feel  have the potential to cater for their needs,

·        Miss use of information technology especially Women elites who are ever on whatsapp and face book and  having  no time to look after their spouses ,all work is left to maids including cooking for the husband  hence making the husband develop an attachment to the maid which again causes conflict,

·        Women involved in business return home very late and have no time to do their house hold chores,

·        Also the traditional belief that a woman is supposed to be fed ,dressed and catered for in all aspects i.e. dependent on man causes domestic violence because when the man fails to provide for her ,then conflict erupts,

 

JBM Consultant, presenting Mid-term review findings.

The discussions that brought to light more changes being witnessed as a result of implementing the community action to prevent and Manage Conflicts and Human Rights Violations in Rwenzori region and specifically Kasese suggested the following action points for sustainable Peaceful Co-existence and human rights promotion;

·        More youth should be reached through  institutions such as schools and churches,

·        Youth existing enterprises should be boosted instead of supporting those with no tested  experience for youth economic development,

·        The youth should be sensitized on the youth livelihood fund  and equipped with Practical business skills,

·        Local leaders ought to be engaged in making follow ups on the youth in sub counties,

·        Government has to revise the formula of supporting livelihood programs. Support ought to be given to individuals instead of supporting groups because projects owned in groups are causing conflicts and delayed impact,

·        Sensitization of parents on parenting skills is key for sustainable Peace and Human rights observance as well as instilling good values and morals in their children. “A stable Nation is only possible with stable families”,

·        Project Mid- term review report should be shared with stakeholders for ownership.

Deputy RDC, Mr. Aminadab Muhindo giving closing remarks.

In his closing remarks, the Kasese deputy RDC Mr. Aminadab Muhindo echoed members’ comments and highlighted that Kasese Conflicts are being escalated by lack of truth telling among community members whereby People just act on wrong information.

He also added that greed, poverty, miss-interpretation of rights by local people are escalating Conflicts in Kasese District. “In Katwe Kabatoro town Council for example, Salt Lake is popularly known here, for salt mining, but farmers have started cultivating around it causing silting. This is causing another conflict and as leaders, we must protect the lake” said by Deputy RDC about greed.

YOUTHS, LOCAL LEADERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ADVISED TO BE SENSITIVE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS ISSUES

Reducing the incidence of child abuse and neglect can be addressed through the promotion of positive parenting and effective child management practices that would enhance the well-being and self-esteem of parents and children. This is possible through massive sensitization and engagement of community members, youths, households, opinion leaders, elders in the community as well as local leaders in constructive discussions on prevention of violence against children and adolescents. This is being achieved through working with both youth and women groups from the two sub counties of operation as change agents towards ending violence against children and adolescents as they organize massive sensitization events and engaging in initiatives that are geared towards prevention of violence against children and adolescents.

According to the reports obtained from the CDO’s and CFPU’s department on the extend of violence against children and adolescents in the respective sub counties of operation during our visit, it was reported that 16 cases of violence against children were reported in Kisinga sub county while in Karusandara were 21 for the months of May and June and the most reported cases were child neglect, child labor, domestic violence, and assault. Key issues around these figures that needs to be addressed according to the CDO and CFPU included; household poverty, domestic violence, building careers of the adolescents and youths, understanding children’s rights and the adolescents/youth responsibilities towards the prevention of violence against children and adolescents, parent child communication, as well as anger management, law levels of education among the youths which influence the youth’s behaviors and practices towards the prevention of violence against children and adolescents.

In regard to the above issues, on 31^st August and 01^st September 2017 Good Hope Foundation facilitated one youth CBO and one women group in two sub counties of operation to organize two sensitization meetings in the two sub counties.  

Rural Youth Initiative (RYID) a youth CBO operating in Kisinga was facilitated to organize a youth dialogue on education, career guidance and prevention of violence against children and adolescents at Kiburara primary school where over 60 (23 f and 37m) youths attended and among other people who attended included; Hamasi Assumani the chief administration officer (CAO) Kamwenge district who was the chief guest, Sibenda Godfrey the project director Rwensororo CDC from the children’s ministry, Issac Bwalhuma from Uganda Christian Lawyers fraternity, Masereka Zekayo from Kagando school of nursing, as well as councilors and other local leaders. The dialogue was mainly on empowering the youths with knowledge and skills on prevention of violence against children and adolescents and how they can excel in their lives regardless of several challenges they pass through at school, households and in the communities. It was to increase the youth’s sensitivity on issues of violence against children and adolescents since it’s the main cause to law attainment of education among the youth and children. Key topics handled included; career guidance, the concept of violence against children and adolescents and roles and responsibilities of the youths and adolescents towards prevention of violence against children and adolescents.

 Youth being trained on the concept of preventing violence against children and adolescent

While Kanamba women group a CBO located in Karusandara Sub County organized music dance and drama at Kabaka trading center karusandara Sub County which was intended to sensitize the community members on prevention of violence against children and adolescents. Over 134 (72f and 62m) people attended the event. Among other people who attended included; the district women councilor, parish councilors, religious leaders, assistant CDO as well as other local leaders. The group sensitized the community on how children are violated, the effects of violence against children and what the community, households, religious leaders, teachers, children, and local leaders are supposed to do in order to end violence against children and adolescents in the homes, communities and at school.

Suggestions

·     Families and community members should be sensitized on the use of family planning practices to reduce family burden

·         The youth and adolescents were called upon to have respect to themselves, to their parents, elders and to their young sisters and brothers in order for them not to be violated and not to cause violation to the youth ones.

·         The youths were also called upon to work closely with their parents in bringing about development in their homes.

·         They were also advised to be God fearing youths and adolescents as this will protect them from engaging in acts that increase violence against them and against the young ones.   

·         Creating opportunities for parents to talk with other parents

·         Efforts should be directed towards building peace and love in the families

·         Involving bodaboda riders in the prevention of violence

·         Religious leaders, teachers, paralegals  and the elders to be involved in mobilizing community members towards preventing violence against children and adolescents especially instilling good parenting skills as well as popularizing the bi-laws of the sub county.

RYID  members pose for  a  photo after  ameeting with the CAO Kamwenge,arole model and a son of the area

 

Adolescents pose for a photo with the CAO after a sharing meeting on how to do with career development

GOOD HOPE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE ROOFING OF CLASS ROOM BLOCK AND CONSTRUCTION OF A WASH ROOM

On 4^th and 5^th August 2017 good hope organized two (2) school management meetings at Kenyange primary school and Kisinga Vocation secondary school which aimed at share and discuss key issues that contribute to violence against children and adolescents in the respective schools and then to come up with initiatives that can address the identified issues to reduce children’s vulnerability to violence in the respective schools. The meetings involved members of parents-teachers association (PTA) and the school management committee members (SMC) of the sub county leadership from the two sub counties of Kisinga and Karusandara who included the CDOs, councilors, chiefs, and the secretary for production. 30 (10f and 20m) members attended the meeting.

Among the key issues identified and discussed during the meeting included; the lack of learning space for the pupils at Kenyange Muslim where the class room block was taken off by the strong winds that hit the sub county in 2016 and up to now the school has been un able to roof again the block. Currently pupils use the tapeline that was provided by save the children as the class room. This has made the learning environment for children unfavorable especially during the hot and rain season thereby affecting the learning capacity of children. 

Aclass room block at Kenyange muslim that was blown off by strong wind

 Members at Kenyange Muslim also raised another issue on limited engagement of children in co-curriculum activities such as sports, MDD which was attributed to the abscess of playground at the school, sports items such as balls, MDD kits such as drums to mention. This has always violated the children’s right to play and also increasing the chances of children not to stay and complete school.

Members also commended on the decreasing school enrolment which members attributed to un seriousness among the teachers, religion where the school has been treated to be only for the Muslims, and then the weak management.

At Kisinga vocation secondary school, members showed concern on the increasing behavior of alcoholism among the adolescents, students escaping in video halls at the trading center which increases the risk for them to be subjected to violence in and outside the school

Additionally member mentioned the issue of lack of suggestion box for the children which limits the platform for students to share with the administration what they pass through and their grievances for addressing by the administration.

The management also highlighted the need for the washing room for the girls at school mainly for the nonresident students where they said girls have been seen being chased from the hostels when they try to go and work on themselves during their menstruations and this has made some girls to always miss classes whenever they are on their menstruation

Key suggestions from the meetings

The management of Kenyange Muslim and the sub county leadership of Karusandara suggested that there is need to put up a playground for the children and strengthen the co-curriculum activities at school as a way motivating children to love the school, stay and complete school. It’s away also of managing psychological torture among the children.

The management also suggested organizing visits in churches to popularize the school among other religious faiths in order to mobilize for more children to join the school

The sub county leadership and the management also suggested that there is a need for an urgent work on the classroom block for the children. On this they suggested to approach the area member of parliament and the sub county for assistance.

Members Kisinga Vocation secondary school suggested that in order to address the issue of students engaging themselves in alcoholism and video halls, there is to procure a school video screen for the students to be used by the students during a specified day and time. This will help in occupying the student’s time thereby reducing the chances of them from engaging in risky behaviors and being violated. However they added that it should be used to watch educative items.

Members also suggested that there is a need to put up a suggestion box for the students to share their challenges and grievances the administration for quick response.

Key resolution

The supported PTA/SMC school initiatives included;

The management at Kenyange Muslim primary school agreed that the class room block should be roofed as soon as possible where members said by the end of the holiday it should have been roofed. Good Hope Foundation supported this management initiative both financially and in-kind

At Kisinga Vocation secondary school the PTA/SMC agreed that they will be procuring video set for the students. Good Hope Foundation also contributed financially towards this initiative.

Good Hope foundation staff with  Kenyange Muslim management committee after the management meeting to identify the school initiative

Good Hope Foundation Staff and  Kisinga Voc  Sec SMC& PTA in a meeting geared towards preventing Violence Against Children in Schools