REFRESHER SKILLING OF FOOT PEACE AMBASSADORS KICKS OFF

PO Making introductory remarks

As Good Hope Foundation continues with actions of preventing and managing conflicts and Human Rights Violations in Kasese and Rwenzori region at large, community grass root people need new tactics and knowledge of doing the work.

We identified and trained ten (10) CBOs coordinators at Rwenzori International Hotel in Kasese District from Munkunyu,Katwe Kabatoro town council, Karusandara,Lake Katwe and Kitswamba as Trainers of Trainees as well as Foot Peace Ambassadors who have a responsibility of training their fellow CBOs members in conflict analysis, prevention and management and human rights.

RWECO-CU Coordinator, Mr.Jimmy Odyek giving key remarks during training

On 11^th and 12^th April 2017, these TOTs were refreshed together with media persons from Kasese Guide radio and Messiah FM radio. The training was facilitated by Good Hope staff members, RWECO-CU and Hon.Loice Bwambale former Kasese District Woman Member of Parliament and current Chairperson of Rwenzori Women Peace Forum.

Hon. Loice Bwambale making presentation on Human Rights

Several issues were raised during the training and among others included;

·        Negative stereotypes in speeches among Kasese residents have contributed to triggering conflicts in the Rwenzori region. It was discovered that some proverbs and statements spread hatred that have led to protracted conflicts. Hon. Loice Bwambale for example said that statements like “Mwasananyinya” literally meaning,
he/she came with her mother would force family members to grow knowing that a certain child was not their biological relative,  “Kandi Baanabo” literally meaning again they are the ones. All such words mobilize people against others resulting into a conflict in the long-run.

·        Economic imbalance among communities has acted as fertile grounds for conflicts in Rwenzori and Kasese District in Particular. The poor for example feel marginalized and in case of any incitement by self seekers like politicians, they easily raise up to participate in conflicts. The poor also have nothing to lose and this becomes easy for them to even engage in violent conflicts.

·        Land issue in Kasese has not been addressed well by the Government and since land is a major factor of production, people have got no option than conflicting over access and usage of land.

·        The current Kasese conflicts are not tribal as outsiders think, but more of economical and political.

·        Kasese communities are willing to co-exist but there seems not to be a political will for people to keep at Peace reason best known by Politicians.

·        The Foot Peace ambassadors have engaged themselves in mitigating Domestic violence conflicts, promoting negotiation as a measure of managing conflicts at local levels and reporting conflicts to relevant local authorities before they could turn into violent.

TOT Making presentation after group work on Conflict Mapping and analysis

At the end of the training, Participants agreed to embark on the following key actions all aimed at promoting Peaceful co-existence in communities;

·        TOTs/FPAs to mobilize others and instantly report Conflicts and HRs violations in their communities by SMS on; +256779709096 or +256705674200 which reports will be plotted on www.hrcp.or.ug

·        Training their CBO members on Human Rights, Conflict prevention and Management.

·        Conducting community dialogues on especially conflict negotiations

 Organizing massive community sensitizations on Peaceful co-existence.

Isaac Sinamakosa Presenting on use of ICT to report Conflicts and Human Rights Violations.

Empowering parents to become equal partners in the education and support of their children at school.

Good Hope Foundation is working with the Parents teachers association and school management committee members from the schools it’s working with from the two sub counties of Kisinga and Karusandara in creating safe learning environment at the schools to prevent violence against children and adolescents in schools. On 16^th and 17^th March 2017 good hope organized a brief meeting with the school committee members of Kiburara and karusandara SDA primary school to discuss key issues undermining safe learning within the school that needs parents’ attention as well planning for the general parents meetings. Among the key issues identified during the planning meetings included; water problem and midday meals at Kiburara primary school, pit latrine, urinal places and midday meals at Karusandara SDA primary school.

0n 23^rd and 24^th March 2017 respectively good hope supported the management to organize general parents meetings with the main objective of enhancing parents participation in the school planning processes for purposes of creating child friendly environment in schools as well as empowering parents to become equal partners in the education and care of their children through sensitization and engagements. 253 (85M and 168F) parents attended the general parents meeting including the Inspector of schools Busongora south, Community development officer Karusandara Sub County as well as the political leaders.  The community development officer while communicating to the parents he informed the parents on the roles and responsibilities both parents and government in ensuring good learning environment for the children at school and he called upon both parties to fulfill their roles and responsibilities.

The inspector of schools in her communication, she educated the parents about the value of education, she could not also leave without talking about the midday lunch for the pupils were she advised the parents to work with the teachers and begin providing midday meals for the pupils for purposes of improving academic performance of the school as well as keeping children in school. She also talked about the issue of parents not providing scholastic items for their children and she called upon parents to always ensure that their children have all scholastic items when coming to school. She also talked about positive parenting were she called upon parents to give as much time as possible to their children in order for them to be in position to identify their needs and other risky behaviors, on the same issue of positive parenting and she discouraged parents from beating as a way of disciplining children rather to ably communicate to their children whenever they do mistakes. She advised parents to also pay attention to the girls as they face several challenges as they under biological challenges which increase their risk to be violated. She lastly talked about the increased domestic violence in the households that also influences children’s behaviors and practices at school, community and at home.

Accordingly among the key issues presented and discussed by the parents were; midday meals and water problem at kiburara primary school. It was mentioned that during the previous parents meeting it was resolved by the parents that all children should be taking lunch at school however it was reported that only few parents were able to give in their lunch contribution which has limited the implementation of the initiative at school.

Children whose parents contribute towards lunch are enjoying as the others look on

On the water problem the head teacher reported that he has tried to reach out to several offices for help but nothing has been achieved. He said this has become a serious problem to the school as it is affecting the health and sanitation of children and that some children are missing classes as they go to collect water which is collected 5 kilometers away from school. He added that without solving this water problem even the midday meal program for the children will not be effective. He then called upon parents to work upon these two issues as soon as possible. 

          Children participating in water collection for the preparation of their school lunch

At Karusandara SDA primary school, the discussion primarily focused on hygiene and sanitation were the management and parents cited the problem of the school not having latrines and urinal places both for the teachers and children. Currently the school has one latrine and it is in poor state anytime it is sinking and its used by the whole school. The school has no urinal places; children and teachers use the neighboring bushes as urinals.

As actions

Parents from kiburara primary school resolved on buying a 1000 litre water tank for rain water harvesting. They divided the money among the children and each parent will contribute 2500 shillings per child. They gave themselves one month to have paid all the money. On that very day some parents contributed theirs, Good Hope also supported the parents towards the purchasing of school water tank with cash of 400,000 shillings. The money that was collected that very day was handed to the management to go and deposit it on the tank.

On the midday meals, parents of kiburara resolved on contributing 10kgs of maize flour, 3kgs of beans and 5000 shillings per child. They emphasized on parents who have children in p.6 and p.7 to pay as a must.

 For Karusandara SDA primary school on the issue of midday lunch, children resolved that the school should allocate a piece of land among the school acres and be used as school gardens to plant food crops for the children.

On the issue of urinal places, parents resolved that teachers should ensure that temporally structures be put in place as urinals.

On the issue of pit latrine, parents resolved that by Wednesday 29/March 2017 the work of constructing a latrine should have started at school. They developed a budget and each parent is to contribute 10,000 per child, while others committed themselves to give in kind labor on Wednesday and Thursday during its construction. On this Good Hope Foundation also gave in inkind support worth one million (1,000,000) towards the construction of a pit latrine.

The inspector of school assured the parents that if this latrine is not constructed as soon as possible, she is going to close the school.

Honourable Councillor addressing parents during the PTA meeting at Karusandara SDA P/school

Community members come up with local solutions on preventing violence against children and adolescents

Good Hope foundation neighborhood assembly model which is a local parliament/platform through which community members identify their community challenges, discuss and reach community based solutions to the challenges in consultation with their leaders in enhancing Positive parenting practices at family and community levels to prevent violence against children and adolescents in their communities and households.  Good hope foundation organized visits to the sub counties of Kisinga and Karusandara to gather information on violence against children and adolescents and among the information gathered included; the magnitude of violence against children and adolescents in the respective Sub counties, forms of violence in the households and communities as well as barriers to positive parenting. According to the CDOs and CFPUs there has been an increase in reporting cases of VAC were from January to February in Kisinga they have received 31 cases (15 males victims and 16 female victims) while for Karusandara they received 22 cases (14 female victims and 8 male victims). All these were attributed to poor parenting practices in the families and communities. Key issues that need attention include the following; domestic violence, household poverty, alcoholism and drug abuse, parental and children’s roles and responsibilities.

On 10^th and 12^th March 2017, Good Hope organized two (2) neighborhood assemblies in Kisinga and Karusandara sub counties as a platform for community members to discuss community challenges in regard to violence against children and coming up with local solutions to the challenges. For Kisinga it was held at Kisinga trading center while for Karusandara it was at Kivengenyi trading center. Over 450 people attended these neighborhood assemblies (213m and 237f). Among those who attended included; the CBO members, police (CFPU), CDOs, vice chairperson LC3, community children activists as well as the local leaders. The neighborhood assembly was intended to increase awareness and understanding about issues related to good parenting habits and parental responsibilities as well as creating a platform for the community members to come up with community based solutions on enhancing positive parenting in families and communities.

Key issues brought by the community members that increases violence against children included;

• Modernization that has brought about change in children’s behaviors
• Members also talked about the lack of attention to the girls needs by the parents that has increased violence against girls
• Poverty among the households that is leading to most of families not to provide the basic needs to the children
• Members also said parents lack skills and knowledge on good parenting

As part of actions from the neighborhood assemblies, members suggested the following;

•   There is need to embrace neighborhood watch in order to prevent violence against children and adolescents
• There is need to educate parents on good parenting practices
• The culture of family meetings should be emphasized in which children and parents jointly discuss and plan for the family needs.
• Encouraging households to engage in animal and bird keeping as a way of increasing household incomes.
• Effective communication between parents and children was also highly sighted as a way of promoting positive parenting both at school, community and school levels
• Community members were also called upon to be role models to the children 
  

  

  Communities in Karusandara Sub County deliberating on good parenting skills to prevent violence against children

  

  Communities in Karusandara Sub County deliberating on how violence against children can be prevented

KASESE CURRENT POLITICAL LEADERS, NOT AT THE SAME THINKING WITH CENTRAL GOVERNMENT ABOUT CONFLICTS IN RWENZORI

RWECO Members meeting DEC

Good Hope Foundation for Rural Development through RWECO has this morning of Monday December 19^th 2016 represented other CSOs to meet the Kasese District Executive members to discuss Peace in Kasese and Rwenzori at large.

The Meeting was convened in LCV Chairperson’s office with a purpose of planning for a combined effort towards contributing to Peace in Kasese and Rwenzori region at large. And was attended by; Eight Participants that included the District Local Council Five Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary for Social Services, Secretary for Works, and Secretary for Production, and ED GHFRD, Coordinator RWECO and P.O GHFRD.

RWECO Coordinator Mr.Jimmy Odyek B briefed participants about the Community action to prevent and manage conflicts project that is being funded by EU through HIVOS to ensure peaceful co-existence in Rwenzori region. He narrated how RWECO has been engaging stakeholders through Good Hope Foundation in Kasese, KALI in Kamwenge, RICNET in Bundibugyo and RIDE AFRICA in Ntoroko for Peace.

Deliberating on Kasese Conflicts. Secretary for Production and Secretary for Works before LCV Chairperson

Mr. Sibendire Bigogo Geofrey, the Kasese District Chairperson made the following key remarks about Kasese conflicts;

·         Some CSOs in the region are being used to promote conflicts instead of promoting Peace. He said , he lost trust in some CSOs he is well aware of and asked RWECO to try by all means and make sure they do not join the camp of those CSOs the District has already identified.

·         Those with Power (Central Government) do not recognize the need for Peace in Kasese District, the reason best known by them.

·         The way Government is handling Rwenzori issues is complicating everything. Use of force to tackle what would be simple conflicts that necessitated dialogue is not a solution at all but escalating the conflict.

·         Central Government seems not to be respecting the District leadership and not recognizing the major role they must play in ensuring a peaceful Kasese.

Supplementing the Chairperson’s remarks, the Vice Chairperson Hon.Elly Magwara Masesreka stated that Central Government has failed to handle the exact issues that could be leading to conflicts in the region, and that he is personally not happy with the way Central government is reacting to Rwenzori issues.

According to the Vice Chairperson, Some People who felt insecure due to alleged hunt down of those loyal to Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu(OBR) by Central Government sought refuge at the OBR Palace as the only institution they could trust for their security. “ As District, we do not know what the Central Government is up to in Kasese District” said by Vice Chairperson.

Generally, Participants raised the following key issues concerning conflicts in Kasese and Rwenzori at large;

·         Most CSOs are not boldly coming up to talk the truth about Kasese Conflicts, attributed to Government intimidation and some conflict merchants also planted in CSOs.

·         Interests by Government in Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC) likely contributing to escalating conflicts in Kasese and Rwenzori as a way of creating fear among the communities which are near DRC

·         Poor analysis of Rwenzori conflicts is derailing stakeholders back and therefore creating a sense of complexity in solving the conflicts. “A domestic related conflict for example is very fast linked to a tribal conflict, any killing in a community is very fast linked to royal guards of OBR and every one seems to believe in such rumors than getting the truth before acting” highlighted by one of the participants.

·         Miss conception of blood relationship between Bayiira/Bakonzo in Rwenzori region (Uganda) with those in Eastern Democratic republic of Congo is being used by Conflicts merchants to spread rumors that have acted as fertile grounds for conflicts in Rwenzori.

Vice Chairperson at the extreme front during the Meeting

After all the above discussions, we agreed on the following action points towards Peace in Kasese District;

• As community actions continue, CSOs should engage Central Government and boldly talk the truth about Rwenzori and Kasese Conflicts.
• CSos like RWECO also ought to conduct consultation with some key open minded historical leaders of Kasese about the Conflicts for guidance and more clear facts.
• CSOs need to feel sympathetic with Conflicts survivors in Kasese and Rwenzori at large, and once in a while have a sharing with them for psycho-social healing.
• CSOs through RWECO ought to organize another big meeting with District and sub county leaders for all owned action points towards sustainable peace in Kasese and Rwenzori at large.

                                                                                           

RWENZORI CSOs DISCUSS KASESE CONFLICTS

In response to the 26^th and 27^th November 2016 Kasese attacks when government forces attacked Obusinga bwa Rwenzururu Prime Minister’s office and King’s Palace respectively, where royal guards, civilians and Police lost lives( allegedly 62-according to Police reports), Civil society organizations operating in Rwenzori converged in Kasese Municipality on 6^th/12/2016 at the Municipal council hall to meet the Kasese District resident commissioner(RDC) to discuss urgent mechanisms of restoring sustainable peace in Kasese and Rwenzori at large.

Jimmy Odyek of RWECO,Moderating the Meeting

Participants totaling to twenty one (21; 2 females and 19 Males) attended and participated in the Meeting. The meeting majorly targeted executive Directors of the Rwenzori based Civil society organizations operating in Kasese District, Managers of the four FM radio stations in Kasese District, heads of the Peace desks for Catholics, Anglican, Moslems and Pentecostal Churches in Kasese and Resident District Commissioner.

Among other organizations that attended were Rwenzori consortium for Civic Competence as the host with its members that include; Good Hope Foundation for Rural Development(GHFRD), KALI, RIDE-AFRICA and RIC-NET, and other organizations including among others; KADDNET,ACODEV,FURA,NAYODE, Rwenzori anti-Corruption coalition(RAC), Pentecostals Pastor and media houses that were represented by UBC-NGEYA FM, and RDC and his deputy.

CSOs Members in a meeting at Kasese Municipal Council Hall

During the meeting, key pertinent issues were raised by participants as being causes/ or triggers of Conflicts in Rwenzori and Kasese in particular, referring to the recent attacks, and the following were noted as triggers/causes;

·         Alleged growing number of royal guards’ camps in Kasese District and one in Kabarole District

·         Miss trust among the different development stakeholders in Kasese, including local people, Police, Royal guards, UPDF and other government institutions. There has been a growing lack of trust of each other in as far as conflicts in the region are concerned.

·         Miss information about Rwenzori and Kasese issues to the Central government by majorly politicians and some elders. A case in point is Yiira State secessionist roomer, and framing domestic conflicts as tribal and therefore engineered by Kingdom

·         Actions of OBR whereby it continued to recruit big numbers of royal guards.

·         Un clear demarcation of kingdoms’ boundaries in Rwenzori region

·         Covering the truth about Rwenzori issues by some self seekers/opportunists

·         Political conflicts have resulted into killings of innocent people

·         Reluctancy of government to handle problems of rwenzori as they occur. Small issues have piled up, resulting into conflicts like land issues, failure to fulfill promises etc

·         Un clear reports about the previous attacks like in 2014 and March 2016 whereby government arrested the alleged leaders of the attacks but never let them to face justice. This raised suspicion among the populace about who could be engineering killings in the region; Government or some one else?

·         Internal fighting within OBR allegedly planned and promoted by external forces with in Government

·         High level Poverty among community members who are easily manipulated and therefore easily engaged in escalating conflicts

·          Hostility of government against royal guards who naturally find a way of protecting themselves too

·         Lack of consistency with in OBR Leadership whereby every leader who comes in office does not refer to his/her predecessor’s records

·         Not being selective in recruiting royal guards. Some of them are ex-soldiers and therefore used to the aggressiveness of soldiers.

·         Two strong centers of power in the District especially the RDC and LCV Chairpersons offices almost working as parallel offices and yet they all target the same local community members

The Kasese Resident District Commissioner, Major James Mwesige made the following response and remarks about Kasese Conflicts;

·         With in the kingdom, there are three different divergent thinkings. These fail to agree and create an environment for a conflict among the Kingdom subjects

·         The OBR having a whole security force threatens government and therefore calling for government action

·         Failure by his Majesty to listen to President Call whereby the president asked the Kingdom to disband the royal guards department and government promised to provide two(2) royal guards per sub county for the kingdom and put them on salary scale, but his majesty never complied

·         The excessive force by UPDF when attacking the Palace on 27^th/11/2016 was because the enemy was in a fenced location, and therefore the government had no way out

·         Government is committed to building Peace in Kasese and Rwenzori region at large.

The Meeting zeroed on the following action points as the next step towards peace building and sustainability in Kasese District;

• CSOs to separately meet OBR Cabinet and Veterans team
• CSOs to organize another specific dialogue with Kasese inter-religious council
• CSOs to organize another meeting with Kasese District executive committee
• CSOs to organize an interface meeting with Kasese District members of Parliament
• Organizing continuous dialogues between government and OBR
• Lobby for a psycho-social program for Kasese District because most people have been psychologically traumatized by the attacks and deaths of many people.