More conflict affected girls in Rwamwnaja refugee camp supported with startup kits.

RIC-NET) with funding from the Global fund for children(GFC) is implementing a project "Advancing the dignity of vulnerable Conflict affected Girls" for three years now in the districts of Kasese ,Bundibugyo and Kamwenge (Rwamwanja refugee Camp) .
The project targets both conflict affected girls in school and most vulnerable refugee girls  by supporting them with livelihood (vocational) training,psycho-social and reproductive health knowledge, sanitary  and scholastic materials and start up Kits. The project support  babies of the  refugee young mothers with funds to care for thier nutrition demands and care takers as the mother embark on training.

On 31^st May 2017, 12 girls who had been undergoing training for six months in hairdressing, tailoring and computer skills were handed over their start up kits. The girls were supported with sewing machines and  accessories for tailoring; salon equipment and a computer set. The aim of the startup kits is to enable the girls start up their own businesses so that they can be able to change their lives for the better.

Girls for hairdressing receive their kits to start their own businesses

The handover of the kits was witnessed by the settlement commandant Mr. Mugenyi David and the sub county chief of Nkoma Mr. Ndagiriye Karemera Alfred who in his remarks thanked RIC-NET for the great work of impacting on other peoples’ lives and urged the girls to work hard so as to change their lives for the better and also change the lives of those around them.

The tailoring girls receive their kits in the presence of sub county chief Nkoma sub county (L)

WALKING TO BE A PEACE AMBASADOR

Mugisa out ToT explains the concepts of Human rights to the participants

"I lost my brother during the conflict in Malomba village in the greater Kasitu ...today I will preach peace in my family and the neighbourhood."Juliet(aka) narrated her story after the training on conflict management and human rights protection that was conducted by MUSA a local CBO supported by RIC-NET. " 

female youth from MUSA

The training brought together 65 youth leaders from both Bakonzo, Bamba and Babwisi together who are members Malomba United Students Association and UNCIDA. The trained covered on causes of conflicts, actor and their roles, human rights protections in a conflicting environment and the role of the youth to ensure a free conflict society and co-exist and members of the same community.

The youth observed that most of them have been put in a state of believing that certain tribe/individual is/are enemies of each other either as result of beliefs in cultural institutions or individual persons in authority. “We have been kept in darkness for long time that we can’t even understand the difference between the cultural identity and cultural institution."

youth already empowered to walk for peace.

During the analysis the members observed the following; Bundibugyo does not belong to individuals but all of us, individual action should not inflict on the rights of others for example right to citizenship, rights to own property, right to life and right to participate in democratically organized elections. 

The participants agreed to always engage their leaders in dialogue such that the former are not misled into certain acts just to satisfy their leaders Egos. They also resolved to encourage other youths to fight poverty since this the prime cause of involvement in crime and drug abuse. the youths decided on a collective voice to defend their rights as youth in and out of school.

WE ARE NOLONGER THE SAME.

women leaders from Yesu Atubaliye after the training ready

YESU ATUBALIYE is a women group in Ntotoro Sub County of Bundibugyo district. It has a membership of 13 small women groups cutting across the sub county. A total of 34 women leaders of the small groups were trained on human rights protection and promotion.  

 The purpose of the training was to empower more women with skills to address human rights challenges in the communities/sub counties where they come from. To understand the meaning of rights and duties and able to differentiate between duties and roles. And equip them with tools as a yard stick towards community sensitization of women on rights protection in the conflicting environment.

Ms Susan Muhindo stressed that, "We are no longer the same after this training. Some of these issues have been hidden from us for a long time and it is now that we understand them, for example rights as highlighted in the constitution on inheritance of property, marriage, women empowerment and minority groups."

united for co-existence.

According to the participants, who were mainly women engaged mainly in farming and smaller business, they  highlighted the issues of gender role as key in family. They mentioned that the knowledge obtained will be equally  shared with other members of their small groups including sharing in the churches. “We have been empowered to engage those in authority on our rights as women.”
At the end of the training the members composed a SONG that calls for  a talk about human rights and peaceful co-existence.

REVISIT OUR HISTORY.

District leaders in Bundibugyo converged and in a dialogue to validate the results from the baseline study conducted by RIC-NET/RWECO on the causes of conflicts and mitigation measures to be taken to manage and prevent conflicts and human rights violations in the region. The purpose of the baseline study was to offer a better understanding of conflict and human rights situation in the region. The meeting was attended by 72 people from both local and international NGOs, District official, Cultural institutions, Political leaders, technical staff and scholars from Makerere University, and media persons.


presentation of baseline results

Participants agreed with the findings that the manner in which conflicts are being handled is not proper. It’s based on allegiance to certain cultural institution except when the matter is before court. Issues like land, animal grazing, politics and elections, marginalization of certain individuals and political patronage are causing mayhem in the district.

RDC,LC V and prime ministers of OBB and OBR during the meeting.

According to the Prime Minister of OBB, the two cultural institutions should be realistic to each other. “We must revisit our history and find out the issues that united all of us as a unit”. "I would love to visit every part of this district with ease," said the prime minister of OBR.

RDC giving his remarks.

The participants agreed that more dialogue meetings should be organized and aired live on media, that  OBB, OBR and the NGOs should popularize the Land Act and the Cultural Institutions Act through the Foot Peace Ambassadors, that conflicting individuals who lost in the elections and are still influential should be helped to reconcile and co-exist and accept the trends in politics as a game. Each indivividual should be a role model in the plight for peace.

NURTURE YOUR CHILD INTO A RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN

In an effort to prevent violence against children and adolescents in Kasese district, RIC-NET supported Kamasasa Primary School in Karambi Sub County to organize an Open Day that took place on 3rd may 2017 at the school. The Open Day aimed at showcasing pupil’s works, interactions between students and parents, and sessions to bring back the spirit of parent-child communication. The function was attended by over 130 parents(with the number of female parents being more than that of male parents), the LC3 chairperson, the CDO, the parish chief, the PTA and the school management committees, the area inspector of schools who was represented by the zonal leader, and councilors of Karambi Sub County.

The LC3 chairperson who was one of the guest speakers addressed the parents on the role of adults/parents in taking care of children referring to the Children’s Act of 1997. He advised parents on how to raise their children with a notion; "You reap what you sow". That is, if you bring up your child well and support him/her today they will become successful and a good example to others in future who will take care of you in your old age and the reverse is true.He also encouraged parents to always follow up their children's education and support them at all levels; financially, morally and materially.

The LC3 chairperson Karambi making his remarks

RIC-NET's  staff Charles Kaliba  who was also present at the Open Day engaged parents on child upbringing highlighting 3 core responsibilities of parents in child upbringing as protection ,provision and involvement in participation of a child's growth. He advised the parents on how they  ought  to protect their children from harm and other unpleasant acts ,provide for them the required necessities like education ,health care ,shelter ,food and emphasized the point of parents providing midday meals for children while at school and involvement of children in decision making as this makes them  feel valued and worthy and grow into good and successful people .

Students made presentations that included poems, songs and skits that talked about rights and responsibilities of children and the role of parents in the upbringing of children and the relationship between children and their parents.

Pupils presenting a traditional folk song

Parents later involved in a discussion and agreed that their role is to bring up their children well so that they can become important people in the society and we believe with such commitments violence against children and adolescents will reduce in Kasese and Uganda as a whole.

WE ARE STILL PRISONERS OF CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS.

During a human rights and conflict management training, Foot Peace Ambassadors (FPAs) revealed that,“We have been able to understand that rights are not in the hands of one person but universal” 

The training was organized by RIC-NET at Vanilla hotel, Bundibugyo town on the 4^th and 5^th of May, 2017. The training attracted 20 (8F,12M) participants, (ToTs) from the sub counties of Kirumya, Ntotoro, Ngamba, Kasitu and Bubukwanga and staff from the cultural institutions.

Thetraining aimed at creating a clear understanding of rights, actors in protection and promotion of rights , roles and duties of community, the entire aspect of the law, analysis of the violation in relation to the actors and people most affected. Emphasis was put on chapter 4 of the Uganda constitution 1995 which stipulates the rights of Ugandans and other international human rights instruments such as the UDHR, ICESCER and ICCPR. Special emphasis was on the rights of women with the inernationall instrument as CEDAW, children in the CRC and other minority groups.

The FBOs asserted that, "we are still prisoners of certain individuals who claim to be custodians of rights which is as a result of dishonesty from leaders."
They further observed that people are not empowered and therefore cannnot speak out on the injustices that occur in the community. There is lack of awareness of the law. Participants highlighted articles 23,224,28,37,38 and 41 of the Ugandan constitution which are commonly abused by those in authority since communities are not explicitly aware of them and how the same can protect their freedom and liberty.

The participants also observed the high levels of gender inequality as a catalyst for violation of human rights. They further that the custodians of the laws use the ignorance of the law aspect to violate the rights of individuals. They agreed to sensitize the community using all available means to ensure people understand the basics of the law in relation to rights and freedoms.