A REPORT ON DIALOGUE MEETINGS CONDUCTED IN BOROLI, NYUMANZI BARATUKU AND AYILO 1

ESTABLISHING STRUCTURES AT THE GRASS ROOT TO ENABLE COLLABRATIVE NETWORKSFOR PEACEFUL CO EXISTENCE BETWEEN THEHOST COMMUNITY AND THE REFUGEES

UGANDA JOINT CHRISTIAN COUNCIL

Department of Justice Peace and Reconciliation


ABBREVIATIONS

  1. Uganda Joint Christian Council(UJCC)
  2. Lutheran World Federation(LWF)
  3. People of Concern (PoC)
  4. Refugee Welfare Council (RWC)
  5. Persons with Disability(PWD)

INTRODUCTION

A team from Uganda Joint Christian Counciltogether with the implementing partners fromLutheran World Federationconducted dialogue meetings in the four settlements of Boroli, Baratuku, Nyumanzi and Ayilo 1 where LWF implements its activities. These dialogue meetings were a follow up activity that was agreed upon during the peace trainings that were conducted previously.

TARGETED GROUP

These meetings targeted 35participants per settlement and these included representatives from RWC’s, the youth, Elders/ Opinion leaders, women, religious leaders, settlement commandants and PWD’s.

AIM/GOAL

To establish dialogue forum structures at the grass root level so as to attain collaborative networks for peaceful co existence between the host community and PoC’s.

DIALOGUE MEETINGS

BOROLI SETTLEMENT.

The dialoguemeeting in Boroli was conducted on the 21nd day of March, 2016 at Boroli Community Centre.The aim of establishing structures at the grass root level so as to attain collaborative networks for peaceful co existence between the host community and the refugees.

The participants included RWC level 1, the youth, women, the police commandant, elders and the LC1 chairperson.

dialogue meeting in progress

COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIRPERSON

In his remarks he welcomed the participants to the meeting and asked them to deliberate on issues that are to build the community. He further apologized for the poor mobilization because the information was delivered late and most members from the host community were never represented.

He further stated that the structures that were to be formed were to enable the community to attain it goal of harmonious co existence therefore as they form the different committee they should aim at people who can make good representation of what is happening in the community.

In conclusion he noted that the dialogue meetings are very good and are going to bring both the host community and refugees together since they will all always sit together to deliberate on issues.

COMMUNICATION FROM THE SETTLEMENT COMMANDANT

He thanked God for the partnership between LWF and UJCC for the good work done in the communities. He further noted that different stakeholders having been trying to pave way on how bring the host community and the PoC’s together , therefore the dialogue meeting answers their desire because the host community and PoC’s have come together to deliberate issues.

He further said that it is very important to bring the two communities together because before the host community has always been left of the different interventions, therefore there was need to have them on board to help iron out a few issues.

He added that more dialogue meetings should be conducted in Boroli settlement because the settlement has more than 30 tribes which make it difficult for them to work together but with these dialogue meetings they would be able to work together

In conclusion, he thanked UJCC and LWF for the peace games that were a success and asked them to advocate and lobby for more games since these will build togetherness within the community and pledged to work together with the UJCC and LWF to make sure that these dialogue meetings continue so to see the communities’ co existing harmoniously.

COMMUNICATION FROM THE RWC REPRESENTATIVE

In her remarks, thanked UJCC for the dialogue meetings because ithelp people to work together since the settlementis made up of many people of different tribes and different beliefs.

She added that through such meetings their will be idea sharing which is key to development in a community. Therefore as there is needto develop structureswhich will deliberate on how to attainharmonious co existence between the host community and Poc’sthrough idea sharing.

In conclusion, she commended LWF and UJCC for the effort put to reach at the grassroot and therefore asked the participants not to let the good work stated down but to work so hard to make sure that the dialogue committees continue.

COMMUNICATION FROM UJCC.

In his communication, Mr Godfrey Mukalazi thanked the participants for turning up to deliberate on issues that affect the community. He further informed them that the dialogue meetings were an out come of the training that was conducted previously and in the work plan dialogue meetings were one of the activities. He commended the different persons who put in effort to make the dialogue meetings happen.

He also re echoed the aim of the meeting which was to establish structures at the grass root level so as to attain collaborative networks for peaceful co existence between the host community and the Poc’s. Therefore he called upon the participants to be vigilant while forming the structures.

He added that by the end of the dialogue meetings, different committees will be formed to help in the sustainability of the larger dialogue meeting. These committees will always seat separately every after two weeks to deliberate on issues affecting the community and the major/ larger dialogue meeting will always be convened once a month after the different committees have met.

In conclusion he emphasized that as these committees meet they should aim at looking at issues that act as connectors and aim at changing dividers into connectors.

OPEN DISCUSSIONS

During the open discussions the participants looked at connectors that is the things that connect people eg markets, Games (playing football), attending same schools, intermarriages, shared water points and carrying out meetings together.

They further stated that the women youth will take part in the games since being mothers does not change anything about their age.

It was also further agreed upon that as they appoint individuals to the committees, they should not choose relatives as opposed to people who are going to work for the coherence of both communities.

WAY FORWARD

  • Formation ofthe committees to ensure the sustainability of dialogue meetings. Four committees were formed and these included; youthcommittee, this is composed of four representatives that is a male and a female from the Poc’s and the host community. These will go further and choose representatives from the settlement and host community to form teams.These teams will mainly focus on sports where they will form football team and net ball teams.

The aim of these teams is to engage in sports and avoid idleness amongst the youth.

Women committee, this constitutes of both women from the host community and the settlement that is each block in the settlement shall have a woman representative and the hosting community next to each block shall also have representatives. The meetings of this committee shall be conducted inter changeably/ on exchange visits.

Elders and land lords committee, these basically meetto deliberate on issues that affect community on basis of land and other related issues. This will help solve issues of land and basic resources such as building materials and firewood which have been the major causes of conflict.

RWC’s and LC1 committee; these will help solveissues of conflict that fall between the host community and the people of concern.

  • To write monthly reports that result from the different dialogue meetings conducted.
  • The different committees to meet every after two weeks to deliberate on issues
  • UJCC and LWF to lobby for further facilitation of dialogue meetings in order to sustain and strengthen the initiative.

CONCLUDING REMARKS FROM LWF

In his remarks, Matthew Atuboi thanked the participants for the positive response to the call because the structures that have been set up are aiming at setting a platform that will provide a basis to deliberate on issues as well as solving contentious ones before they escalate into violence.

NYUMANZI SETTLEMENT

The dialogue meeting in this settlement was conduction the 22nd day of March 2016 at St Micheal Church.

PRAYER

The prayer was led by one of the participants who prayed for God’s blessings and corporation as the meetings goes on.

COMMUNICATION FROM LWF.

Mr Mathew Atuboi in his communication, said that LWF work with UJCC and UJCC only implements the peace activities in the Act Appeal project which is the umbrella project for the peace building activities. He further said that the major focus is to pave away on how the community and the Poc’s can be integrated together with the host community.

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COMMUNICATION FROM THE SETTLEMENT COMMANDANT

In his communication, he thanked UJCC and LWF for the work done in trying to bring the PoC’s and the host community together. He added that the services delivered by LWF and UJCC are not political but life changing programs that the people will always carry on even if they are repatriated back to their homes.

Settlement commandant gives his remarks

He also said that as the different humanitarian agencies come in to give interventions the people concerned should be proactive because what ever is discussed is done toward the development of both communities.

He further said that while creating these structures they should not choose people to get titles but those that will deliver.He also asked them to choose people who will implement what is discussed in the meetings which will be good for the community .

In conclusion he said that, they should use this opportunity to bring change in the way issues have been handled previously and this bring development to the community at large.

FORMATION OF COMMITTEES

  1. Youth committee; this shall have representatives from the host community and from the PoC’s that is a female and male from both communities. These will go ahead to choose representatives from blocks and the neighboring village.

These will always be in charge of sports that is foot ball and net ball therefore they were assigned to form teams to start sport. These will helpin carry inter settlement games that will be conducted in future.

The intentions of these games are to develop talent and to promote harmonious co existence between the host community and the people of concern.

  1. Women’s committee; this shall be composed of both the host community and the people of concern that is there is going to be two representatives one from the settlement and another from the host community. These will help identify other women from the different blocks and the host community to help form a full committee.
  2. Elders and Land Lords committee: ; these will also meet to look at issues that affect the settlement at large and the host community. This committee will have elders from both the host community and the settlement.
  3. RWC’s and LC1 committee; since these are leaders , this committee will be looking at different complaints from the host community and the PoC’s.

It was agreed that these committees should always carry out exchange visits to learn from one another.

Tabulated Below are the representatives chosen as per committee:

No / COMMITTEE / COMMUNITY / REPRESENTATIVES
1 / YOUTH / HOST COMMUNITY / APIKU EREONUS
CANDIA DOROTHY
SETTLEMENT / DUT ABRAHAM
2 / WOMEN / HOST COMMUNITY / JOSEPHINE JUA
SETTLEMENT / MARY YAR(BLOCK C)
RACHELLE(BLOCK A)
3 / ELDERS AND LAND LORDS / HOST COMMUNITY / LUKA INYANI EMILY
SETTLEMENT / JOK BIAR JOK (BLOCK B)
ADIER AROK ATEM (BLOC
4 / RWC’S AND LC1 / HOST COMMUNITY / ASALAH OYA SEVELINO
SETTLEMENT / WILSON MANYOK

WAY FORWARD

  • For the different committees to meet every after two weeks and discuss issues to be discussed in the main dialogue which will always meet once a month
  • To lobby for more dialogue meetings with different humanitarian agencies and the different committees.
  • To lobby for funds to provide transport refund for the different participants who turn up for the meetings since most of them have distances to move
  • To hold another dialogue meeting on 22/4/2016

CLOSING REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN

In his remarks, he thanked UJCC and LWF for the effort put in to bring the host community and the PoC’stogether . He added that since the structures have been set up they will work hard to sustain the work started because it will develop the community.

In conclusion he said that those appointed to different positions they should work hard to implement whatever is discussed in the meetings. He further said that as meetings go on they will invite different stake holders to deliberate on issues.

BARATUKU SETTLEMENT

The dialogue meeting in this settlement was conducted on the 24th day of March 2016 at the community centre.

Prayer was led by one of the participants who asked God to lead the deliberations .

COMMUNICATION FROM LWF.

Mr Mathew Atuboi, in his remarks welcomed the participants to the dialogue and thanked UJCC for the work done so far in peace building.

He informed participants that LWF works with UJCC because they are members of Act Alliance. He further said that UJCC only implements the peace building activities therefore asked for maximum Corporation from the participants.

He further asked the participants to pay attention since this was an activity to further what was discussed as a way forward during the training.

He concluded by saying that by the end of the meeting they should form structures/ committee that will always deliberate on issues as they arise. He also stressed his disappointment with the people that were trained for not turning up for the dialogue meeting and yet they are the same people that agreed that the dialogues should be conducted.

COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIRPERSON

In his communication, he noted that the dialogue meeting was to kick start the collaborative net works between the host community and the refugees. He further said that despite the weak relationships they have had before, these meetings will strengthenthe weak areas so that they work together.

In conclusion, he said that he believes that with dialogue meetings they will go far with developing the community since the communities are made up very many people from different backgrounds. This would help them exchange ideas which will contribute much to the development of the community. He further stressed that team work is key for a community to develop therefore as leaders they should work as a team towards the development of the community at large

COMMUNICATION FROM UJCC OFFICER

Mr. Mukalazi Godfrey in his remarks noted that as the committees are being formed the people appointed to committees should aim at peace building so as to realize harmonious co existence between the host community and the people of concern.

He further informed them that as the different committees start to operate, they should not expect any monetary rewards therefore as they propose the names of the people to form the committees they should be willing to work voluntary towards the development of the community.

He concluded by saying that UJCC and LWF will be happy to see what was started as idea has developed the community to the different levels as desired by the community. Therefore stressed that these people should work as a team to see what was perceived as adream comes to reality because this would help them to fill in the gaps felt and solve conflicts.

FORMATION OF THE COMMITTEES

  1. Youth committee; this shall have representatives from the host community and from the PoC’s that is a female and male from both communities. These will go ahead to choose representatives from blocks and the neighboring village.

These will always be in charge of sports that is foot ball and net ball therefore they were assigned to form teams to start sport. These will help in carry inter settlement games that will be conducted in future.

The intentions of these games are to develop talent and to promote harmonious co existence between the host community and the people of concern.

  1. Women’s committee; this shall be composed of both the host community and the people of concern that is there is going to be two representatives one from the settlement and another from the host community. These will help identify other women from the different blocks and the host community to help form a full committee.
  2. Elders and Land Lords committee; these will also meet to look at issues that affect the settlement at large and the host community. This committee will have elders from both the host community and the settlement.
  3. RWC’s and LC1 committee; since these are leaders, this committee will be looking at different complaints from the host community and the PoC’s.

It was agreed that these committees should always carry out exchange visits to learn from one another.