Addressing Armed Violence in East Africa.pdf - Project Ploughshares

Addressing Armed Violence in East Africa4. UgandaBox 4.3.1. Return of IDPsAccording to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre,over two-thirds of the Acholis displaced by the LRA conflicthave not returned to their homesteads. As of November 2008,the centre reported that only 26% of IDPs in Acholilandhad returned to their village of origin. An estimated 41% ofdisplaced people in the area remain in IDP camps, while 32%have resettled to transit sites between the camps and theirhome villages. 11 Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, Uganda: Focus shifts tosecuring durable solutions for IDPs, A profile of the internal displacementsituation, 3 November 2008, http://www.internal-displacement.org/8025708F004BE3B1/(httpInfoFiles)/B02A8784F26C9D6BC12574F6004BE252/$file/Uganda+-November+2008.pdfIn the Acholi region, Kitgum district has the highest rate ofIDP return, according to a recent World Vision Uganda report.The 2008 report notes that “over 80% of the [Kitgum] IDPsresettled in their original villages or moved at parish level,followed by Pader, Gulu and Amuru Districts”. 22 World Vision Uganda, Promoting a culture of peace with partners:Peacebuilding report 2008, p 18In recognition that 85% of Ugandans are involved inagriculture, the second phase has re-engaged children,individually and in clubs, by encouraging responsibility fordistributing seeds and planting. Women’s groups have beengiven oxen and ploughs, and high-yield seeds so that producesuch as tomatoes can be sold at market to generate income,encourage savings and strengthen cohesiveness. There areparallel agricultural activities with youth. One male youthgroup explained that they were given seeds for growingcabbages and onions that they sold at market, realisingearnings of 700,000 Ush or US$470. They plan to use themoney to buy an ox to assist in ploughing.In addition, the project has built the capacity of district peaceforums at the parish level. Existing traditional leadershipstructures, such as elders teaching youth around fires in theevening, are used. These informal settings relay importantmessages about history, morals and conflict resolution, and areparticularly important in IDP camps where social structuresare degraded. In community dialogues people discuss freelyissues of peace and reconciliation, and land committees at thesub-district level are supported to resolve land conflicts. In allthis work, group building is important. WV staff told us thatthe activities were structured to bring people together to buildgroups.In its second phase, the peacebuilding project has alsoresponded to violence between two clans. The violence arosewhen one clan prevented resettlement by the other, allegingan earlier betrayal that had led to an LRA massacre. Thedistrict local government has appointed a team, led by a retiredAnglican bishop, to mediate the conflict between the two clans.World Vision is facilitating the process and the work has beenmonitored and documented. However, the peace project has notresponded to the cattle rustling that has affected eastern regions,although there has been dialogue between local elders and theKaramojong. 14We heard from local WV staff that the “Do No Harm”framework was applied to the project. A 2007 assessment helpedto unpack some of the “dividers” and “connectors” related to“local capacities for peace” and to establish the programmeadjustments needed to mitigate harm. 15Significantly, staff pointed out that most of the peacebuildingwork was integrated into ADP programming and thatcommunity structures, such as local councils, were trained andempowered in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and humanrights and gender-based violence awareness. The ADP approachis in turn complementary to peacebuilding since it emphasisescommunity empowerment by encouraging communityanalysis of problems and solutions. ADP support in a range ofsectors further undergirds peacebuilding work by helping thecommunity to address its basic needs.14 From 2000 to 2003, WV did have a cross-border peacebuilding projectimplemented by both the WVUganda and WVKenya offices, called Pokatusa.The project title was derived by combining the names of the major ethnic groupstargeted for peacebuilding in the project, groups who engage in cattle rustling inthat area: the Pokot, the Karamojong, the Turkana and the Sabiny. Tragically,the project coordinator was ambushed and killed in Uganda in 2003. Theproject ended in Uganda shortly afterwards, although it continued for anotheryear in Kenya.15 Based on Mary B. Anderson’s work, Do No Harm: How Aid Can SupportPeace—or War (1999).46