UGANDA

TJ MECHANISMS
youth, which leads to more violence and theft, as well as other social and economic
problems. 749
Many participants reported that though these needs are great, psychosocial support
from the Government is inadequate or non-existent. 750 Participants noted that such a
lack of attention has a negative influence on the healing process and reduces community
support for other Government programmes. 751 The services provided by communitybased
organizations are too few, and in many cases are being discontinued. 752 Other
family and clan systems of support are often destroyed or crippled by conflict. 753
Recommendations for Action
Because psychosocial support was recognized as indispensable for healing in post-conflict
settings, 754 participants offered many suggestions for ways to address these needs.
First, several called for the creation of a national rehabilitation policy that would guide
psychosocial programmes throughout the country. 755 Apart from proactive Government
support, some informants called for traditional remedies to be administered, and for
the support of customary and religious leaders to address the spiritual dimension of
psychosocial issues. 756
Lastly, participants noted that properly trained researchers should investigate and
register those with mental health issues to facilitate better treatment. 757 The predominant
recommendation was that rehabilitation facilities should be created, either as centres
to serve trauma victims, 758 or as hospitals with trained specialists. 759 Participants also
mentioned the need to make trained counsellors available to the community, to enable
peer support and establishment and support to survivor groups. 760 One group suggested
that psychosocial needs could be addressed through providing sports grounds and
recreation facilities for victims. 761
Apart from the direct provision of psychosocial services, participants asserted that
rehabilitation support should be linked with other transitional justice measures. This
might be accomplished through creating a psychosocial hospital that also serves as
a memorial, or through prioritizing decent burials and commemoration of victims
from past conflicts and disasters. 762 Other participants called for compensation of lost
749 Research conducted in Mukono District
750 Research conducted in Hoima, Soroti, Mukono, Bulambuli, Nakasongola, Bundibugyo, Gulu and Mubende
Districts
751 Research conducted in Gulu District
752 Research conducted in Gulu and Soroti Districts
753 Research conducted in Hoima District
754 Research conducted in Mukono District
755 Research conducted in Gulu, Adjumani and Bundibugyo Districts
756 Research conducted in Mbarara, Mukono and Bundibugyo Districts
757 Research conducted in Mukono District
758 Research conducted in Kasese, Hoima, Mbarara, Arua, Nakasongola and Bundibugyo Districts
759 Research conducted in Mukono, Kasese and Nakasongola Districts
760 Research conducted in Mukono, Bundibugyo and Nakapiripirit Districts
761 Research conducted in Arua District
762 Research conducted in Nakasongola and Bulambuli Districts
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