Community Members and Leaders in Karamoja Commit to Promoting Peace and Social Cohesion.
RUPA, MOROTO, UGANDA – In a bid to promote inclusive community engagement, social cohesion, and positive change in Karamoja, Riamiriam Civil Society Network – Karamoja facilitated a crucial conversation in Nakiloro cattle market, Rupa sub county, Moroto District.
The event which took place on Thursday 11th November 2024, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) under the Building Resilience through Innovation, Communication, and Knowledge (BRICK) project, brought together key stakeholders, including the LCV Chairperson Moroto, Assistant RDC Moroto, DPC Moroto, and other community leaders.
Riamiriam Civil Society Network-Karamoja in partnership with GARD, VEDCO, Warrior Squad Foundation, and Better World funded by UNDP and KOICA is implementing six months titled, Building Resilience in Conflict Affected and Fragile communities of Karamoja (BRICK) project.
The project is expected to address three key interconnected challenges faced by the pastoral communities in Karamoja sub-region as follows; 1) High vulnerability, 2) Tension and conflicts among communities in the vast border region of Karamoja, 3) Rising prevalence of violence against women and girls.
The overall project purpose is to promote sustainable development through capacity strengthening of communities and local stakeholders to manage social, political, economic, and environmental risks. This project seeks a new approach to development programming in Karamoja – that facilitates local ownership and leadership to ensure that the peace, economic and development dividends will be nurtured and sustained. This is key to ensure that the impact goes beyond the duration of the project and that the interventions will be leveraged to scale and act as a best practice for homegrown and sustainable approaches to the HDP nexus.
“We are committed to fostering inclusive community engagement and promoting social cohesion in Karamoja,” said Hon. David Koriang, LCV Chairperson Moroto. “This conversation is a crucial step towards driving positive change and improving the lives of our people.”
LCV Chairperson Koriang emphasized the need for peace in order to facilitate development. “Peace is the foundation upon which development is built. Without peace, we cannot achieve our development goals. I urge all of us to work towards promoting peace and stability in our communities,” he said.
The District Police Commander Moroto, SP Ayikoyo Sydney, highlighted the importance of keeping law and order in promoting social cohesion and development.
“As a community, we must work together to maintain law and order. This is critical in promoting social cohesion and development. I urge all of us to cooperate with security agencies in maintaining peace and stability,” he said.
The Assistant RDC Moroto, Mr. Dinah Lorika, highlighted the need for collective action in addressing the challenges facing Karamoja. “We must work together to address the issues of poverty, inequality, and social injustice. This conversation is a step in the right direction,” he said.
The LC3 chairman Katikekile sub county, Mr. Dengel Abraham Lobur, appreciated the efforts of Riamiriam Civil Society Network – Karamoja in promoting community engagement and social cohesion. “We are grateful for the support of Riamiriam in our efforts to promote peace and development in our community,” he said.
Community members also shared their perspectives on the importance of community engagement and social cohesion. “This conversation has given us a platform to share our concerns and aspirations. We are hopeful that it will lead to positive change in our community,” said Ms. Lilly Loumo, a community member from Nakiloro village.
Mr. Paul Lokwang, another community member, emphasized the need for collective action in promoting social cohesion. “We must work together to promote peace and understanding in our community. Most of the challenges we are facing now would have been resolved long ago but people fear to report. This conversation is a step in the right direction because it has given us a platform to ask questions and we receive instant answers from our leaders,” he said.
The event was a testament to the power of community engagement and social cohesion in driving positive change. As one participant noted, “When we come together as a community, we can achieve great things. This conversation has inspired me to work towards a better future for our community.”
The Executive Director, Riamiriam Civil Society Network-Karamoja, Richard Omoding underscored the need for community involvement in matters that affected and concern them.
“We recognize the importance of community-led initiatives in driving positive change,
“said Richard Omoding, the Executive Director, Riamiriam Civil Society Network-Karamoja. “Through this conversation, we aim to empower communities to take ownership of their development and together towards a brighter future.”
