Civil Society and Local Government Unite to Strengthen Partnerships in Karamoja
In a bid to enhance coordination, knowledge sharing, and strategic alignment among partners, the Partnership for Accountability, Civil Engagement, and Rights (PACER) programme convened a regional workshop in Moroto.
The workshop, which took place at Hotel Africana, Moroto, on 20th May 2025, brought together Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Local Government officials from the Karamoja subregion to reflect on their partnership and share knowledge.
The PACER programme, supported by the Royal Danish Embassy, has entered its second year of implementation in Karamoja and West Nile sub-regions. The workshop aimed to foster synergies and collaboration, promote civic engagement and accountability, and enhance access to justice and human rights promotion and protection.
Speaking at the event, Kirstine Primdal Sutton, Development Counsellor at the Royal Danish Embassy in Kampala, emphasized the importance of partnerships in driving meaningful change.
“The PACER programme is built on the premise that strong partnerships between Civil Society and Local Government can lead to more effective service delivery, increased accountability, and better protection of human rights,” she noted.
Richard Omoding, Executive Director of Riamiriam Civil Society Network-Karamoja, highlighted the significance of the workshop in enhancing CSO-Local Government collaboration.
“This workshop has provided a critical platform for us to reflect on our collective efforts and identify areas for improvement. We are committed to working together to promote civic engagement, accountability, and human rights in Karamoja,” he said.
Local Government officials from Karamoja, the Inspectorate of Government (IGG), and the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) were among the key stakeholders who engaged in discussions on how to foster synergies and collaboration. The workshop provided a platform for CSOs and Local Government to share experiences, challenges, and best practices in promoting civic engagement, accountability, and human rights.
The PACER programme’s focus on gender, youth, and disability inclusion was also a key aspect of the discussions. Participants explored ways to ensure that the most marginalized and vulnerable groups in society are given a voice and have access to justice.
Through this workshop, the PACER programme continues to strengthen partnerships and promote collaborative approaches to development in Karamoja and West Nile sub-regions. As the programme moves forward, it is expected that the strengthened partnerships will lead to greater impact and more effective realization of human rights and civic engagement in the region.
