Uganda

Uganda has a population of 23million of whom 85% live in rural areas. It received debt relief, which enables spending on health and education. The country has had a successful HIV/AIDS reduction strategy and rates have been reduced in most of the country.

Conflict in northern Uganda has hindered development. The civil unrest and the incursions by the Lords Resistance Army have caused many deaths and forced over a million people to flee from their homes. Long term conflict between different groups in the north east of the country has caused disruption and tension in Katakwi, Soroti and Karamoja.

We are working with partners in the northeast to help create a peaceful environment to allow development of their communities and support income generating activities of local community organisations.

Building for a better future

In 2002 we began a partnership with Katakwi Urafiki Foundation (KAUFO), a peace and reconciliation agency in Katakwi northeast Uganda. Kaufo came into existence to bring about peaceful solutions to the longstanding problems between the Karamajong and Iteso people, which were hampering the development of the area. KAUFO has achieved many successes since then culminating in the construction of a Peace Centre, which the agency sees as "A beacon of light leading the way to peace and development in the area". Leaders and representatives from both communities use the centre for peace trainings, meetings and seminars to find solutions to the problems and an outreach peace programme operates from the centre.

Orungo Youth Group

The Orungo area of Katakwi was one of the worst effected communities during the Lords Resistance Army attack in June 2003. The attack caused loss of life and forced the population to leave their homes and livelihoods and to live in camps.

The Orongo Youth Group was formed in September 2003 to address the devastated communities problems of extreme poverty, poor child nutrition and prevalence of HIV/AIDS.

We support the group and its members in their work to increase household income and support children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. The group has grown from strength to strength as have the benefits to the community. The community farming projects have produced orange tree seedlings, chickens, eggs and goats for the most vulnerable families. The HIV/AIDS programme has also been successful with a trained team of health workers delivering information to the communities and orphans and vulnerable children supported and cared for.