Tag Archives: Joyce Abalo

Dialogue with northern Ugandan stakeholders on the Right to Know campaign for missing persons highlights need to support the missing and their families

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On 28 August 2015, families of the missing, religious and traditional leaders, and civil society marched through Lira to commemorate the International Day of the Disappeared as part of JRP's The RIght to Know campaign.
On 28 August 2015, families of the missing, religious and traditional leaders, and civil society marched through Lira to commemorate the International Day of the Disappeared as part of JRP’s The RIght to Know campaign.

On August 28 2015, JRP organized a dialogue with representatives of family of the missing from four sub-regions of West Nile, Teso, Acholi and Lango as part of a campaign to create awareness for missing person in Lira called ‘The Right to Know’. This started with a procession from Lira District Chambers through the streets in Lira and later to Apostolic Centre with the people like religious leaders, traditional leaders, families of the missing and other civil society organizations like African Youth Initiative Network, Justice and Peace Commission, Northern Uganda Media Club, Concerned Parents Association and several media persons to spread the messages of the family of the missing.

A short prayer was made by Pastor Martin Odongo after a representative of the four sub-regions lit a candle. The burning candles were a symbol of light in the life of those who had gone missing.

During remarks given by JRP Head of office JRP Boniface Ojok, there was emphasis on the importance of recognizing the 30th of August as a day in remembrance of those who have disappeared in Uganda. Mr Ojok spoke about the need for the government to incorporate the issue of the missing persons in its policy in order to meet the social, legal and to a greater extent economic challenges facing the missing and their families. This is because, he said, the issue of the missing can be a long term impediment to peace. JRP’s 2014 policy brief, ‘The Right to Know – Policy Recommendations for Addressing The Rights of The Missing and Their Families in Northern Uganda’ reflected this by providing recommendations for acknowledgment of the missing persons, a comprehensive policy in regards to missing persons, and support for ongoing research outside of the scope of the brief.

When representatives of the families of the missing of across northern Uganda spoke at the event, many said that they are living with trauma, stigma, land conflict and lack of family support. Because there has been little acknowledgment of the issue of the missing as being important the families live in pain and isolation with feelings of anxiety for information on the whereabouts of their children.

During the Acting Resident District Commissioner for Lira and District Security Officer, Frank Madulo’s speech, he acknowledged the work of JRP in advocating for the missing and their families by making its calls victim oriented. He further made mentioned that he will ensure that the government acknowledges 30th August being the day for the disappeared persons. to support the families of the missing and to incorporate the issue of the missing persons in Uganda’s forthcoming Transitional Justice (TJ) policy.

Joyce Abalo is a Project Assistant with JRP’s Community Mobilisation department.

 

How important is regional reconciliation for Acholi and Lango?

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Conducting a survey on regional reconciliation in Lukodi, 17 April 2015. JRP.
Conducting a survey on regional reconciliation in Lukodi, 17 April 2015. JRP.

In April, JRP’s Community Mobilisation team conducted an opinion survey to assess the need for regional reconciliation in seven different communities in Acholi and Lango. With support from USAID-SAFE, the survey is part of a wider project JRP is implementing that deals with ensuring effective reconciliation between different communities in northern Uganda following conflict.

The survey was conducted to seek an understanding of the gaps that exist in securing reconciliation, to assess community perceptions on the need for reconciliation, and to identify mechanisms that could be adopted to foster reconciliation within these communities and across ethnic groups of northern Uganda.

This survey was conducted with 207 people in seven locations of Acholi and Lango Sub-regions – Atiak, Lukodi, Burcoro, Odek, Parabongo, Barlonyo and Abia – between 15 and 29 April 2015. Respondents of the survey were victims and survivors of war, members of peace committees, religious and traditional Leaders, members of the community and local government leaders.

During the survey, we observed growing bitterness among the communities. Many people in Lango, for instance, blame communities in Acholi for their suffering, which we identified as a possible conflict trigger. The survey also helped us realise that there are still many people that need medical help to deal with remains of bullets and other injuries to their bodies from the violence that occurred during the war. Although this was not part of the survey sought to find out, the participants freely shared with us the effect of the war on their lives. During the survey, we also realised that many in these communities still have their relatives or loved ones missing as a result of the war.

We identified that there is need to carry out a well-organised process of reconciliation in the two regions through dialogues and frequent exchange visits by the Langi to Acholi since the Langi are very bitter towards the Acholi for the suffering they went through. There is also need to look towards other regions if possible since the conflict affected the whole of northern Uganda.

Look out for the results of this survey in JRP’s forthcoming UG Reconciliation Barometer.