Hands Across the Border Phase II

Consolidating Peace Efforts in Teso and Karamoja

A Reader Series of Activities in 2002-2003

INTRODUCTION

The Center for Conflict Resolution (CECORE) with its local partner in the Teso-Karamoja region, the Teso Initiative for Peace (TIP), with support from the German Government through GTZ, held a series of consultative and training workshops for a cross-section of the communities in Teso and Karamoja. This was a follow-up to the programmes that CECORE and her partners have been running for the pass two years in the search for peace and co-existence in the region.

The programmes for 2002 saw the following take place;

PART I:

Hands Across the Border: Consolidating Peace Efforts – the role of Community Peace Committee, held in Mbale, Eastern Uganda, October 10 – 15, 2002 for Community Stakeholders. Click to download

PART II:

Hands Across the Border: Enhancing Political Leaders’ Skills in Conflict Peace-building held also in Mbale, October 12 – 15, 2002. This workshop was designed to coincide with the Community Stakeholders’ workshop so that the last day was jointly shared to learn from one another, and to come up with joint action programmes to support the peace process. The participants included Cabinet Ministers from both Teso and Karamoja, Members of Parliament, Local Administrative Officers, government representatives as well as security officials. Click to download

PART III:

The third gathering in this series was the Members of Parliament (including Cabinet Ministers) workshop held in Entebbe November 14 – 16, 2002, under the theme: “Pulling together for Peace-building”. One of the recommendations from the workshop was for CECORE to organize another training workshop where all the stakeholders, now that they had been trained separately, to come together and share their experiences, their strengths and to map out a joint peace plan for the region. Click to download.

PART IV:

The forth workshop consequently was organized in Mbale November 28 – December 1. 2002. It brought together all Political, Government, Spiritual and Civil Society Leaders. Click to Download

PART V:

The final activity in the series involved gathering key cattle-rusting commanders and Kraal leaders (elders) who, generally speaking, are the organizers of the cattle raids against other clans and tribes. The aim was to take them around the country to see how other cattle-keeping pastoral communities manage to coexist with non-pastoralists; how they have adopted other ways of life alongside their cattle-keeping lifestyle; how natural resources have been harnessed to provide maximum support to the communities in the country-side, and to take them across to neighbouring countries (DR Congo and Rwanda) to witness how local communities across the International borders interact peacefully in their day to day life. Accompanying the Karimojong were a group of representatives from the Teso community, which has for may years suffered loss of life and property at the hands of their Karimojong neighbours through cattle-rustling. The familiarization tour was also aimed at making other tribes in Uganda get to interact with the Karimojong whom they only read about. The tour was also a result of the recommendations from the above workshops. Follow-up activities are planned for 2003. Click to download.

AFRICAN TRADITIONAL METHODS IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION

INTRODUCTION

From June 27 to July 1, 2000, the Center for Conflict Resolution (CECORE) held a Validation Workshop at Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel in Entebbe, Uganda. The aim of the workshop was to critically examine and discuss the research findings on African Traditional Methods; Experiences and Best Practices in Peace-Building; and the Role played by the Media in Conflict Situations. In the opening session, CECORE 's Administrative Officer, Rose Othieno, briefly highlighted the organization's objectives in promoting a culture of peace and tolerance and conveyed the Executive Director (Stella Sabiitl)'s greetings and apologies for not attending the workshop due to her appointment by the OAU Secretary General to observe the parliamentary elections in Zimbabwe. Click to download.

EXPERIENCES AND BEST PRACTICES OF MEDIATORS, NEGOTIATORS AND THE COMMUNITY IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION

INTRODUCTION

From June 27 to July 1, 2000, the Center for Conflict Resolution (CECORE) held a Validation Workshop at Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel in Entebbe, Uganda. The aim of the workshop was to critically examine and discuss the research findings on African Traditional Methods; Experiences and Best Practices in Peace-Building; and the Role played by the Media in Conflict Situations. In the opening session, CECORE 's Administrative Officer, Rose Othieno, briefly highlighted the organization's objectives in promoting a culture of peace and tolerance and conveyed the Executive Director (Stella Sabiiti)'s greetings and apologies for not attending the workshop due to her appointment by the OAU Secretary General to observe the parliamentary elections in Zimbabwe. Click to download.

THE ROLE OF REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MEDIA IN PEACE BUILDING

INTRODUCTION

From June 27 to July 1, 2000, the Center for Conflict Resolution (CECORE) held a Validation Workshop at Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel in Entebbe, Uganda. The aim of the workshop was to critically examine and discuss the research findings on African Traditional Methods; Experiences and Best Practices in Peace-Building: and the Role played by the Media in Conflict Situations. In the opening session, CECORE 's Administrative Officer, Rose Othieno, briefly highlighted the organization's objectives in promoting a culture of peace and tolerance and conveyed the Executive Director (Stella Sabiitl)'s greetings and apologies for not attending the workshop due to her appointment by the OAU Secretary General to observe the parliamentary elections in Zimbabwe. Click the resource handbook.

HANDS ACROSS THE BORDER: BUILDING PEACE-BRIDGES AMONG AND BETWEEN THE PEOPLE OF TESO AND KARAMOJA

Following a fact-finding mission to Teso and Karamoja on cattle rustling and its effects along and across the Teso-Karamoja border, Center for Conflict Resolution (CECORE) and Teso Initiative for Peace (TIP), sponsored by the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), held a workshop at Wera in Katakwi district from November 12-16, 2000, for a cross-section of the people of Katakwi. Click the resource handbook for the Katakwi training workshop in November 2000.

IKOKINIO AI? (WHAT DO WE DO NEXT?): HANDS ACROSS THE BORDER, PEACE INITIATIVE FOR TESO AND KARAMOJA

INTRODUCTION

The Center for Conflict Resolution (CECORE) with funding support from GTZ (German Technical Cooperation) and in local collaboration with the Teso Initiative for Peace (TIP), carried out a fact-finding mission in Greater Teso (Soroti and Katakwi districts) and Karamoja (Moroto District) to explore the possibility of supporting the peace initiatives on the ground and nation-wide in order to help bring about understanding and eventual reconciliation between the two districts of Katakwi and Moroto. For years now a violent conflict closely connected with Karimojong cattle-rustling especially in neighbouring districts and the drought in Karamoja has led to loss of lives, livestock and property. The conflict has drastically destabilised the two communities, which enjoyed friendships, sharing and good neighbourliness since time immemorial. This important project seeks to involve the two communities to find their own workable solution through prolonged dialogue and the reaffirmation of the original relationship that the two enjoyed before the current conflict. Click to download.