Ex-rebels settle down to farming
Nov 16, 2005
WEST Nile is slowly but surely emerging from the devastating effects of insurgency. The districts of Arua, Yumbe, Moyo, Adjumani, Koboko and Nebi have embarked on rehabilitation and reconstruction with particular emphasis on resettling ex-combatants as a pre-requisite for development.
By Caroline Lamwaka
WEST Nile is slowly but surely emerging from the devastating effects of insurgency. The districts of Arua, Yumbe, Moyo, Adjumani, Koboko and Nebi have embarked on rehabilitation and reconstruction with particular emphasis on resettling ex-combatants as a pre-requisite for development.
Fighters of Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF II) and West Nile Bank Front (WNBF)which fought the government in the 1990s and early 2000s have been slowly re-integrated and resettled within their communities and some absorbed into the national army. UNRF II received a resettlement package of sh4.2bn from the government as per the peace agreement signed between the two parties.
Donors are rolling out development support programmes for reconstruction and peace building. Under Uganda-German cooperation, for example, the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) through a consultancy firm, GOPA, has helped UNRF II ex-combatants to re-establish themselves in their communities through agricultural projects. The projects are being implemented by Bidi Bidi, an association of ex-combatants and the local community in Yumbe.
The project involves improved seeds, improved animal breeds like Boer goats and promotion of apiary and fruit trees, among others.
The initial aim was to keep the ex-combatants busy as they waited for their resettlement packages (from the sh4.2b) and to facilitate a smooth re-integration while promoting harmonious co-existence with the community.
The funding is part of Euros 6.5m earmarked by the German government for projects in refugee-hosting sub-counties as well as areas hosting ex-combatants in Arua and Yumbe.
Three pieces of land have been established in Odravu, Drajini and Kei in Yumbe for demonstration farms to keep farmers abreast with modern agricultural practices. The sites are jointly run by the ex-combatants and the local community while the project is implemented in the context of conflict management.
Many women are beneficiaries of the demonstration sites as well as the Boer goats project. Some of the ex-combatants who could not participate in agriculture were given options for skills training under CREAM, a local NGO.
Another area of focus by GTZ through GOPA has been training in conflict resolution skills whereby LCs, elders, refugee leaders, ex-combatants and women leaders, among others, have been trained through local NGOs like PRAFORD, TPO and the Justice and Peace Commission (JPC) of Arua Catholic Diocese.
This has helped to bridge the gap between ex-combatants and the community and has facilitated a smooth re-integration through awareness and sensitization campaigns.
The trainees have requested for refresher courses in conflict resolution while youths in Lobule sub-county, Koboko district, have approached NUSAF to facilitate them with conflict resolution skills.
GTZ is also promoting activities like music, dance and drama to promote peace, human rights, reconciliation and culture in war-ravaged Yumbe.
With re-integration and resettlement of the ex-combatants almost complete, focus is turning to the Development Conference, the first of its kind for West Nile.
The conference is scheduled to take place in Kampala at the end of this month. While some fear that the conference could be overshadowed by electioneering, many hope that it will address issues of development affecting West Nile that were not addressed under the UNRF II-Government of Uganda peace agreement.
The development conference was supposed to have taken place a few months after signing the agreement in December 2002.
Poverty in West Nile is biting very hard as a result of poor methods of farming, prolonged drought and war. Many families rely on farming for survival.
A significant percentage also do cross-border trade. The focus for long-term development efforts in the area should be on modernizing agriculture, developing infrastructure and building productive capacity of the local community through improvement of skills and education.
The writer is a journalist
WEST Nile is slowly but surely emerging from the devastating effects of insurgency. The districts of Arua, Yumbe, Moyo, Adjumani, Koboko and Nebi have embarked on rehabilitation and reconstruction with particular emphasis on resettling ex-combatants as a pre-requisite for development.
Fighters of Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF II) and West Nile Bank Front (WNBF)which fought the government in the 1990s and early 2000s have been slowly re-integrated and resettled within their communities and some absorbed into the national army. UNRF II received a resettlement package of sh4.2bn from the government as per the peace agreement signed between the two parties.
Donors are rolling out development support programmes for reconstruction and peace building. Under Uganda-German cooperation, for example, the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) through a consultancy firm, GOPA, has helped UNRF II ex-combatants to re-establish themselves in their communities through agricultural projects. The projects are being implemented by Bidi Bidi, an association of ex-combatants and the local community in Yumbe.
The project involves improved seeds, improved animal breeds like Boer goats and promotion of apiary and fruit trees, among others.
The initial aim was to keep the ex-combatants busy as they waited for their resettlement packages (from the sh4.2b) and to facilitate a smooth re-integration while promoting harmonious co-existence with the community.
The funding is part of Euros 6.5m earmarked by the German government for projects in refugee-hosting sub-counties as well as areas hosting ex-combatants in Arua and Yumbe.
Three pieces of land have been established in Odravu, Drajini and Kei in Yumbe for demonstration farms to keep farmers abreast with modern agricultural practices. The sites are jointly run by the ex-combatants and the local community while the project is implemented in the context of conflict management.
Many women are beneficiaries of the demonstration sites as well as the Boer goats project. Some of the ex-combatants who could not participate in agriculture were given options for skills training under CREAM, a local NGO.
Another area of focus by GTZ through GOPA has been training in conflict resolution skills whereby LCs, elders, refugee leaders, ex-combatants and women leaders, among others, have been trained through local NGOs like PRAFORD, TPO and the Justice and Peace Commission (JPC) of Arua Catholic Diocese.
This has helped to bridge the gap between ex-combatants and the community and has facilitated a smooth re-integration through awareness and sensitization campaigns.
The trainees have requested for refresher courses in conflict resolution while youths in Lobule sub-county, Koboko district, have approached NUSAF to facilitate them with conflict resolution skills.
GTZ is also promoting activities like music, dance and drama to promote peace, human rights, reconciliation and culture in war-ravaged Yumbe.
With re-integration and resettlement of the ex-combatants almost complete, focus is turning to the Development Conference, the first of its kind for West Nile.
The conference is scheduled to take place in Kampala at the end of this month. While some fear that the conference could be overshadowed by electioneering, many hope that it will address issues of development affecting West Nile that were not addressed under the UNRF II-Government of Uganda peace agreement.
The development conference was supposed to have taken place a few months after signing the agreement in December 2002.
Poverty in West Nile is biting very hard as a result of poor methods of farming, prolonged drought and war. Many families rely on farming for survival.
A significant percentage also do cross-border trade. The focus for long-term development efforts in the area should be on modernizing agriculture, developing infrastructure and building productive capacity of the local community through improvement of skills and education.
The writer is a journalist