The activities of TIP are originating out of two concerns:
The persistent conflict between Iteso and Karimojong communities arises from transformed cattle rustling culture and its devastating impact on communities.
The main challenges entailed in addressing this concern include creating sufficient awareness about the causes and consequences of conflict, and building conflict resolution skills amongst the Iteso and Karimojong.
Increasing tendency to domestic violence within the Iteso and Karimojong communities and the breakdown of family values
The key issue here is how best to foster intra-community and family cohesion and peaceful co-existence.
PEACE EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS
Soroti SS Peace Club visits Peace Clubs in Moroto
Peace education in schools is being done in order to rally the young generation to embrace dialogue and peaceful ways of resolving conflicts. In this respect we consequently established and promoted 127 Peace Clubs in schools in the Teso sub-region.
TIP supported four peace club members from Teso to attend the Youth Peace Training Camp in Rwanda organized by Conflict Resolution by Youth (CRY). To mainstream HIV/AIDS in the Peace Clubs, we trained 102 Peace Club patrons in awareness creation skills.
After seven years of closure due to cattle rustling, Okoboi Primary School was re-opened with the help of TIP
PEACE-EDUCATION WITH THE COMMUNITIES
Youth Training Iriiri LC III Councillors training UPDF in human-knot-game
Peace education for the general communities is being done in order to promote dialogue and peaceful ways of resolving conflicts. The programme includes non-violent communication, conflict management skills, conflict analysis and AVP (Alternatives to Violence Project) trainings.
Several of these trainings are continuously running in Teso and Karamoja, targeting local government leaders, security forces and representatives of organizations. So far more than 150 peace promoters upgraded their peace making skills with TIP. Besides it 140 Anti-Stock-Theft-Unit forces and 68 Uganda Peoples Defence Forces where trained in non-violent communication.
CINEMA EDUCATION
CINEDUC is used as a method in both Peace Education in schools and communities. This activity was started in April 2006 after a training of 4 Cinema Education facilitators of TIP. Several film shows have been run at Lions Club hall in Soroti as well as in the Schools with peace clubs in Soroti municipality.
JOINT NGARIAM AND IRIIRI YOUTH DRAMA GROUP
drama group
This Drama group was founded in June 2006. The youth from the two sub counties of Iriiri in Moroto and Ngariam Sub County in Katakwi District were trained jointly at Mt. Elgon forest Exploration Centre. Together, they formed a Drama which to them can contribute to peace between the Iteso and Karimojong if performed along the bordering areas between Teso and Karamoja. Several of these shows have been performed in the border parishes of Ngariam, Kapelebyong, Iriiri, and Obalanga and even in Soroti town at Lions Club Hall.
WOMEN’S PROGRAMME
Women’s group in training
Women play passive and active roles in conflict and conflict resolution. TIP and OCODI want to strengthen their roles in Peace building. Because of the strong community relations, it women ideal candidates to relay information about peace building to men other women and children. Due to the gendered impact conflict has on women, they have a strong interest in peace.
TIP and OCODI conduct peace trainings with groups of women from both communities. The trainings include non-violent communication, role plays and guided discussions.
More women have expressed their interest than the organizations were able to accommodate. Conflict resolution skills increased in the targeted communities and attitudes about the respective other community have changed.
PEACE BUILDING THROUGH MEDIA
In partnership with OCODI and DED (German Development Service), we use different media to sensitize and educate Iteso and Karimojong about peace issues. The monthly “Peace Newsletter North-East” gives information about peace progress and related topics. “Peace Time”, a radio talk show on Radio Kyoga Veritas, offers interesting discussion with stakeholders in the peace process between Karamoja and Teso.
JOINT ACTIVITIES BETWEEN TESO AND KARAMOJA
Joint activities between Teso and Karamoja are being championed to address the challenges of cattle rustling. Cattle rustling has kept interaction between the Iteso and Karimojong at bay. It has led to loss of life and sources of livelihood for the two peoples. Joint activities are aimed at enhancing interaction, dialogue for peaceful co-existence. TIP jointly implements activities with OMANIMAN Community Development Initiative (OCODI), an NGO working in Karamoja.
In order to introduce and reinforce peace building in the planning, budgeting and implementation processes at district level, TIP facilitated the formation of District Peace Monitors Committee in the 8 neighbouring districts affected by cattle rustling i.e. Nakapiripirit, Moroto, Amuria, Katakwi, Kumi, Bukedea, Kotido, Abim. 38 people have been trained so far in Early Warning Systems and Early Response Actions in Apeitolim, Kapelebyong and Obalanga
children play day cultural music festival dam project celebration
By organizing cultural music festivals on peace with Iteso and Karimojong, dialogue meetings between leaders in the bordering sub-counties and through exchange visits between children in school and women within Teso and between Teso and Karamoja, we try to strengthen the ties between the two peoples.
To support the peace efforts with joint income generating projects, TIP facilitated the opening up of Teso-Karamoja joint cassava multiplication farm of 36 acres. We rehabilitated 4 dams in pursuit of peaceful co-existence in Kapelebyong/Obalanga and Lokopo sub-counties. The Iteso and Karimojong worked together to de-silt the dams. In the dam area, a resettlement process towards peaceful co-existence is in progress and over 10000 people from the two comuunities have resettled in the area.
