GLACCR TRAINS CHIEFS ON LAND AND INVESTMENT
On the 23rd July, 2010 The Great Lakes Center for Conflict Resolution has trained 24 cultural leaders from Ker Kwaro Pagak in Amuru District on land laws, investment and micro-enterprises development. The two days training took place at Riser Hotel in Amuru district. The training was requested for by the Chief of Pagak Rwot Justine Ocitti Binyi to help strengthen his chiefdom so that they contribute to rebuilding the lives of people in Northern Uganda.
The training was funded and conducted by The Great Lakes Center for Conflict Resolution as part of its capacity building programme to civil society organizations, cultural institutions and government institutions. According to the Programme Manager of The Great Lakes Center for Conflict Resolution David Ocan, cultural institutions are important partners and have a crucial role to play in recovery and development of Northern Uganda.
The participants thanked the organizer of the training and confessed that the training has been an eye opener because they had never understood the different land laws, investments and how to develop and operate small business before. The participants pledged to initiate projects to support the development of Ker Kwaro Pagak.
The Chief of Pagak Justine Ocitti Binyi thanked The Great Lakes Center for Conflict Resolution for responding to his call for the training and asked the participants to take what they learnt seriously and apply it to develop the chiefdom. The training was officially closed by the Paramount Chief of Acholi Lawii Rwodi David Acana II who was welcome in a colourful Acholi cultural way by Bwola Dancers. Lawii Rwodi thanked The Great Lakes Center for Conflict Resolution for training cultural leaders and asked the organization to extend similar trainings to all the 52 chiefdoms in Acholi so that the contribute do development of the region. He further said the chiefdoms in Acholi cannot develop unless chiefs begin to organise themselves and engage in economic activities. He promised to continue support chiefdoms in development and urged the participants to actively use the knowledge acquired to develop their areas.GLACCR TRAINS GULU DISTRICT LEADERS ON CONFLICT SENSITIVITY MAINSTREAMING
On 1 June 2010, The Great Lakes Center for Conflict Resolution trained 20 district and sub-county leaders on conflict sensitivity mainstreaming. Among those trained are LCV Chairperson, Resident District Commissioner, District Planner, Sub-county Chiefs, LCIII Chairpersons, members of District Reconciliation and Peace Team, District Agricultural Officer, and staff from Community Development Services Department. The Great Lakes Center for Conflict Resolution is implementing a USAID/SPRING funded capacity building project in conflict sensitivity mainstreaming for 25 NGOs, and District Local Governments and District Peace Fora from Amuru, Gulu, Kitgum, Pader, Lira and Oyam districts. The project aims at building capacity of the NGOs, District Local Government and District Peace For a in conflict sensitivity mainstreaming so that integrate conflict issues in recovery and development in the region.
During the closure of the training, participants appreciated the training and asked for scaling up of the project so that it benefit the entire district . Hon. Makmot Kitara during closure of the training thanked The Great Lakes Center for Conflict Resolution for organizing this training and for building the capacity of the district. He asked the leaders present to take what they learn seriously and put it to practice. He said normally such trainings target only the district technical staff and leave out the political leadership and he thanked The Great Lakes Center for Conflict Resolution for inviting the political leadership for the training.
The same training will be conducted for district and sub-county leaders in Amuru, Kitgum, Pader, Lira and Oyam districts in Northern Uganda in June and July 2010 and follow up activities will thereafter be done to provide technical support to selected district officials in conflict sensitivity mainstreaming into recovery and development programmes.