Advocacy for Peace and Conflict Resolution

The programme objectives include:

• creating community peace building and conflict resolution committees;
• creating links between grassroots communities and non-governmental organisations, the government, and the international community through better collaboration; and
• promoting the participation of women and youth in peace and development programmes, while addressing economic poverty of these two groups.

UPFI engages actors from grassroots, middle-range, and top leadership levels in conflict management dialogues in order to build sustainable peace and peace infrastructures. The approach at each level is adapted to the leader's strategic position and role in the society.

• At the grassroots level, approaches to peace include local peace committees, community participatory training, addressing prejudice, and psychosocial work in post-conflict trauma.
• Peace building at the mid-level includes problem-solving, workshops, training in conflict resolution, non-violence communication, and formation of peace commissions.
• At the top level, peace building includes engaging prominent military, political, religious and traditional leaders in national level dialogue. The organisers state that without national reconciliation built through regular development and promotion of trusted grassroots and mid-level networks, sustainable national dialogue and peace cannot be achieved.

UPFI provides focused programmes for youth and returnees (formerly rebel forces) in rehabilitation, healing, and reconstruction. UPFI also uses religious initiatives, sport activities like peace football and netball, and exchange visit between IDP camps. Cultural activities like traditional songs, dancing, and drama and documentary processes are also used.

Conflict.

According to organisers, Gulu, Kitgum, and Pader Districts are the most affected districts of Northern Uganda by armed violence and conflict, with 90% of the population (nearly 2 million people) relocated to IDP camps since 1986. Attacks included:

• rape, killing, loss of limbs from landmines, and cutting off of people's mouth, nose, ears, arms, etc;
• looting of food, farming tools, and household utensils;
• abduction of adults and children;
• burning down houses and IDP centres;
• occasional bombing of people in crowded places i.e., marketplaces and dancing halls; and
• ambushes of vehicles, cyclists, and people moving on foot.