Peacebuilding Lessons for South Sudan from Northern Uganda

Yei-Okere Peacebuilding Initiative

Drawing a parallel between Okere, a small community that found itself in the wrath of war and civil strife for over three decades and now trying to rebuild itself, and Yei which is currently in the storm of such challenges, we thought it worthwhile as KAS, YAMORA, and Okere City to exchange lessons, networks, and strategies for advocacy, organizing and lobbying with local leaders in Yei, South Sudan.

Refugee Welfare Councils (RWCs) as Spaces for Political Participation of refugees in Uganda

Refugee Welfare Councils

While the official intention had been to bring together refugees and nationals to foster refugee and host community relations, RWCs have now emerged as important instruments for improving service delivery, facilitating community organizing, strengthening identity, and driving political participation among refugees in Uganda.

An Overview of Uganda’s Migration Profile

Public Dialogue at Makerere University

On Wednesday 7th December we set out to Makerere University for a public dialogue on the state of migration in Uganda. A youth engagement, we hoped to provide more information, correct misconceptions, and inspire their scholarly pursuits. Most curious about Karamoja and the increasing presence of homeless Karamajongs on the streets around them, critical about the government’s capacity to meet the refugee policy’s demands, the 174 students we met up with were an intelligent and challenging crowd for our panelists. The panelists included; Edgar Mwine, an Huduma fellow, and Migration Expert, Sheila Nsekanabo, a researcher at the Centre for Multilateral Affairs, Natasha Hadijjah Sebunya, an Artist and Writer, Lomilou Lucious, a Programme Manager at Mercy Corps, and Ian Katusiime, a journalist at the Independent Magazine. The public dialogue was moderated by Ojok Okello, the founder, and CEO of Okere City.

Musings on Emigration in Uganda at the Kampala Geopolitics Conference

Emigration in Uganda

One of the topics that were discussed at the 2022 Kampala Geopolitics Conference focused on understanding the emigration trends in Uganda. It was moderated by Ojok Okello, the founder of Okere City. He was joined by: Frank Nuwagaba, a Migration Officer at the Uganda Ministry of Internal Affairs; Agnes Igoye, a migration expert from IGAD; Barbara Maureen, an investigative journalist at the African Institute for Investigative Journalism (AIIJ); and Mutyaba Michael, a scholar, and researcher at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).

“We Know Better How to Tackle Cattle Rustling” - Abim Residents

Grassroots Migration Agenda

Alongside our partners GAIN-Uganda and ADYOFU, KAS on Thursday 21st October 2022 implemented its grassroots migration agenda meeting with the Ethur, the residents of the Abim district located in the Karamoja sub-region to discuss how to tackle cattle rustling, a vice that has riddled progress in the sub-region for decades.

The Portrait of Migration in the Northern Uganda City of Lira

Alongside our partners GAIN-Uganda and the Lira NGO Forum, KAS on Friday 22nd October 2022 implemented its grassroots migration agenda.

However one sees it, the migration portrait in Lira City is a mixed one, punctuated with many challenges as well as opportunities. How to widen the base for opportunities and shrink the challenges is a question local politicians and communities have to answer! 

Self-Settled Urban Refugees in Kampala and Labor Market Dynamics

On 06th October 2022 at the MCI Media Hub, we convened a discussion together with the African Centre for Trade and Development (ACTADE) to explore pathways and opportunities towards integrating urban refugees and migrants into Uganda’s labor market.

The event attracted 28 participants that included urban refugees and migrants (main participants), academia, International agencies, civil society (working with migrants and refugees), and the private sector. Organizations and companies that attended included Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS), IOM, Refugee Law Project, Refugee Talent Group, Vision Fund, Opportunity Bank, Young African Refugees for Integrated Development (YARID), International Refugee Rights Initiative (IRRI), among others.

Okere Summit for Sustainable Development

Reimagining Rural Futures

The inaugural Okere Summit for Sustainable Development was organized from 26th-29th May 2022, in Okere City, Otuke district. This flagship summit centered on the theme: “Reimagining Rural Futures in Africa”.

Youth4Policy (Y4P) Migration Fellowship Programme.

A report on the first seminar session for the Youth4Policy, migration fellowship that convened under the theme; Introduction to Migration and Forced Displacement.

A woman's place at the table!

Women's rights are human rights too. What more can you and I do to foster gender parity?