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Speakers at Teso-Karamoja Conference 2018
The 5th Teso Development International Conference (TDIC) will take place at De Vere Selsdon Park Hotel, Croydon, London, United Kingdom from Saturday 22nd to Sunday to Sunday 23rd September 2018. The theme of the conference is: Working Together for Sustainable Development.
His Royal Highness the Emorimor Papa Iteso August Adugala Osuban will be the Guest of Honour. He will open the conference and call upon the Iteso and friends of Teso to support the development of Teso. The Emorimor who arrives Thursday 20th September 2018 will be accompanied by his Wife, Toto Akaliat Agnes Osuban, the Prime of Iteso Cultural Union, Paul Sande Emolot, Minister for International Relations and Diaspora Affairs, Leonard Ekapu Otekat and Government of Uganda State Minister for Teso Affairs, Hon. Agnes Akiror Egunyu. Hon. Akiror will update the conference on government programmes in Teso.
Knowledge & Connection for Sustainable Development
Keynote Address at the 5th Teso Development International Conference
By Dr. Young Gil Lee, Vice Chancellor, Kumi University, Uganda
KNOWLEDGE is a strategic force for sustainable development. If we focus primarily on traditional way of doing economy, there will be no leap-frogging toward new society in Teso and Karamoja. We need to infuse knowledge factor into society, so that development could take place based on knowledge. For sustainable development, knowledge dimension is critically important in every aspect of life and culture. Knowledge economy means the economy, in which knowledge plays crucial role. We should start from literacy campaign, through school enrolment, quality of education, development of science & technology and conversion of all these into business and industry. Language, skill, science and technology are key words in knowledge economy. Knowledge is critical in value addition, without which there will be no entrepreneurial development. D
emanding need in such knowledge economy is to KNOW IT and to MAKE IT KNOWN.
To have knowledge spreading quickly and effectively, we should have capacity of connection. Knowledge and connection are twin brothers for development, for knowledge cannot be obtained without connection, which facilitates knowledge transfer, creation and dissemination. For the connection, the most foundational concept is PLATFORM. The platform is to connect knowledge source to knowledge need, creating unimaginable dynamics of interactions. The Teso Development International Conference is an excellent model of such platform, where knowledge interaction takes place. This platform shall lead us all to next level of skills, appropriate technologies, science and advanced technologies, and development of industries and businesses for the long run.
To make development in Teso & Karamoja knowledge-based and connectivity-driven, we need to develop sense of PUBLIC DIPLOMACY. Development interactions should not be bound into locality but be expanded to the nation and global communities. Teso Parliamentary Group is connecting Teso & Karamoja on national level, while IWA-UK on international one. Public diplomacy is to invite national and global stakeholders on to local focus of Teso & Karamoja. We need various partners in different geographical locations and spheres. The more diplomatic connections we have, the better we can perform for sustainable development.
UNIVERSITY is potentially an excellent platform for knowledge and connection for sustainable development, for she is basically knowledge institution of teaching and learning, while unimaginable connections take place there locally, nationally and internationally. University, located especially in underdevelopment area, is more critical in her role of knowledge and connection for development. The University-driven development model can be a good model for sustainable development, which we can try together with local, national and international partners.
Young Gil Lee, Keynote Speaker
As a South Korean national, he studied in South Korea, USA and India in the areas of Public Administration and Theology. He served as a director at Korean Centre for International Cooperation in both A. N. College Patna and National Institute of Technology Patna, India. He has assumed responsibility of Vice Chancellor at Kumi University in Uganda since 2014. He currently serves also as an international advisor at Geneva Institute for Leadership & Public Policy, Geneva, Switzerland, and assists Knowledge & Connection track at Transform World Movement.
Opportunities and challenges of Tourism Development in North Eastern Uganda
By Dr Dirisa Mulindwa, Lecturer, University of Sunderland
Tourism is one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the world. When properly planned and managed, tourism could bring many socio-economic benefits to a destination. Uganda that was a key destination in the 1960s lost this status due to the political activities of the day. However it is slowly regaining its status as a leading tourist destination in Sub Saharan Africa, being nominated by the Lonely Planet as the top leading destination in 2012, and 2017. Uganda Vision 2040 includes tourism as among the growth sectors with great development opportunities. However, North Eastern Uganda despite its richness in tourism attractions is still lagging behind the rest of the country in exploiting tourism. This paper is discussing the potential, opportunities and challenges of using tourism as a development avenue in North Eastern Uganda.
The Presenter
Dirisa is a Principal Lecture and Assistant Head of Academic Operations at the University of Sunderland in London. He is responsible for the development of research, external engagement and employability at the university’s campus in London. His research focuses on tourism and how it can help in the alleviation of poverty in a country. He has done research and produced papers in journals and conferences on Community based tourism in, Religious tourism and street food in Uganda. Currently he is studying the socio-economic impact and the social transformative impact of the Rolex on the local urban livelihoods.
Development Challenges in Teso and Karamoja
By Eng. Patrick Oboi Amuriat, President of Forum for Democratic Change Party in Uganda
Patrick Oboi Amuriat is the President of Forum for Democratic Change Party in Uganda, Uganda’s largest opposition political party. He is an engineer with Bsc. Engineering (Makerere University) and Masters in Engineering (Makerere University).
Before joining politics in 1994, Eng. Amuriat worked in a number of local and international Engineering Consulting firms and community development organizations and also in public service working with Kumi District as District Engineer.
Eng. Amuriat represented Kumi County in parliament for 15 years from 2001-2016 during which he chaired the committees of Science and Technology; and Commission Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) and was a kingpin member of the Committee of Works and Transport for his entire time in Parliament.
Given his vast knowledge and experience, Hon. Eng. Patrick Oboi Amurait will speak about challenges to the development of Teso and Karamoja.
The Diaspora International Hospital Uganda Foundation: giving Ugandans a second chance of living.
Dr Wilber Sabiiti1 and Eng. Teddy Loumo Curran2 on behalf of the Diaspora International Hospital Uganda Foundation (DIHUF)
1School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, Scotland, UK and 2AWARE Uganda
Challenge: Like other sub-Saharan African countries, Uganda still grapples with a high burden of communicable diseases (CDs) including HIV, malaria and tuberculosis. Eight out of ten top disease killers in Uganda are CDs and account for over 50% of deaths per year. As if adding an insult to injury, the burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart and kidney disorders, mental illness etc is rising so fast, yet the infrastructure to deal with these kinds of illness is severely inadequate. Consequently, in 2017 Uganda government spent over 10 billion shillings to send her employees for specialised treatment abroad. This excludes private citizens who spend tens of thousands of US dollars to seek treatment in India and other developed countries. This trend is unsustainable as it drains resources from the country and only serves the privileged few.
Solution: The Ugandans in the diaspora have chosen to do something about it and reverse the situation. Together, the Ugandan diaspora will build the Diaspora International Hospital Uganda (DIHUF) that will provide international quality general and specialised healthcare, obviating the need to seek healthcare abroad by Ugandans. The all-inclusive medical village will integrate medical services, research and training and healthcare-associated entrepreneurship. To realise this vision, the Diaspora International Hospital Uganda Foundation (DIHUF) has been established with headquarters in London United Kingdom and secretariat in Gothenburg Sweden. The DIHUF headquarters is linked to a network of national DIHUF chapters in all countries where Ugandan diaspora exist. The Uganda DIHUF team has been established and they will be responsible for implementing all the projects in Uganda under the oversight of the DIHUF board of directors. By drawing on the Ugandan healthcare experts in the diaspora and all Ugandan diaspora passionate about changing the plight of healthcare in our homeland, DIHU will be a success.
Conclusion: We strongly believe that through Diaspora International Hospital Uganda, Ugandans will be given a 2nd chance of living by accessing the best of specialised healthcare nearby within their own country. We also believe that this is one of the best ways the Ugandan diaspora can contribute to the economic transformation of Uganda. DIHU will not only provide healthcare but also jobs in the form of employment and business to entrepreneurs.
Authors of this abstract are DIHUF Board members. Read more about DIHUF on https://dihuf.org/index.php/aboutus/aboutus and the 1st DIHUF conference here https://dihuf.org/index.php/aboutus/aboutus
Reclaiming the Future through Inter-generational Partnerships for development and Transformation.
By Helena Okiring, founder and CEO of the Dream Initiative
The presentation will be based on two case studies drawn from Teso, with a goal to highlight key lessons and opportunities for social entrepreneurship and inter-generational partnerships that could provide organic, sustainable solutions to address gaps in education and youth employment in the region.
Helena Okiring is the founder and CEO of the Dream Initiative, a platform for the development of creative leadership based in Uganda. She has worked has worked in the NGO sector in East Africa for over 7 years with a core focus on Youth and Women in Development. Notably, she has pioneered programmes on Youth participation in public policy and governance, promoting the participation of women in leadership. She is a final year student at the University of Nottingham where she is concluding an MA in Critical Theory and Cultural studies. Helena is also an alumnus of the prestigious International Visitors Leadership Programme by the United States Government, awarded to persons who have demonstrated outstanding excellence in contributing to the advancement of Democracy and Good governance in their countries.
Domestic and Sexual Violence
By Noreen Mukalazi, Women’s Developmet Worker, London Borough of Newham
Definition: Violence against women” means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life (www.niaendingviolence.org.uk,2018). Domestic violence affects everyone of us directly or indirectly. Men, women and children experience domestic abuse. However, statistics Worldwide indicate that, 35% of women have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence (www.unwomen.org,2017).
Methods or approaches used: Social context – Family structure, standards and acceptable norms. Cultural context – Economic abuse, using isolation, cultural expectations of a woman in different cultural contexts. Gender approach – This approach will look at male privilege, coercive control, using children. Results from the approaches: Understanding and taking responsibility i.e. minimize denial and blaming in the process, early intervention. Understanding the Power and Control tool. Victim to survivor mode.
Recommendations: Women empowerment initiatives play a pivotal role in the elimination of violence against women and girls. The United Nations has recommended women’s empowerment is vital for sustainable development (www.unwomen.org,2017). Sensitization programmes for both men and women should be encouraged. Religious and cultural leaders have a key role to play in ensuring that they take no tolerance attitude to any form of gender-based violence. A Multi agency approach has proved to be the best way to support victims of domestic and sexual violence. Whether it is applicable in the Ugandan context is another matter to be explored.
Noreen Mukalazi is an Inspirational Speaker and Coach with a passion for empowering and helping women excel. Having obtained a First-Class Honours Degree in Business Management (Human Resource Management), she went on to work on the delivery of key strategic projects with a focus on talent management for large organisations such as Lloyd’s Registrar and the CIPD. She is currently working as a Women’s Development Officer for the London Borough of Newham. She gained various qualifications such as supporting survivors of domestic violence and career coaching and mentoring. Her specialities are: HR Talent Management, mentoring, speaking, personal and team coaching, career mapping and coaching and domestic & sexual violence policy consultant. She is founder of Equip Summer Camp and Ugandan Women in Business Forum.
Shaping Karamoja’ s Future Development Agenda: past, present and future development of Karamoja region
By Ambrose Dbins Toolit, United Nations Development Programme managing United Nations Volunteers Programme for South Africa and Lesotho
Many decades ago, it was common to hear people joke that “we shall not wait for Karamoja to develop”, such remarks were not uttered entirely in jest but as an expression of the reality of the under developed nature Karamoja region.
Karamoja historically has been viewed as a violent, backward, underdeveloped peripheral region since the colonial era. Although Uganda has achieved unprecedented socio-economic progress over the past decades with poverty declining, Karamoja has persistently remained the poorest and most underdeveloped region despite several development interventions.
Based on the human development index, the region is at the bottom of the radar, with one in every two people being poor. Unlike the rest of Uganda, Karamoja presents a unique development challenge. It is a semi-arid, characterised by a combination of acute poverty and persistent famine, vulnerability to drought, poor infrastructural development and basic social service delivery, limited marketing opportunities, natural resource degradation, social-cultural marginalisation, compounded by longstanding dependency on external aid.
Despite these challenges, the region is endowed with several untapped natural resources, livestock, proximity to two strategic international borders that can unlock trade opportunities. Karamoja’ s development potential has been highlighted many times yet untapped. For example, the region is considered as “the basket of Uganda’s minerals” (GOU, 2011) and “top tourist destination because of its stunning scenery and wildlife” (CNN, 2016).
The core aspirations of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is to ensure that no one is left behind. For Karamoja region to catch up with the rest of the world in terms of socio-economic development, it requires deliberate-ambitious and collective undertaking to turn its potentials to reality and transform the region; and reach out to the most marginalized especially youth and women.
To shed light on these issues, this paper titled, “Shaping Karamoja’ s Future Development Agenda: past, present and future development of Karamoja region” will be delivered by Ambrose Dbins Toolit at the 5th Teso Development International Conference in London, United Kingdom.
About Ambrose Dbins Toolit
A born of Karenga, Kaabong district, Karamoja region, Ambrose Dbins TOOLIT is a governance and policy analyst with well demonstrated years of professional experience in international development with the United Nations, International Development organizations and local Civil Society Organisations in Uganda, Lesotho and South Africa. He is currently working with United Nations Development Programme managing United Nations Volunteers Programme for South Africa and Lesotho.
Ambrose holds an MA. International Development Studies from Kimmage Development Study Center, Dublin-Ireland. He attended Makerere University where he received a Post-Graduate Diploma in Social Justice (2016), a Bachelor of Adult and Community Education (2006) and a Diploma in Education of Kyambogo University (1998).
Additionally, he is also a founding Executive Member and General Secretary of Karamoja Community UK Foundation, an organisation dedicated to advancing Karamoja’ s development through advocacy, sharing information experiences and strategies about the region in the diaspora.
Addressing Youth unemployment challenges in Karamoja region
Hon. Esther Anyakun, Member of Parliament, Uganda
Honourable Esther Anyakun is a Member of Ugandan Parliament for Nakapiripirit District. She is also a Vice Chairperson Presidential Affairs Committee. Hon. Anyakun holds a Bachelor’s degree in Procurement and Logistics Management and Diploma in Social work and Administration. She is currently pursuing Executive MBA in, Procurement and Logistics management and Social Work Social Administration.
She is an experienced social worker, having worked as Regional Coordinator for USAID-RWANU project in Nutrition and Livelihoods and Case Worker with International Organisation for Migrants (IOM). She also worked as Hospital Administrator at Amudat Hospital. Hon. Anyakun will present a paper entitled: Addressing the challenge of youth unemployment in Karamoja region.
Unlocking poverty: a barrier to sustainable development to the people living in Teso sub region.
By Hon. Frederick Angura, Member of Parliament, Tororo County, South and member committees on Natural Resources and National Economy
Efforts to reduce poverty at national level often fail because the reasons people are poor vary from one location to another (Okwi et.al, 2006), indeed for Teso sub region there has been little critical analysis to establish the precise relationship between poverty and these causing factors. A few studies by UNDP through the District Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability Profiles 2014 have laboured to explain the causes of increased poverty levels in the Teso sub region. This paper seeks to bring out the relationship between the people in their local living environment (Teso sub region) and poverty traps that lie therein.
Providing maternal health services in semi-nomadic environment; the case of Karamoja
Dr. Paul Lokubal, Technical Advisor – Doctors’ with Africa CUAMM
Despite many interventions by partners and government and government’s ratification of many international declarations on maternal, new-born and child health, Karamoja sub region, situated in the north-eastern part of the country, with a population of about 1.2 million people has, by all metrics the worst humanitarian and development indicators in Uganda.
UNDP Report, Uganda (2015) puts the maternal mortality ratio at 750 deaths per 100,000 live births whilst the national average is 336/100,000 (UDHS, 2016). Moreover, nearly 50% of mothers deliver under the care of the unskilled traditional birth attendants or even more worryingly, on their own. This not only put their lives at a risk but also on their unborn or new-born babies. It can thus be safely assumed that these figures are only conservative estimates – there could be more maternal and perinatal deaths which are unreported.
There are numerous factors affecting access and uptake of reproductive, maternal, new-born, child and adolescent health services in the region, chief among which include; endemic poverty; long distances to access basic health services; poorly equipped health facilities lacking the basic medicines and supplies and often manned by highly overworked and demotivated staff; and negative cultural practices that ostracise skilled-birth attendants. It must be stated that improving Karamoja’s healthcare system requires a deeper contextual understanding of the major challenges affecting the region and designing innovative and context-appropriate interventions.
To address some of the above challenges, CUAMM through support from UNICEF introduced simple yet highly effective interventions, namely: use of vouchers – where mothers are transported by registered bodabodas (motorcycle ambulances) to receive attention from the nearest health facility; solar suitcases – to improve lighting in health facilities lacking lighting, thus aiding in night deliveries; and use of birth cushions/alternative birthing positions – mothers in labour squat as compared to the conventional lithotomy position. This has proved quite popular in Karamoja.
Currently, UNICEF is piloting the Family Connect project in Kaabong District and 10 other districts in Uganda – where women can have reminder messages delivered to them through mobile phones. Also, this system helps in tracking lost to follow up clients. Preliminary results are already promising with Kaabong currently reporting the highest skilled-birth attendants in the entire sub region with 67% of mothers delivering at health facilities. Other indicators such as ART initiation for PMTCT and immunization coverage have tremendously improved. The program is expected to be rolled out to other districts soon.
Key challenges that need to be addressed include:
Inadequate human resource, especially of critical cadres e.g. only 2 out of 8 DHOs in Karamoja are substantially appointed while some districts like Amudat have less than 30% health staff levels; Poor financing – despite ratifying the Abuja Declaration that required each African country to commit 15% of its total national budget to health, in the FY 2018/2019, the Ministry of Health received just over 8% of the total budget; The mobile nature of the Karimojong community – this will require innovations such as establishing mobile clinics. This paper will be presented by Dr. Paul Lokubal.
The presenter
Dr Lokubal Paul has over 5 years of experience serving the underserved region of Karamoja both as a Clinician and a Manager. He studied Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at Makerere University (2007-2012) and is currently pursuing an MSc in Public Health for Development at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London. UK.
Others speakers and guests are:
Hon. Veronica Isala Eragu Bichetero, Member of Parliament for Kaberamaid County and Vice Chair of Teso Parliamentary Group (TPG). She will present progress in the implementation of resolutions of TDIC 2017 conference.
Elma Challa Kapel, Miss Tourism, Uganda. She who will speak about promoting tourism in Uganda.
Lucia Mugena Aide, College Student, in the UK. She will speak about the power of young people and the importance of investing in them.
Sara Eicker Amulen, Drug Free World and Director, Ron. Hubbard Foundation. Sarah will speak about the epidemic of substance misuse, crime and other antisocial behaviours.
Benon Oluka, Journalist and Graduate Student, University of Leeds. Benon will speak about development in Uganda: challenges and prospects.
Hon. Simon Lokodo, State Minister for Ethics who speak about achieving ethical sustainable development in Uganda.
Lawyer Richard Anguria Omongole. Richard will address compensation of the Iteso for the lost property by the Government of Uganda as per the ruling of High Court of Uganda.
There will also a presentation by Buganda Land Board on issues of land ownership in Buganda.
There will also be a grand charity dinner on Saturday 22nd September 2018 where the Emiromor will launch Karamoja Community UK Foundation and a book on Iteso food recipes, among other activities.
Hon. Charles Ilukor is a Member of Parliament for Kumi County in Kumi District and is a member of the committee of Budget and Finance and Economic Planning. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a major in accounting of Makerere University. He is a certified performance auditor having obtained a diplom
a in performance auditing from AFROSAI-E that is African Supreme Audit Institution English Speaking based in South Africa.
Prior to joining Parliament, he served for close to 20 years in the Office of the Auditor General of Uganda as a Senior Auditor. He is an accomplished performance auditor with and impeccable record and experience and has a vast knowledge of financial management in government institutions of Uganda. Hon. Ilukor speak about performance of government programmes and how local administrations in Teso and Karamoja improve the performance of government programmes for the benefit of the local people.
Hon. Agnes Ameede is a Member of Parliament, Butebo District and Vice Chairperson Committee of East African Affairs and Member of the Committee of Commissions and Statutory Agencies. Before joining politics, worked as Senior Administrator, Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control/ Ministry of Internal Affairs. Hon. Ameede holds a BA (Makerere University), Postgraduate Diploma in Management (Uganda Management Institute), Masters in Management of Uganda Management Institute and Master of Science in Development Management (Open University), UK. For her earlier education, she attended St. Paul’s College Mbale and Tororo Girl’s School.
Hon. Ameede has interests in enhancing service delivery at the grassroot level; participatory generation and implementation of public policy; mobilization and sensitization of the masses about government policy; monitoring and evaluation of Public services; and participation in community development to eradicate poverty. During her time in the 10th Parliament, Hon. Ameede has founded Butebo Women’s Development Association, a company registered by guarantee and incorporated with limited liability. The objective of the Association is to promote the welfare and livelihoods of the people of Butebo focusing on the women, youth, elderly and the disabled. The conference will benefit from Hon. Ameede’s immense experience and expertise.
Karamoja Community UK Foundation (KCUKF)
KCUKF is non-profit organisation constituted under the laws of England & Wales and is a registered company with reference No 11401811. The Organisation is working through building partnership with the public private sector civil society organisation in areas of education, community participation, health, environment and mining, cultural heritage, water and sanitation, agriculture through engaging with charities and partners that have participated in Karamoja development.
KCUKF is engaged in advancing Karamoja development through advocacy sharing information experiences and strategies in the UK and diaspora to strengthen the Karamoja voices and build capacity to participate effectively and influence decisions & Effective service delivery. The founding team members are William Curran Executive Director, Teddy Loumo Curran Director/ Chairperson, Rose Lilly Okello Atyang Vice Chairperson, Ambrose Toolit Execu
tive Secretary and Dr John Osuku Opio, patron.
Our aspirations are driven by a few indicators for Karamoja compared to Uganda as a nation, for example maternal mortality in Karamoja of 750/100,000 live birth compared to 336/100,000 live birth nationally in Uganda (Uganda Demographic and Health Survey, 2016). The infant mortality rate for Karamoja is high while for Uganda is 43 % (UDHS, 2016). The literacy levels for Karamoja being 63 % of persons above 15 not having attended formal education compared to national figures of 18%(UNDP, 2015). Reports also indicated malaria prevalence 69% whereas central region at 21% and only 1% in Kampala (UDHS, 2015).
The plans, aspirations and activities of KCUKF will be presented by Rose Lilly Atyang before it launched by His Royal Highness, the Emorimor, Augustine Osuban.
