Authors posts

A stock-take of COP25: What is in it for poor countries like Uganda

“It is not climate change it is climate emergency, we are in a climate crisis”. IPCC 1.5°C special report- shows greater temperature rise and impacts accelerating. The Sahara is increasing its size by 10%, small island states are at the verge of disappearing because of the rising sea levels, 40% of...

A Refugee Settlement is Different from What I Thought

For the first time, I visited a refugee settlement recently. Prior my visit, I was skeptical about which settlement I wanted to see. Bidibidi Refugee Settlement in Arua district has been marked one of the largest refugee settlements in the world so I thought it would give me a good understanding of...

The poor get poorer, while the rich get richer; The impacts of unfair land systems in Uganda

When Uganda’s richest 10 percent earned 2.3 times more than its poorest 40 percent in 2009, any concerned person would be curious to understand what drives such a discrepancy and how best to bridge the gap between the poor and the rich. The contributors to such a big gap are mainly land, education...

The role of Strategic Partnerships in the fight against economic inequality through influencing international & domestic tax policy– a case of the Uganda-Netherlands Double Taxation Agreement

Excessive economic inequality is one of the defining issues of our time. Unfortunately, Uganda has experienced a rise in economic inequality over the past twenty years (scoring 0.37 on the Gini coefficient in Financial Year 2016/17) which has reflected into a macroeconomic instability and faltering...

Hear my noise in the storm!

Divorced with four kids, Esther (not real names) battled with a violent partner for several years. Constrained by the belief in the Lugbara culture that domestic violence is a private issue, Esther couldn’t open up about the issue and thus continued to conceal and live with this for the years they...

MEN ARE ALSO WOMEN'S RIGHTS CHAMPIONS

I used to think that all men under-value women, especially their role/contribution in economic development. That was until the day I had a chat with the Chairperson Local council five (LC5) of Packwach District, Mr. Omito Robert Steen, where he said, “Some people might say I have all the reasons to...

Deriving Fulfillment Through Hygiene Promotion -Samuel

Two months after I settled here, I became an Oxfam field-based volunteer. You see, before I fled into Uganda, I worked in the WASH sector in South Sudan. With my background in WASH implementation, I applied for a job which I successfully acquired. Even more exciting is the way this opportunity has...

A SONG FOR PEACE

“What can we do to end the suffering that we have faced for a long time in our country? We hear the sound of bombs, bombs have finished us all. We can see that Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya have developed because they are peaceful. What can we the Acholi people do to unite and bring peace?” Women of...

Boys at Eden II Primary school join Baskania Armitege, Rhino Camp Settlement Commandant to officially commission the latrine blocks for use. Photo credit:Oxfam

Building latrines for a healthy learning environment

Schools are supposed to be safe, friendly environments for children to learn. However, few schools in the refugee settlements of Rhino camp, Imvepi and Bidibidi in Arua and Yumbe Districts respectively, have latrines. Those with latrines are unisex, and also accommodate the teachers. According to...

Model homes for Ariwa 1, Rhino Camp settlement

“One hundred sixty household latrines completed in Ariwa 1, I am excited!” exclaimed Oliver Taban while addressing a team of people from different organizations that were monitoring the work of Oxfam in Rhino Camp settlement, Arua, Uganda. Oliver Taban, a South Sudan Refugee, is a hygiene promoter...

The power of people against poverty