Oxfam in Uganda calls for Stronger Collaboration on Peace and Climate Resilience in West Nile

Arua City, Uganda, 26 May 2026. Oxfam in Uganda has today convened political and technical leaders, refugee-led organizations, civil society actors, cultural institutions, and development partners from Yumbe, Terego, and Madi Okollo districts for a high-level Inter-District Round Table Dialogue on Peace and Climate Change.

Held under the theme, “Building Peace and Climate Resilience; Strengthening Collaboration for Sustainable Communities,” the dialogue is taking place at Hotel Le Confidential in Arua City and seeks to strengthen collective action on climate resilience, peaceful coexistence, and accountable service delivery across the West Nile region.

The engagement is part of the Humanitarian, Development and Peace Initiative for Crisis-Affected Populations in Uganda (HDP Project), implemented by Oxfam in Uganda, and partners, with support from the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA).

The dialogue comes at a time when climate-related pressures, including increasing competition over land, water, and livelihoods, continue to affect communities in West Nile, with implications for social cohesion and sustainable development.

Speaking during the opening session, Mr. Francis Shanty Odokorach, Country Director of Oxfam in Uganda, emphasized the need for integrated and inclusive approaches to climate resilience and peacebuilding.

“Climate change is no longer a distant environmental concern. It is already affecting livelihoods, food security, and community stability across Uganda and particularly here in West Nile,” said Mr. Odokorach.

“When access to land, water, forests, and livelihoods becomes strained, tensions can arise within and between communities. This is why we must invest in integrated solutions that strengthen resilience, promote inclusion, and build lasting peace,” he added.

He further stressed the importance of partnerships and locally led solutions in addressing the growing peace and climate challenges facing refugee and host communities.

“At Oxfam in Uganda, we believe that lasting solutions are built through partnerships, collaboration, and accountability. Through the HDP Project, we have worked closely with refugee-led organisations, cultural institutions, women and youth groups, and local leaders to strengthen peaceful coexistence and resilience across West Nile,” he added.

The dialogue builds on earlier district-level round tables conducted in Yumbe, Terego, and Madi Okollo, where stakeholders examined the growing nexus between climate change and peace dynamics within communities.

Through the HDP Project supported by DANIDA, Oxfam in Uganda and its partners have been implementing community-based peacebuilding and resilience initiatives across refugee and host communities in West Nile. These efforts include strengthening mediation and dialogue mechanisms led by cultural and religious leaders, supporting peaceful resolution of land-related conflicts, promoting inclusive participation of women and youth, and advancing climate-resilient livelihoods and social cohesion.

The initiative has also supported the development and dissemination of the Lugbara Customary Land Rules and Regulations to strengthen fair access to land, conflict prevention, and peaceful coexistence among refugee and host communities.

According to Mr. Odokorach, these locally driven approaches continue to demonstrate the importance of community ownership in sustaining peace.

“We have seen encouraging progress through community mediation initiatives, early warning mechanisms, and dialogue platforms that bring together refugees and host communities to resolve disputes peacefully and strengthen social cohesion,” he noted.

“However, much more remains to be done. We need stronger coordination between technical and political leaders, greater investment in climate adaptation and sustainable livelihoods, and more inclusive participation of women and young people in shaping solutions for their communities.”

Oxfam in Uganda reaffirmed its commitment to working with local governments, civil society, refugee-led organizations, and communities to promote inclusive development, strengthen resilience, and support sustainable peace across Uganda.