Budaka, Uganda: International City of Peace
We welcome Michael Soikya and the citizens of Budaka, Budaka District in Uganda as they establish their community as a City of Peace. Michael is the founder and Executive Direct of Action for Community Welfare, a community based organization committed to improving the quality of life for orphans, vulnerable children and youth.
Note: Introduction page with information primarily at the time of joining International Cities of Peace. For updates, please contact the liaison.
PEACE LEGACY OF BUDAKA
Budaka is one of the villages in Budaka District. Budaka District is located in the Eastern region of Uganda. The town of Budaka is the site of the District headquarters.
Budaka District in the North is bordered by Pallisa District, Mbale District in the east, Butaleja in the south, and Kibuku in the west. Budaka town is approximately 36 kilometers (22mi) by the road, west of Mbale town , the largest city in the sub region.
However, due to the fact the Mbale and Budaka Districts all depend on agriculture, there are always tribal clashes between the Bagisu and the Bagwere famers over Namatala wetland located along Budaka and Mbale Districts.
Just in 2020, there was a tribal clash where the Bagwere attacked Bagisu in Nyanza trading centre in Nansenye parish along Tirinyi highway about 8 km from Mbale town and blocked traffic along the route. Armed with pangas, short axes, knives and sticks, the Bagwere stormed roads and burnt logs, tyres and dry banana leaves and police found it hard to settle the situation hence leading police to shoot bullets in air in a bid to restoring peace among the Bagwere. This clash left 3 dead and many injured with sever wounds. Other people lost their body parts like hand and legs.
Our Vision
To improve the quality of life for Orphans, Vulnerable Children, Youth and their households by providing Health Services, Food Security, Job Development and Training, Building of Water Wells, Sanitation Facilities and Child and Youth Education.
Our Mission
To empower Orphans, Vulnerable Children and youth to participate in improving their quality of life through an integrated, community based and participatory approaches to peace development.
Objectives
- To carry out research on issues that have a bearing on Orphans, Vulnerable Children, Youth and their households rights to adequate quality/good quality food (food security)
- To promote skills development in areas of leadership, planning, advocacy, income generation, project management and undertake community based activities aimed at improving the socioeconomic welfare of Orphans, Vulnerable Children, Youth and their households.
- To network with local as well as international development institutions such as NGO’s, local councils, government, bilateral and multilateral agencies in order to improve on the standards of living of Orphans, Vulnerable Children and Youth and their households.
- To develop and promote a saving culture among Orphans, Vulnerable Children and Youth.
- To provide, aid, facilitate, coordinate, source or link Orphans, Vulnerable Children and Youth to scholarships, sponsorships and any kind of meaningful assistance for their welfare and furtherance of their education and good life.
- To partner with, support, equip, work with; establish or run schools, child care centres or related establishment of a nature relevant to education, development and welfare of Orphans, Vulnerable Children, Youth and their households.
- To undertake interventions in health including health outreaches, health centres, or similar establishments and interventions for the provision of and to supplement or contribute to the provision of health and related services to Orphans, Vulnerable Children, Youth and their households.
- To ensure safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene through drilling of water wells, maintenance of natural water sources and supply of sanitations facilities to Orphans, Vulnerable Children and Youth and their households.
- To partner with peace making agencies or bodies to ensure peace and stability in among Orphans, Vulnerable children, youth and their households.
- To carry out Lobbing and advocacy
- To solicit funding from persons (Individuals, Churches, Companies, Institutions, Organizations, Government departments, Governments, locally and internationally for the furtherance of the above objectives.
PROJECT EXAMPLE
Skilling Girls and Young Mothers in Reusable Sanitary Pad Making in Budaka District.
By the end of the year 2019 the one year project titled Skilling Girls and Young Mothers in Reusable Sanitary Pads Making Project entered its final phase. Therefore, in an effort to catch up with the timeline and reach the initial target, in the period 2018-2019 the organization saw an upswing in the project activities.
The project was implemented at a cost of 24,890,321 (Uganda Shilling) with the financial support from Life Regain Foundation Australia, International Hope Foundation and Score Construction Co, Ltd. It covered 12 villages in 5 sub counties of the District targeting 1000 orphaned households
The purpose of this project was to empower girls and young mothers through making and supply of reusable sanitary pads with education on menstrual management and hygiene in Budaka District.
This project was implemented at the right time and helped to draw the attention of girls , young mothers, children both boys and girls from getting involved in the violence that was taking place as a result the Bagwere and Bagisu clashing over Namatala wetland. They were always busy and by this peace was being promoted.
PROJECT GOALS
• To increase supply and access to suitable, quality and adequate reusable sanitary pads to girls and young mothers in Budaka District
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
• To increase the availability of reusable sanitary pads to girls and young mothers by 60%
• To increase access to reusable sanitary pads to girls and young mothers by 60%
• To increase the supply of suitable, quality and adequate reusable sanitary pads to girls and young mothers by 50%
• To increase the self-esteem of girls and young mothers by 75% in Budaka District
• To fight stigma concerning menstrual phenomenon
• To liaise with other stakeholders on menstrual management and hygiene
• To lobby and advocate for girls and young mothers
PROJECT BENEFICIARIES
The project will benefit 3,000 girls and young mothers in Budaka District
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
• Train 3 trainers of trainees in reusable sanitary pads making
• Carry out school and community visits
• Purchase of equipment
• Purchase of training materials
• Rent of training space
• Monitoring and evaluation
• Documentation
PROJECT OUTCOMES
• Reduced stigma attached to menstrual phenomenon by 50% in the District
• Increased supply of suitable, quality and adequate reusable sanitary pads by 60%
• Improved menstrual management and hygiene hence improved reproductive health
• Reduced infections related to menstrual bleeding by 40%.
LETTER OF INTENT
ABOUT THE LIAISON
MICHAEL SOIKYA
Michael Soikya was born on 22nd, July 1987 in a small village known as Budaka rural in Budaka District. Michael is a professional Social Worker with a Bachelor of Social Work and Social Administration. He also has a post graduate diploma in Project Planning and Management.
He is the founder and Executive Direct of Action for Community Welfare a community based organization committed to improving the quality of life for Orphans, Vulnerable Children and youth.
Michael also serves as the chairman Board of Directors at The Invisible Destitute and is the current Chief Executive Officer Score Construction Company Limited. He has an experience of over 8 years working with children and youth especially those that are captives of vulnerability. He is very humble, happy always and married to humble and peaceful wife Mary and are blessed with one child.
Michael’s peacefulness to all in the community earned him a title “PEACE MASTER” and to him this is a big success in life as this helps him to connect with many hearts for peace and change in his community.
Facilitator
Our special appreciation goes to Ms. JOLANDA (J.H.M.) VAN WIJK of The Hague the Netherlands International City Of Peace (and mentor for Zzana Uganda International City of Peace and inspirator for, a.o., Nateete Uganda International City of Peace).
CONTACT INFORMATION
ABOUT BUDAKA DISTRICT, UGANDA (from Wikipedia)
Budaka District is a district in the Eastern Region of Uganda. The town of Budaka is the site of the district headquarters.
Budaka district is bordered by Pallisa District to the north, Mbale District to the east, Butaleja District to the south, and Kibuku District to the west. The town of Budaka is approximately 36 kilometres (22 mi), by road, west of Mbale, the largest city in the sub-region.
The district consists of Budaka County and Iki-Iki County.
In 1991, the national population census estimated the population of the district at 100,300. The 2002 national census estimated the population at 136,500, with an annual population growth rate of 2.8 percent. In 2012, the population was estimated at 178,900.
Economic activities
In 2009, a tile and brick manufacturing plant was opened at Kamonkoli by Uganda Clays Limited. The factory employs over 200 people.
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