Posts: Information, Research & Communication
Kyegegwa District Nutrition Symposium 2024: Closing the Gap, Breastfeeding Support for all
Left to right: NRM district Chairperson Mr. Wilson Byaboona,Deputy RDC Kyegegwa District Ms. Winnie Atuhaire, Kyegegwa District Vice Chairperson Mr. Nabasa Lawrence, The Head of FAGRIB Unit Dr. Violet Kanyiginya and the Assistant RDC Kyegegwa District after launching the Breastfeeding Corner at the district headquarters. KRC-Uganda with funding from the United Nations World Food Program (UNWFP), in collaboration with United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), Kyegegwa District Local Government (KDLG), Medical Team International (MTI), CARE International and Refugee-led Organizations such as RESDA, Lets Help International (LHI), organised and participated in a 7-day nutrition symposium held at Kyegegwa District headquarters from 1st to 7th August 2024. The event commemorated the World Breastfeeding Month under the theme: Closing the Gap, Breastfeeding Support for All. Ms. Sharon Nalunkuuma shares insights about nutrition and breast feeding. Ms. Sharon Nalunkuuma, the team leader of, KRC-Uganda in Kyaka II Refugee settlement was beaming with joy at the milestone that KRC-Uganda has registered in addressing issues of malnutrition in the settlement and Kyegegwa district. While addressing the high-level stakeholders during the event, she stressed the need to support mothers’ consumption of adequate and nutritious foods during pregnancy and breastfeeding to ensure good health for both the mother and the child. Ms. Sharon dismissed the long-held myth that small babies are easy to push during delivery as opposed to big ones, emphasising that if a child is born below normal weight (<2.5kg), that significantly affects the window of opportunity (conception to 2 years of child’s life). She highlighted that stunting is low height for age, irreversible after the child’s second birthday. She reminded all stakeholders to support mothers in the initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour after delivery. Attention was also drawn to the Kulea Watoto project, which is implemented by KRC-Uganda in consortium with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), supporting mothers to access nutritious foods through household kitchen gardens and demonstration gardens at the Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDCs). The Symposium was a blend of knowledge sharing, learning and reflection, organised with the following objectives: To strengthen the coordination mechanism for Nutrition in the Kyegegwa district To generate practical solutions and pathways for accelerating the achievement of sustainable optimal nutrition results; To take stock of the progress made in the implementation of nutrition activities and; To develop actions for accelerated delivery of Kyegegwa District Nutrition Action Plan (DNAP). Pupils of Humura primary School share a photo moment after a wonderful performance The symposium attracted several stakeholders including district and government officials, the media fraternity, CBOS, INGOs, NGOs and CSOs, and religious and cultural leaders. In his remarks, the District Planner- Mr. Denis Busobozi, who is also the District Nutrition Focal person for the Kyegegwa district, commended the Kabarole District Nutrition Coordination Committee (DNCC) for their unwavering commitment to nutrition initiatives in their district. He implored the Kyegegwa district to plant more fruit trees that will be beneficial to the wider community as opposed to flowers which serve a decorative purpose. “We are indebted to CARE International for facilitating the exchange learning visit to Kabarole district to benchmark best practices by their nutrition committee” emphasised Denis. Mr. Denis Busobozi, the district planner and nutrition focal person kyegegwa district addresses stakeholders during the symposium The guest of honour Ms. Winnie Atuhaire, the Deputy RDC of Kyegegwa district thanked participants for their commitment towards food and nutrition security programs. While inspecting the exhibition area, the Deputy RDC was surprised and challenged by the mealworm feeding initiative by Mother Against Hunger and Malnutrition (MAMAH) stating that it is unique yet easy to achieve. She was equally amazed by the Early Childhood Development integration approach KRC-Uganda employs under the Kulea Watoto project while empowering communities to adopt optimal child care and nutrition practices. As a highlight to close the nutrition symposium, Ms. Winnie officially launched the breastfeeding corner at the district headquarters -an initiative by KRC-Uganda with Funding from the UNWFP. She appreciated KRC-Uganda for thinking about mothers in such a special way. “I am also a mother, so I will be able to come with my baby and breastfeed from here. I will now work comfortably and peacefully knowing that my baby and the caretaker are close to me”, she noted with a smile. She called upon all implementing partners to expand their sensitisation to the Surrounding host communities of the Kyaka II refugee settlement for enhanced coexistence. The guest of honour listens attentively to the nutrition experts at the KRC-Uganda exhibition stall. The guest of honour assured participants that Uganda has established its first Breast Milk Bank in Mbale Regional Referral Hospital and the efforts are still agile in the expansion of Human Milk Banks. This will enable infants who cannot access their mother’s milk during crises or emergencies, to also benefit from this essential source of nutrition and protection. She appealed to men (fathers) to proactively protect, promote and support the breastfeeding of babies. Further, she encouraged all male spouses to escort their wives for antenatal and postnatal visits. some of the stakeholders at the nutrition symposium Key resolutions from the symposium included: Setting up and equipping the Breast-feeding corner at the District Headquarters Sub counties and Town council to operationalize the Nutrition interventions including the Nutrition Coordination Committees District, Health facilities, Schools, Sub County headquarters and Town Council headquarters to set up nutrition demo sites Political leaders to mobilise and sensitise households to set up kitchen gardens for improved nutrition. Plant fruit trees at institutional headquarters (District, Town Council, Sub County, Schools, health facilities, and OPM Offices at Bujubuli. Mainstream nutrition in all activities through budget allocation and expenditure on nutrition interventions Set up and operate nutrition committees in schools and health facilities Conduct regular exchange visits to learn from best-performing local governments Map, monitor and supervise all nutrition-implementing partners Conduct monthly, and quarterly, nutrition coordination, review and planning meetings for Kyaka II Settlement and sub-county/Town council rotational meetings. (Care International in Uganda, OPM, etc). Regulate the consumption of alcohol (spirits) among the refugees and host communities in Kyegegwa District. (District Leadership/ Refugee |Welfare Councils-RWCs) Integrate youth and People with disabilities in nutrition interventions including campaigns. Advocate for the recruitment of Nutritionists in the District. Ms. Winnie Atuhaire the Deputy RDC Kyegegwa district inspecting the breast feeding corner after launching it as the guest of honour. By: Caroline Namara Bwana Communication and Documentation Officer KRC-Uganda
Briquettes Market Study Promoting Solar Powered Energy Efficient Stoves (PROSPER)
The following are the objectives of this strategyi. To ensure accessibility of quality briquettes for wider use at ease-of-reach pointii. To ensure affordability of quality briquettes by bringing down it priceiii. To create awareness and sensitize masses on feasibility of using quality briquettesiv. To support scaled up quality briquettes production as a panacea to bring down the pricev. Strengthening public private partnerships in quality briquettes production andmarketingvi. Integrate and mainstream cross-cutting issues in wider quality briquettes production (including women, children, persons with disability, reducing gender based violence, saving the environment from degradation as well as contributing to reduction of HIV/AIDS) … Click to access Full Report
A CONFLICT MAPPING REPORT
This is a report of the Conflict Mapping for the Network for Peace: Preventing and ResolvingConflicts through Early Warning Mechanism in Africa Project being implemented in Kaseseand Ntoroko Districts located in the Rwenzori Sub Region of Western Uganda. The projectis jointly implemented by Community Development Resource Network (CDRN) and KabaroleResearch & Resource Centre (KRC Uganda) in Ntoroko and Kasese Districts respectively,with financial support from the UK aid in partnership with Minority Rights Group International(MRGI) …Click to access Full Report
A Report on the Assessment of Societal Norms, Values & Attitudes that promote or fight Corruption in Rwenzori Region
This study sought to find out the societal norms, values and attitudes that promote or fight corruption in Rwenzori region. The study was commissioned by Kabarole Resource and Research Centre (KRC) with the funding from Democratic Governance Facility (DGF). The scope extended to include the eight districts (Kabarole, Kyenjojo, Bundibugyo, Ntoroko, Kamwenge, Kyegegwa, Bunyangabu, and Kasese) … Click to access The Full Report
THE IMPACT OF THE CREATION OF NEW ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS ON SERVICE DELIVERY IN RWENZORI REGION
Kabarole Research Center (KRC), with funding from Democratic Governance Facility (DGF), is implementing a three year Civic Education Project in the Rwenzori region under the title “Enhancing People Power for Transformative Leadership in the 8 Districts of the Rwenzori region”. The project aims at achieving a civically competent citizenry with ability to demand for a more responsive and accountable state; to increase citizens’ knowledge on civil and political rights and to increase government capacity to respond to citizens demands. To achieve these aims, KRC conducted researches on pressing governance issues in order to generate evidence that can be used by citizens and leaders to make appropriate choicesand decisions in planning, policy formulation and effective implementation of development programs for effective service delivery at community levels. In this context, this research sought to interrogate the claim that decentralization and the creation of new administrative units have brought services closer to the people and empowered them through participation on the governance landscape. This is against the backdrop of the immense criticism leveled against the creation of new administrative units which pundits argue has laid a heavier burden onto the tax payer … Click to access The Full Report
THE MELTING POT: Land Conflicts in the Rwenzori Region
This study examines the centrality of land in the conflict situation in the Rwenzori region of western Uganda. By exploring the factors underlying the incidences of land conflicts, the study derives vital implications of these conflicts to the region’s peace and security situation. The findings indicate that land remains at the centre of the prevailing conflict narrative in the Region. Notwithstanding the narratives that may mask land, such as references to ethno-political and sociolinguistic pluralities and antagonisms, land is the fulcrum around which these struggles revolve. Narratives like ethnic tensions have been researched and told time and again, thus masking the fundamental problem: land governance. Land conflicts tend to draw many different people and agencies into their fold, thus impacting on the peace and security measures and potentialities in the region’s entire community. The study proposes institutional and structural measures for overcoming these interlocking conflicts. …Click to access The Full Report
PROFILING OF AGRICULTURAL CROP MARKETING COOPERATIVES AND ASSOCIATIONS AND THEIR SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS IN THE RWENZORIREGION
The profiling study was conducted to document the status of marketing cooperatives andassociations in Rwenzori region with an objective to improve understanding of their scope andscale, the range of services they receive and offer with the associated terms and conditionsand in turn, determine how best to support them while improving the synergy of BD partnersand the food cluster members of the Rwenzori regional Development Framework …Click to access Full Report
FOOD CONSUMPTION DYNAMICS OF THE URBAN POOR IN FORT PORTAL MUNICIPALITY
This report provides an analysis of the street food system in Fort Portal town . The study drawsattention to the consumption dynamics of the urban poor to bring new insights into the currentglobal food debate framed on population forecasts and the related production narrative.Through a consumer survey, interviews and focus group discussions with the urban foodvendors and the different consumer segments. The evidence suggests that food security andnutrition, particularly for the urban poor is not just about addressing food production … …Click to read The Full Report
STUCK INTHE MIST: Contextual Analysis of the Conflicts in the Rwenzori Region
The Rwenzori region consisting of 7 districts (Kabarole, Kyenjojo, Kamwenge, Kasese, Kyegegwa,Ntoroko and Bundibugyo) of Western Uganda has for decades been characterized by conflicts associatedwith cultural and ethnic differences that exist among the people of the region. The conflicts betweencultural groups have always raised questions about governance; leadership and fairness in the sharingand use of natural resources e.g. land. Although the recent conflicts could have some connection withhistorical incidents in the region, they possess a distinguishable character of their own. The currentconflicts between ethnic groups have been triggered by the recent reintroduction and recognition ofcultural leadership. This recognition and facilitation by the government of Uganda resulted into there awakening of historical conflicts, the feeling of inequality between ethnic groups and the fearsthat certain cultural groups will have little or no share in the natural resources including the recentlydiscovered oil and gas. … Click to access Full Report
Enhancing the adaptive capacity of communities to climate change through IWRM, Mpanga Catchment of the Nile Basin in Uganda
The Project – supported by UNEP – was implemented in the upper Nile Basin, in Uganda. The Mpangacatchment where activities were rolled out is part of the Lake George Basin / The Lake Albert WaterManagement Zone and is located in the west of the country. This Mpanga catchment has an estimatedsurface of approx.4700 km2, and is characterized by a diversity of landscapes and high ecologicalsignificance. The area stretches over the territory of these 3 Districts. … Click to access Full Report
MAIZE GRAIN VALUECHAIN IN RWENZORIREGION IN UGANDACONSTRAINTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
The Rwenzori Regional Think Tank initiative brought together Rwenzori regional agriculture stakeholdersthat reflected on the challenges facing agriculture sector in the region. Research was seen as oneof the mechanisms through which knowledge can be generated to inform decisions and actions forimproving agricultural productivity. It was against this background that study to identify constraintsand opportunities in the maize grain value chain in Ruwenzori region was done. This research onmaize trade was conducted to provide a precursor for in-depth value chain analysis. A survey of buyersin the districts of Kyenjojo, Kabarole, Kamwenge, Kasese and Bundibugyo as well as Buyers inKampala was conducted. Data about trade volume and prices from 2007 to 2009 was collected. A totalof 399 buyers (stores and traders) in Rwenzori region and a total of key buyers in Kampala wereestablished. This big numbers of buyers include both small and large scale operating in the districtsof Kyenjojo, Kabarole, Kamwenge and Kasese. …. Click to access The Full Report
Small holder farmers’ knowledge and adaptation to climate change in the Rwenzori region
The Rwenzori region has in the past couple of years been on the local, national and international spotlight as a region already affected by climate change. Various studies in the Rwenzori region have indicated that agricultural products will be affected negatively by climate change. There is a plethora of reports and manuals about climate change adaptation and mitigation in climate change prone areas. Knowledge about climate change is an important factor in climate change mitigation and adaptation. This investigation aimed to investigate small holder farmer’s knowledge and their adaptation strategies in the Rwenzori region. …Click to access Full Report
SOIL FERTILITY ANALYSIS AND AGRONOMIC PRACTICES FOR BANANA ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT IN THE RWENZORI REGION
The East African highland banana (Musa spp. AAA-EA) is a primary food and cash crop in Uganda. Despiteits importance, yields on farmer’s fields remain poor in the region compared to that on research stations.Quantitative information on the status of soil fertility in banana land use, banana management practicesand their adoption and the sources of social capital in Rwenzori region have been scanty. Therefore,what follows below is a summary of research results, from a research that was carried out in traditionalbanana growing districts of Rwenzori region. The study was carried out by the Rwenzori regional ThinkTank, to find out the reasons for the declining productivity of bananas and suggest banana managementtechnologies that can be adopted by farmers with the purpose to increase banana productivity at smallholder farmer level. A sample of 357 banana farmers drawn from five districts of Rwenzori region andsurvey with a participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and Diagnostic Survey (DS) research design was usedto collect the data. … Click to access The Full Report
A Rwenzori Region Health Sector Performance Report
This report presents findings of a Health facility monitoring exercise conducted in four districts of the Rwenzori region. The main objective of the survey was to measure the effectiveness of government and private expenditure in the health sector. This was achieved by; analysing the impact of the strides taken by Government in bringing health services closer to the communities, establishing the effectiveness of the health facilities in responding to community health needs, identifying the perception and responsiveness of both health service providers and consumers towards the quality of health services delivered and it was also to draw feasible recommendations towards improving health service delivery … click to access The Full Report
The effects of war trauma on the resettlement of internally displaced persons; a case of BUNDIBUGYO district
The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) insurgence that took place in Western Uganda wasone of the more than forty violent conflicts that concurrently decorated the world map atthe turn of the century. The 180,000 people of Bundibugyo were part of a family of twomillion people world-wide who were displaced from their homes, but lived inside theborders of their homelands. The Bundibugyo Internally Displaced People (IDPs) thatlived in camps during the ADF war were the subjects of this study. Click to access The Full Report