Field trip to Northern Uganda

Last week Mboizi Richard, Natukunda Shalince and Ian travelled from Kampala to Northern Uganda. The MARPs Network is focusing its work in priority districts where most at-risk populations are especially vulnerable to HIV infection. The Network has chosen four priority districts in each of Northern, Eastern, Western and Central Uganda. The districts in Northern Uganda are Apac, Amolotar, Lira and Dokolo. These Districts form a Lango speaking sub region to the north of Lake Kyoga.The purpose of the visits was to meet officials from the District Local Government offices to brief them on the work of the MARPs Network. And to gain their support for forming partnerships to enable small civil society organisations to be supported in their work with most at-risk populations. Each District in Uganda employs an HIV Focal person who's job it is to try to coordinate effective action to combat the spread of HIV infection. The HIV Focal Person usually works very closely with the District Community Development Officer so as to engage with small and very local organisations that are likely to be trusted by most at-risk populations.
On our way from Lira to Apac along a very bumpy road we passed many very traditional compounds - in this compound a small thatched grain store can be seen - standing on legs to gain protection from insects.
A little further down the bumpy and by now very muddy road (the second rainy season of the year in this part of Uganda had just begun) we passed a contented group of cattle - these rounded horns caught the eye!
Another perfectly maintained compound in the local style which has been unchanged for centuries - the pattern of recently flowing water on the ground shows that the recent rain was significant.
Here we are meeting with Jolly, the Community Development Officer for Lira District. On the right of the picture in the grey T shirt is Natukunda Shalince who is the Organisational Development Trainee at the MARPs Network - shadowing Ian. On the far right is Judith Shiraku who is a VSO volunteer working in Lira - Judith is from Kenya and she's working as a public health manager with Lira District.
A meeting in Amolotar with District Local Government Officials - many expressed enthusiasm at the prospect of partnering with the MARPs Network.
Ian chatting to Alex Agoo who is the HIV Focal Person working with Amolotar District Local Government.

Mabira - a rainforest threatened by sugar

Late last month Renate and Ian spent a night in Mabira Forest. This is rainforest half way between Kampala and Jinja - 50 km from the City. During Idi Amin's rule in the 1970s chunks of the forest were lost to the encroachment of settlements and to charcoal burning. In recent years the Uganda Government has entrusted the safe keeping of the rain forest to the National Forest Authority (NFA). The NFA arrange guided walks through this million year-old remnant of much greater expanses of rainforest.
In today's Sunday Monitor newspaper it's reported that the forest future is under threat to enable expansion of sugar growing and production - something that goes on either side of the forest. This is a good example of difficult decisions faced by a Country that needs to create more jobs and wealth for its people. Some will argue that eco tourism might provide greater and more sustainable employment in the future. But maybe that argument has yet to prevail.
It will be more than sad to see Mabira go. Once gone it won't come back.
The view from the window of our wooden 'lodge' in the forest.
Renate and our guide standing by a 'fig' tree (Ian thinks he said fig tree!)
People from nearby settlements come to this tree to carve bits of its bark to grind into a powder which is used to calm upset stomachs. Its very spicy!
This tree's roots have spread as the tree has grown and created an amazing arch - this will have taken hundreds of years to happen.
A magnificent mahogany tree - straight as straight can be - we couldn't see the top as it was lost in the leaf canopy above us.

A team building event for the new employees of the MARPs Network Secretariat

The team at the MARPs Network Secretariat now numbers 10. A big change from October last year when the team was Geoffrey and Ian. This is thanks to the grant that the MARPs Network has received from the Danish Government. Last week the new team went for an 'orientation' in Jinja on the shore of Lake Victoria.Here's Eva (Finance Manager) discussing a point with Geoffrey (Executive Director)
Natukunda (Organisation Development Trainee) giving feedback (in a blur) on her group's views on what the team's ground rules should be.
Mboizi Richard (Office Manager) giving feedback from his group on what they believe the team needs to do to ensure effective delivery.
Sagal Simon Peter (Finance Officer) giving feedback on his group's opinions on how to develop a 'standard operating procedure'.
More group work involving Eva, Natukunda and Mboizi Richard.
Emmanuel (Communications and Network Officer) with Marco (Finance Intern) and Richard (Office Assistant - Security) enjoying the shade in the garden.
Natukunda, Eva and Mercy (Office Assistant - Reception) also enjoy the late afternoon sun in the garden.
Geoffrey settling into the boat that would take the team to a nearby island to do some bird watching.
The boat setting off with its precious cargo!

Work visit to Hoima in north west Uganda - inducting a new Director and recruiting new members for the Network

Following the successful first Annual General Assembly of the MARPs Network we have visited all the newly chosen members of the Network's Board of Directors. Veronica Asaba is the Director chosen to represent the experience of people living with HIV / AIDS. Veronica is the executive director of Meeting Point Hoima, a voluntary organisation that provides comprehensive counselling, testing and treatment for people with the HIV infection. It was a pleasure for Mboizi Richard, Natukunda Shalince and I to visit her and her colleagues on behalf of the Network.

Before meeting up with Veronica we held a briefing meeting for organisations interested in becoming members of the Network. 13 signed expression of interest forms. Membership is open to community based organisations who target most at-risk populations (in terms of HIV infection) in their work.
Ian introducing the work of the Network and explaining benefits of membership.
Natukunda Shalince - is Ian's shadow! Natukunda is the organisation development trainee at the Network's Secretariat and works closely with Ian to 'learn on the job'. She'll also be enrolling soon on an appropriate part-time learning programme.
Ian and Natukunda with Veronica Asaba at Meeting Point in Hoima
Veronica wanted to explain to her team what being a Director of the MARPs Network would entail - she stressed that she would be absent on Network business from time to time. She was also careful to point out that she was a Director to represent the experience of people living with HIV and not to directly represent the interests of Meeting Point Hoima. Everyone was very happy for Veronica to sign on the dotted line and commit to being a Director of the MARPs Network!
Veronica signing the declaration, committing herself to the code of conduct required of Directors of the Network.
On the way back from Hoima to Kampala we could not resist stopping at several road-side stall selling cheap, fresh, high quality fruit and vegetables.
In a forest half-way between Hoima and Kampala a special passion fruit is to be found. Much smaller than the ordinary passion fruit, with a rock hard skin, they have the most amazing flavour - completely moorish! We bought every single one that this stall had to offer - here's Mboizi Richard supervising the packing of the fruit.
These tiny bananas are delicious - very sweet!