MINUTES OF THE INTERORGANISATIONAL MEETING HELD BETWEEN THE REPRESENTATIVES OF CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS IN LONDON,

ACHOLI ASSOCIATION
Office of the Chairman, 23 Radford Road, Mount Pleasant,
London SE13 6SB (United Kingdom).
Direct Phone: +447984 758 236.
Facsimile No: +4420 8852 4371

------------Wacito anyim”

MINUTES OF THE INTERORGANISATIONAL MEETING HELD BETWEEN THE REPRESENTATIVES OF CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS IN LONDON,
SATURDAY 11 MARCH 2006.



In Attendance Organisation

J C Amone Acholi Association
Stella Oryang ACAFS
Betty Lumumba HAF
Margaret Murungu Women of Strength
Christine Aloyo Youth Out of Poverty and AIDS (YOPA)


Apology

Rev. Modicum Okello Arch Bishop Janani Luwum Trust
Peggy Oyella AWACHWO
Jimmy Ogwok Lwo Cultural Group
Susan Onapa Women of Strength
Laroker p’Okot Consultant
Christopher Lakony Acholi Association


Agenda

1. Acholi Association Seminar, 25 March 2006
2. Acholi Conference in London, 28-30 April 2006
3. AOB

The meeting was opened by the Chairman of Acholi Association, Mr. J C Amone, who thanked and briefed members in attendance, on the resolve by Acholi Association, to forge unity amongst Acholi people and work together especially with other Acholi-run charitable organisations in the UK, for the purpose to support by relieving the suffering Acholi people, particularly those in Uganda. He noted that most of the Acholi-run charitable organisations bear similar aims and objectives. He reiterated the need therefore, for them to kick-start building closer working relations, by jointly organising the forthcoming AA Seminar on 25 March 2006, to address the problems of Acholiland being grabbed and Genocide being committed on Acholi people, principally by the state.

The Chairman stated further, that the Seminar this March will be followed immediately, by Acholi Conference in London in April, which Acholi Association has been asked to co-ordinate, by our people including those currently living in Sweden and Uganda. He reported that the Conference is intended to draw Acholi people from all over the world, to convene in London to address very urgent and crucial, Acholi survival issues: Acholi people’s Resettlement back home and Rehabilitation in their God-given land-Acholiland.

Mr. Amone said at this point in time he wishes there should be nothing more important to any Acholiboy or Acholigirl, than turning up and participating jointly with others, in discussing urgent and sensitive issues of the resettlement of our beleaguered people.

The Chairman ended encouraging attendants by giving example that Acholi Association is primarily concerned about the plight of Acholi people distributed worldwide, especially those suffering at home in Uganda, that’s why AA tries to convince all Acholi in the Diaspora to continue addressing their problems and help where we can. To that effect, he stated that Acholi Association has since April 2006 when the new Executive was elected, held two Seminars, one Conference and two Fundraising events. Mr. Amone stressed that by AA addressing Acholi problems worldwide, they are acting within the International Law and Charity Commission regulations, just like Amnesty International reporting on Human Rights abuse by irresponsible authorities and other institutions worldwide; saying that’s not being politically active. It is that charity constitutional rights and mandatory obligations, which are very difficult for anybody to challenge.

After thoughtful and exhaustive, contributive deliberations by all members in attendance, the meeting fruitfully resolved the following:

Agenda

1. Acholi Association Seminar, 25 March 2006

¨ Support and jointly conduct the Seminar and any other future functions, with the aim to forge unity amongst same Acholi people, whom we are all working to help.
¨ Papers presented should not dwell on history, but on current Needs Assessment.
¨ Speakers should avoid repetitions of something already said or done by others.
¨ Participating organisations, with the example of YOPA, should report with evidence, on what their organisations have done, accomplished, or plan to achieve especially in Uganda, instead of making long and unhelpful speeches.
¨ Land Issues: what threats are really there? Availability of documents if possible; e.g. Aswa Ranch, reportedly leased to the Libyans!
¨ High level of presentation and tackling the issues of Genocide being committed on Acholi people with evidence (like Olara Otunnu), should be adopted. The speakers should inform what actions and effects have been realized so far, on the issue of Genocide. Proposals for the presenter of the paper should be followed up.



2. Acholi Conference in London, 28-30 April 2006

¨ Support the Acholi Conference in London for 28-30 April 2006, in which the programme should allow for representative organisations from Africa, Europe and America (e.g. Uganda, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Germany, Norway, the UK), e.t.c., to meet on the first day and plan to steer the conference towards the desired directions, subsequently to be followed by paper presentations and workshops the following two days.
¨ Acholi Association with the assistance of participating organisations should co-ordinate links with Home people and local leaders to attend the conference.
¨ Internet Communication with the rest of Acholi people should be implemented to facilitate faster contact, aware of the short time left for the conference.
¨ Communication and co-ordination of the conference information and activities with the NGOs operating in Acholiland should be encouraged and improved.
¨ Given the complex nature and enormity of the issues of resettlement to be addressed, neutral bodies like the UN, Africa and the European Union, should be contacted to oversee sensitive aspects like removing landmines from Acholiland, before resettlement.
¨ Security of Acholi people in their villages and homesteads cannot be guaranteed by any authorities, anymore. Acholi people should be released free and allowed to decide their own safety, by themselves.
¨ Resettlement and Rehabilitation Packages should be priority prerisiquite, given to Acholi Families going back home.

3. AOB

There being no other business to discuss, the meeting ended at 4.30pm.

NB: Matters Raised About the Same Issues, On Consultation With Other Acholi Organisations And Individuals Not In The Meeting:

¨ Organising Committee for Acholi Conference in London should continue to form.
¨ The question of Recovery and Development of Northern Uganda ($200m given) by the World Bank to organisations and institutions on the ground, was not getting to the affected people. What information and alternatives do we have?
¨ Logistics for the forthcoming Conference to be addressed in the March Seminar.
¨ The Invisible Children-DVD should be screened to the Seminar/Conference, for Acholi to visualize an aspect of the extent of Acholi problems.
¨ Resettlement and Rehabilitation of Acholi must be done through reclaiming of Acholi Culture and Traditional Practices. Acholi Language being at the core of it.
¨ Training Programmes on how to live properly (by Acholi elderly and institutional elites, like after the Second World War: Living in Model Home), be adopted.
¨ Acholi unity amongst us and cautious entry into the world system is very vital to our future existence. Careful assessment of what to do with those who have continued to persecute us is therefore very important.
¨ Vetted co-operation with other foreigners should be encouraged for future benefit.


CHARITY REGISTERED IN ENGLAND AND WALES NO: 1071958
Website: http://acholi-association.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/
Email: acholiassociation@online24.co.uk
Bank Name: Halifax
Account Name: Acholi Association
Account Number: 00896139
Sort Code: 11-04-53