A COMMUNITY DIALOGUE REPORT ON A VICTORY CEREMONY OF UHRN’s TARGET FOOT BALL CLUB (UHRN’s Soccer Club) HELD AT KATABA- KABALAGALA ON 6th DEC 2014.

“Our Lives begin to End the Day we Become Silent About things that Concerns Us”

Report by;

UGANDA HARM REDUCTION NETWORK

Reported by Harm Reduction Network with Support from ITPC Page 1

A COMMUNITY DIALOGUE REPORT ON AVICTORY CEREMONY OF UHRN’s TARGET FOOT BALL CLUB (UHRN Soccer Club) HELD AT KATABA KABALAGALA ON 6th DEC 2014.

On 6 December 2014, Uganda Harm Reduction Network (UHRN) invited its members, partners and friends in Kabalagala Kataba to attend a victory ceremony to celebrate the UHRN’s Soccer team’s win for the Mike Mabike's Cup Tournament. The Cup Tournament was supported by former MP Mike Mabike of Division, and the victory ceremony was held at Miringo's residence in Kabalagala.

In photos Below: UHRN’s Soccer Club Victory party celebration in Kataba-Kabalagala ().

Reported by Uganda Harm Reduction Network with Support from ITPC Page 2

UHRN invited many stakeholders to the ceremony, for the purpose of:

Raising awareness on the drug user’s difficult experiences of drug dependence and overdose;

Highlighting how UHRN members (drug users) had organized themselves to participate in a social cause such as a Soccer tournament and going ahead to win it.

Changing the negative attitude of the community towards drug users which has increased stigma and discrimination and rejection among drug users thus blocking them from accessing health services just because they are seen and treated as criminals and a violent community.

The event started at around 10:00Am with Mr. Karema Abas the chairman of Kabalagala Boda Bodas including those who use drugs. As the master of ceremony, he welcomed all invited guests, friends and well wishers. This was followed by introductions of local council representatives and then the guest of honor Hon Mike Mabike Seninde and counselors from Kabalagala.

Photo Below: Left; Hon Mike Mabike and Local Council Counselor Giving their Speeches

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The Executive Director Uganda Harm Reduction Network - Mr. Wamala Twaibu in his speech encouraged the youth who use drugs to start up recreational and Harm reduction clubs so as empower themselves to raise their talents and always make informed decisions so as to reduce on the risks of drug use and other substances in Uganda.

Photo Below: Left; UHRN’s ED Mr. Wamala Twaibu Giving a Speech

Photo Below: UHRN’s drug User Soccer club/Target Fc & Winners of Mabike cup 2014

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The event was supported by Uganda Harm Reduction Network and the former Member of Parliament in Makindye division Hon Mike Mabikke Seninde who was the guest of honor accompanied by councilors and others aspiring candidates who need to contest for the seat of Member of Parliament for Makindye division-.

The tournament had twenty four foot ball teams competing for the prize of a trophy-Mabikke cup and a bull and finally our team “Target foot ball club” won both. And the bull was slaughtered on the victory party.

The team captain Bobbic Izzo thanked Hon mike Mabikke for the trophy and Uganda Harm Reduction for the support especially the sportswear, refreshments and other aspects….”you have made us a family and made us proud…thanks UHRN Team. We are pleased for your recognition because the society takes us as criminals and others think we are violent and normally the police officers arrest us for nothing”

Photo Below: Target Fc team captain Bobbic Izzo Giving a speech

The quest of honor Hon Mike Mabike Seninde and former Member of Parliament Makindye said that police normally arrests the drug users and Sexworkers that they are criminals yet they are innocent people who need to have the same rights to be protected like others. He told us that, in the Laws of Uganda the charge of “idle and disorderly” was discharged in Parliament and it is no longer working in Uganda. In addition, he said he will report officers of Kabalagala police station who unlawfully harass and arrest sex workers and drug users every time. The former Honorable then congratulated Target FC upon their victory and handed the trophy to

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the Target FC club captain. He also promised to work with UHRN organization to raise the talents of its members (drug users)

Photo Below: Target FC captain receiving the Trophy

The Counselor of Kabalagala Mr. Ibrahim Kasozi gave two million Uganda shillings (2000, 000) in support of a male youth soccer team and one million Uganda shillings (1000, 000) for the female youth netball team as startup capital for young people who use drugs in order to setup income generating activities. The counselor Makindye division promised to give the members free training on how to get rich so that they also survive for the future.

Challenges.

We invited five media houses unfortunately only one turned up-’s (Bukedde one Agataliko nfuufu)

The Budget was too small to support the whole event thus we used the funds meant for two dialogues.

The space was small to accommodate all our invited guests since we organized it in the confines of the slums of Kabalagala.

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Most of the guests didn’t want to be captured by media because it was a drug users’ function

Recommendations;

There is a need for UHRN to fundraise in order to raise the drug users’ talents and sustain these drug user sports teams in Uganda.

UHRN need to partner with MTN, AIRTEL and many other partners to support our drug users’ sports teams.

In Conclusion.

The UHRN Team, partners (Malewa KANCO’s programs Director, Griffin the Executive Director Uganda Youth Voice) and friends were very pleased with Target FC Soccer Club’s victory.

Compiled by SYRUS AJ

UHRN’s Programs/Comm Manager

Email: [email protected]

Reported by Uganda Harm Reduction Network with Support from ITPC Page 7