PAC-Uganda in conjuction with Uganda National NGO Forum held Teso anti corruption CONvention in Soroti town.

Public Affairs center of Uganda (PAC-Uganda) a national civil society organisation based in Teso region in conjunction with Uganda National NGO Forum organized a half day public dialogue code-named Teso anti corruption convention that took place on sat day 3-Dec-2011 at land mark hotel. the dialogue began at 12:00 noon upto 7:00pm. the theme of the convention was 'tackling corruption in natural resources governance and mitigating its impact on livelihood of the ordinary citizen, a responsibility for all. This convention was a build up to the planned national anti corruption convention (NACC) slated for the 8-Dec-2011 in
Kampala. The overall objective of the public dialogue was to derive the Teso region in put to the NACC. The chief guest was Hon Gerald Karuhanga the youth mp western Uganda. The public dialogue attracted the general public and this made the participation very vibrant as issues were being raised by different groups of people. PAC-Uganda also invited a panel of lawyers from different law firms namely, Katuntu and company advocates from Kampala, M/S Isodo and company advocates, Munghao and company advocates among others. Other invited participants present were, woman MP Soroti district, Chairperson local v Ngora district, division and sub county chairpersons. political party representatives, election monitors, CSOs, CBOs, church leaders, institutions, cultural leaders and widows who had come to testify how their land had been grabbed by some rich and powerful individuals and local government among others. The vivid example was mzee Ochaloi whose land has been taken by Soroti sub county authority without compensating him. During the dialogue, a number of issues emerged and they included the following. Land grabbing, high costs of paying lawyers, in adequate participation of women on land policies, constitutionality of local council courts, continuous adjournments of cases by courts intensifying wrangles among conflicting parties, distortion of witness statements by some police officers,sexual harassment by some of the local council courts when women go to report cases to their offices

Following a heated debate,the following were resolved and adopted by the house.

To wholly support the constitution petition filed by PAC to compel government to disband local council I and II courts and to hold fresh elections for this important grass root democracy and government structure.

We should support and decorate leaders who fight corruption and denounce those who are corrupt. We should not vote leaders who are corrupt to political positions. PAC and other NGOs should put pressure to political leaders for accountability. PAC should go out to immediate land cases in the villages.
Launch a house to house fight against corruption. Lawyers should select five widows they can support every year freely so as to protect the properties and and livelihood assets of the poor victims. Leaders found corrupt MUST be punished and made to pay all that was lost. Courts should handle cases expeditiously. Vulnerable people should be given access to public offices. In summary, the dialogue went well without any interruptions.

Spearker Soroti giving the youth MP honorary flower for fighting corruption