In November, 2004 and in May, 2005 Operation Dove undertook two exploratory missions wherein initial contacts were made. The Association had numerous meetings with local and international NGOs, UN agencies, and Father Carlos Rodriguez Soto who has been at the centre of local efforts to promote dialogue, and who authorized the presence of our volunteers in his parish (Minakulu) for the months of July, August and December of 2005.
Our volunteers were thus able to experience sharing their lives with the innocent victims of the conflict between the LRA and the Ugandan government. They were also able to support existing projects for emergency humanitarian aid.

Operation Dove volunteers have contributed to:
” The building of a health clinic in Minakulu that now offers basic and emergency health services to a local population of over 35,000.
” The digging of two wells allowing the local population access to water supplies for consumption and hygene.
” Educational support for some of the former child-soldiers so as to ease their re-integration into “normal life” after their brutalizing experiences among the rebels.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES
The project has set for itself the general objective of assisting the efforts of the local community, various Churches, the NGOs and the civil population to return to peace and dignity within Northern Uganda, and for a peaceful end to the conflict in light of the political and military failures of the last 20 years.

For a six month period our volunteers intend to evaluate the possility of establishing a permanent presence within one of the refugee camps so as to carry out the following:
” Monitor the adherence to, and promotion of, human rights with particular attention to those most vulnerable and exposed to violations and abuse, e.g., women and children.
” Assistance to the camp population with regard to other local and international agencies so as to exchange information with a view to resolving specific problems of a humanitarian nature alongside the more immediate difficulties encountered by the volunteers in the camps’ daily life.
” Accompanying the camps’ residents into the neighbouring countryside and villages to ensure their safety and guarantee their return.
” Recreational projects/activities with the children of the camps.
” Monitor and outline the immediate needs of the camp population so as to suggest appropriate measures by governmental and non-governmental agencies that can also involve fund raising projects in Italy.
” Support for efforts by the local civil population at fostering dialogue and reconciliation.
” Advocacy projects attempting to bear pressure on authorities to respect of human rights, the search for peaceful solutions to the conflict, and the safe return of the camps’ population to their home villages.
” The documentation of information and statistics on the conflict, and the implementation of a feasibility study for the long-term prospects of the project.

Other specific project objectives include supporting the local population’s pressure tactics and awareness raising for the re-establishment of general security within the area, assuring the protection of the population within the camps, to support efforts allowing the civil population’s safe return to their villages, and to strive to bring about and end to the armed conflict based upon a common road to reconciliation.