For purposes of legal protection and attracting external support both from government institutions and non government entities, the project committee decided to register the initiative as a Non Government Organisation- PACODET- with a clear mandate and structures.

This action yielded positive support from government, institutions and international NGOs. The local government supported the health care program with more drugs, training of staff and some equipment. Makerere University Child Health Department trained the members of the committee in community based research for community based health planning; European development fund (EDF) provided cement and iron sheets for building of a permanent building for health centre which was initially being run under the mango tree where the initiative was started.
The strong community participation is what attracted this support. Through these meetings the community made extraordinary contributions that included over 20 acres of land where the project centre is now located, bricks and labour for the current houses being used; and the staffs and committee members who are responsible for planning and managing programs aimed at improving life in the community.

With this support massive improvement in health was realized. Common preventable diseases were contained deaths of pregnant mothers and children reduced. Other needs emerged in the area of food security/environment. The community attention was drawn to this because famine that struck the area due to a combination of plant diseases and drought. The main stable tuber crop, cassava was wiped out by cassava mosaic. PACODET then turned its attention to securing cassava varieties that were resistant to mosaic disease. This effort paid off when we secured a new variety that proved good and successful. Food availability improved in the community.
While some satisfaction was achieved in this area, we realized that human/civil rights abuse was rampant in the community. Now the attention of the community is turned to this. There is need in the community to know and demand their human/civil rights.

The areas covered today includes 10 adjacent parishes bordering Kumi district and stretching across Pallisa and Butebo counties. There are about 100 villages in these parishes, which include Kapuwai and Kadesok in Kibale sub-county; Kameke, Akisim and Kisiran in Kameke sub-county; Odusai and Chelekura in Agule sub-county; Kanyum and Butebo in Butebo sub-county and Kagoli in Putiputi sub-county. The project area consists of about 100,000 people, with at least 30,000 people of age range between 10-24 years. There are about 10,000 households and a quarter of them have orphans mainly as a result of HIV/AIDS. There are 30 primary schools, 3 secondary schools, and 6 health centers in PACODET’s catchment area. There are no vocational training schools in the district except for the nursing school that is being developed by PACODET.

WHAT PACODET DOES TODAY

The activities carried out today are:
Environment: we carry out IEC in schools and communities, organise community discussion groups, and support selected activities for demonstrating wise use of environmental resources, especially the wetlands that are common in our area. We also lobby local authorities to promote wise use of environmental resources and engage the authorities in actually observing local environmental problems as step in discussing plans for corrective action. We participate in networks at district, national and international levels to share experiences and identify agendas for lobbying national and international policies. Some of our members have gained additional exposure through participation in research and consulting on environmental issues outside of our immediate operational area.

Income and Food Security: we assist farmers form small groups and train (both men and women) about issues related to soil management; integrated management of pests; proper management of crops, poultry and livestock. We have a collective marketing enterprise that facilitates access to agricultural inputs, and purchases selected local crops for storing and subsequent resale – either for profit that goes to organisational support, or for sale back to the community in drought years at a very nominal markup helping to ensure food security. Many of our farmers and farmer groups are involved in multiplication of high yielding and pest resistant varieties of crops and improvement of poultry and livestock keeping. The organisation has purchased a lorry that is also used to assist member farmers in marketing their produce. Over 200 farmers’ groups are participating actively in the income and food production in ways that are environmentally friendly.

Health: We built a dispensary unit, completed in 1992, and we upgraded our facility to a health centre (level 4) with some support from WHO. Our unit provides for treatment of the sick, immunisation, delivery of mothers; antenatal care and family planning; STI treatment; health education; and training of community resource persons. A local community health insurance scheme for in-patient care in the district hospital is in the making.

Lobby and Advocacy: We are involved in raising awareness of the rural marginalised communities on their rights. Hope to intensify in this area as more resources are realised.