PATIKO RESIDENTS CREDIT SOCIOTHERAPY TRAINING FOR STRONGER FAMILIES TIES AND REDUCED CONFLICT

Some of the graduates during the ceremony.

By Proscovia Achomo

Gulu City

Residents of Patiko Sub- County in Gulu District are reporting stronger family relationships, improved communication, and reduced household conflicts following a Community-Based Sociotherapy programme implemented under theme ‘’Connecting for Peace Initiative’’.

The positive changes were highlighted during the graduation of 210 community members from four villages who successfully completed a 15-weeks sociotherapy training conducted by hope link action foundation (HAF Uganda) in partnership with TPO Uganda. The programme seeks to empower communities to address social challenges, rebuild trust, and promote peaceful coexistence.

The graduates were organized into 14 groups, with each group comprising 15 members, marking a significant milestone in their journey towards building stronger families and peaceful communities.

For many of the graduates, the training has transformed their personal lives and family relationships.

One of the beneficiaries, Gloria Piloya, said the training helped her rebuild trust in her marriage after years of dishonesty that had strained her relationship with her husband.

“My husband had lost trust in me because I was not honest with him. Whenever I received savings of about UGX 400,000 or UGX 600,000, I would hide the truth and tell him that the money had been lost or that we needed to contribute more to cover a shortfall,” Gloria recalled.

She said the lessons on honesty, communication, and accountability helped her understand the negative impact of her actions on her family.

“Today, I no longer hide anything from my husband. I openly share with him what I have achieved and the resources I receive,” she said.

Prisca Ajok, another graduate, said she previously struggled to live peacefully with her co-wife and often harbored resentment towards both her co-wife and husband.

According to Prisca, constant disagreements and mistrust affected harmony within the family, making it difficult for them to coexist peacefully.

“I had a co-wife whom I never liked. I also hated my husband and was often aggressive towards him. We could not relate well as a family,” she said.

However, Prisca said the sociotherapy sessions taught her the importance of togetherness, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence.

“Through the training, I learned how to live with others and appreciate one another. Today, my co-wife and I live happily together like sisters. I also respect my husband and our relationship has greatly improved,” she added.

She described the programme as life-changing, saying it helped her overcome attitudes that had negatively affected her family relationships for many years.

Another graduate, Ronald Ocira, said the training inspired him to adopt better personal hygiene and improve his home environment.

According to Ronald, before joining the programme, he paid little attention to cleanliness, but the training encouraged him to make positive changes in his daily life.

He said he has since developed better hygiene practices and improved sanitation around his home, including maintaining a clean latrine.

“Before this training, I was not a clean person, but I have changed. Even my home is now clean, and my latrine is so clean that you can eat from there,” Ronald said.

He added that the lessons from the programme helped him understand that cleanliness and good hygiene are important for personal wellbeing and a healthy family environment.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony at Patiko Sub- County headquarters, James Oola, a Project Officer at HAF Uganda, said the Connecting for Peace Initiative focuses on rebuilding relationships among people affected by past conflicts.

“The project helps communities resolve conflicts, rebuild trust, and live together peacefully. It also helps individuals regain the dignity and respect they may have lost during difficult periods of war while restoring their confidence and inner strength,” he said.

James added that the initiative encourages community members to move forward with hope and recognize their ability to achieve goals they once thought were beyond their reach.

One of the facilitators, Oliver Nakiziri, thanked HAF Uganda for involving local community members as trainers, saying the approach has made the programme more effective.

Oliver explained that having facilitators who live within the same communities as the participants helps create trust because they understand the challenges faced by the people they train.

“Because we experience some of the same challenges as the trainees, it becomes easier for people to open up and seek help. They feel comfortable sharing their experiences because they are being supported by people who understand their community and their realities,” she said.

She added that using local facilitators has encouraged stronger participation, learning, and acceptance of the sociotherapy approach among community members.

The LCIII Chairperson of Patiko Sub- County, Patrick Komakech praised the programme for its positive impact on families and community relations, noting that it has contributed to a reduction in cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the area.

According to the chairperson, many residents who participated in the training have adopted better communication and conflict-resolution skills, helping to reduce tensions within households and strengthen family relationships.

“This training has greatly helped people in our communities. We have witnessed positive changes in many homes, and cases of Gender-Based Violence have reduced because participants are now communicating better, resolving conflicts peacefully, and understanding one another,” he said.

He commended HAF Uganda and TPO Uganda for implementing the initiative, describing it as an important contribution to peacebuilding and social cohesion in Patiko Sub- County.

The Gulu District Probation Officer, Andrew Onen Mess, challenged the graduates to use the knowledge and skills acquired during the training to positively influence others in their communities.

“Let us become ambassadors of the knowledge and skills we have gained and share them with others so that the benefits spread throughout Patiko. When families live in peace, communities thrive. Together, we can build a better future for our children and ensure that peace and social harmony continue to grow for generations to come,” he said.

The Connecting for Peace Project, an 18-month initiative that started last year, has so far trained 630 community members in Community-Based Sociotherapy across Patiko and neighboring communities.

In addition to psychosocial support and peacebuilding skills, the programme supports participants with livelihood initiatives aimed at improving household incomes, strengthening self-reliance, and sustaining the positive impact of the intervention within their communities.