By Ijoo Bosco
Acholi community leaders and local stakeholders in Magwi County have begun efforts to strengthen customary justice and community governance through the validation of a draft Acholi Customary Law.
The stakeholders gathered Monday at the Magwi Community Multipurpose Centre for a four-day technical validation, dialogue, and consensus-building workshop running from August 10 to 13.
The process brings together community leaders, local authorities, technical experts, and other representatives to review the draft law and ensure that it reflects the views, values, and aspirations of the Acholi people.
The initiative is aimed at creating a clearer framework for resolving community disputes, strengthening social justice, and promoting peaceful coexistence while preserving important aspects of Acholi cultural heritage.
Under the theme, “Promoting Community Dialogue and Consensus Building to Enhance Social Justice, Cultural Values, Human Dignity, Peace-Building and Social Cohesion”.
Participants are expected to examine traditional justice mechanisms and discuss how customary practices can be aligned with contemporary human rights principles.
Organisers say broad community participation is central to the process, with consensus-building expected to help ensure that the final customary law is accepted and owned by the communities it will serve.
The initiative also seeks to strengthen the role of traditional governance structures in conflict resolution and peacebuilding while safeguarding human dignity and cultural values.
The four-day workshop is being held with financial support from the Lutheran World Federation (LWF).
At the end of the process, stakeholders are expected to produce recommendations that will guide the finalisation of the draft Acholi Customary Law and provide a stronger foundation for community governance, dispute resolution, and social cohesion in the region.