Introduction

Over 50 stakeholders, including representatives from government agencies, NGOs, and local communities, attended a learning event on February 7, 2024, organized by CARE International. The event aimed to discuss the progress and challenges in implementing Local Action Plans (LAPs) which are crucial for localizing the national agenda on the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda.

Dr Aggrey Kabenge, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development commended COACT, Women International Peace Center, CARE, and UN Women for supporting the localization of WPS in Uganda.

CARE International in Uganda has supported two city authorities to localize NAP III (Arua City and Gulu City). These Local Action Plans (LAPs) are intended to take stock of all issues at the district level that affect WPS in general. The Women, Peace, and Security Agenda is a powerful tool to transition from exclusionary to democratic decision-making, from gender inequality to gender justice, from conflict and violence to sustaining peace, and to building prosperous and stable societies.” Stated Dr Kabenge.

Lillian Mpabulungi Ssengooba, the Program Manager for Gender Justice at CARE International, highlighted the im- portance of grassroots efforts in implementing LAPS and acknowledged the contributions of various partners in funding and supporting these initiatives.