Championing Justice: Happy Ham Salongo's Volunteer Journey to Empower Communities in Bundibugyo

Happy Ham Salongo, 68, is a Community Based Volunteer in Kisubba Sub County, Bundibugyo district, southwestern Uganda.

Happy was trained on human rights in 2021 by the Justice Centres Uganda, a UN Women implementing partner of the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) Programme. Topics included gender-based violence (GBV) and land disputes, among other issues affecting the communities.

Thanks to the trainings, he says he has been able disseminate information on implementing fundamental human rights in the communities, including child neglect and marital property disputes. He also follows up with the police on cases of defilement and child neglect among others.

 “During local council meetings, I ask the leaders to allocate me some time for community sensitization discussions where I share my knowledge with the community,” he says.

Happy says his sensitization sessions extend to community gatherings, including burials and traditional marriage ceremonies, where he is often invited as one of the speakers. He shares that he loves his work and feels proud to play a role in changing people’s lives.

He notes that before he started his work of volunteering in his community, some local council leaders would accept bribes to have cases dismissed. This frustrated the victims who were denied justice.

“We are now witnessing fewer instances of such behaviour from leaders, as community members have been sensitized about their rights and know where to direct their complaints,” Happy explains, “Most cases are now resolved at the community level, reducing the need to go to court and incur additional costs.”

He says he is now working closely with different law enforcement branches of government like the Local Council Leaders, the police and the courts to bring justice to victims of GBV in his community.

Happy is among the many volunteers trained under a 5-year Joint Programme on Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence (UNJPGBV), integrating sexual and reproductive health and rights. This programme, funded by the Government of Sweden, is a partnership between the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and UN Women, in collaboration with the Ugandan Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development (MGLSD). The UNJPGBV is a national initiative with various interventions at community, institutional, and policy levels in 14 selected districts.