In July 2025, the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement was shaken by violent clashes among Sudanese and South Sudanese refugees, a crisis that left one person dead, more than 30 injured, and families displaced as reported by Next Media. Communities that had lived side by side suddenly found themselves divided by fear, mistrust, and competition over scarce resources. Eye Radio confirmed that “many of the injured suffered machete wounds, while several homes were broken into, forcing families to flee into nearby bushes for safety.”
The Sudanese Alliance for Rights commented that such violence in a space meant to provide safety is a devastating reflection of the deep trauma and despair caused by the ongoing war in Sudan.
For AYAN, this was a turning point. We knew something had to be done to restore harmony and rebuild trust.
In September 2025, I submitted a proposal to a ‘UNHCR call for projects’ that could respond
directly to the July conflict. The idea was simply to create spaces where refugees and host communities could meet, talk, and work together for peace. By late November, funding was approved, and in December 2025, we began implementing the Peace is Possible Project, which has since grown into a journey of resilience, inclusion, and transformation. Even as communities heal, critical gaps remain resource competition which continues to fuel tensions, psychosocial support being underfunded, and youth employment opportunities are limited.
Sustaining peace in Kiryandongo requires long-term investment in dialogue spaces, psychosocial services, and livelihoods. Humanitarian actors, donors, and policymakers must step up to bridge these gaps, because peace is not a one-time achievement it is a daily commitment to coexistence, inclusion, and accountability.
The Journey of Implementation
The Peace is Possible Project began with energy and hope. On 17th December 2025, we hosted a sports gala that brought together more than 1,000 participants. Football and volleyball matches became bridges of unity. Women, youth, and persons with disabilities all took part, showing that peace is strongest when everyone is included. “When we play together, we forget our differences. We see each other as teammates, not as refugees or hosts.” One participant captured the spirit of the day: That moment reflected the joy, friendship, and unity that defined the gala.
The next milestone was the creation of peace clubs in schools. We supported five clubs, with two more planned. Students used drama, poetry, murals, and storytelling to spread messages of peace.“These children are becoming peace ambassadors. They carry the message home to their families and are practicing it here at school with their friends.” A teacher from Victoria P/S remarked. Watching children lead peer mediation sessions was inspiring, it showed that even the youngest voices can guide communities toward harmony.
In February 2026, we oriented peace mentors, community members originally trained under
the Refugee Youth Peace Project (RYPP). They began leading cluster meetings, mediations,
and peace dialogues. As a team, we met monthly to share experiences, discuss challenges,
and develop solutions. Mentors documented issues such as land disputes, youth violence, and child protection concerns, while strengthening referral pathways for sensitive cases.“It is not easy to talk about violence, but when we sit together, we find solutions.” One of the mentors reflected.
We also trained community leaders, elders, cultural leaders, and religious leaders on dialogue
and mediation. On 23rd January 2026, 52 leaders gained confidence in managing disputes
constructively. Soon after,the trained leaders facilitated community dialogues at Ranch 1 and
Ranch 37 bringing together over 200 participants. These sessions were honest and sometimes
difficult, tackling issues such as gender based violence and unemployment, yet they ended with hope as communities committed to continuous dialogue and collaboration.
Personal Insights from the journey
When the Peace is Possible Project began in December 2025, I thought peacebuilding would
mean working mostly with victims of conflict and those already committed to harmony. But as the months unfolded, I realized something deeper: lasting peace cannot be achieved without acknowledging the role of those who instigate conflicts. Peace mentors often emphasized that for dialogue to be meaningful, there must be deliberate efforts to engage not only the victims and community leaders, but also those who contribute to tensions. While they were not directly part of our activities, the recognition of their influence made sense. Addressing conflict drivers requires bringing everyone into the conversation, even those whose actions have fueled division.
Through this journey, I learned three key lessons:
1. Inclusivity matters most when it feels hardest. Women, youth, elders, persons with disabilities, and even those identified as conflict instigators must be considered in peacebuilding strategies. Only then do solutions reflect the whole community.
2. Collaboration is non-negotiable. Working with UNHCR, OPM, Uganda Police, NGOs such as Whitaker Foundation, and refugee-led organizations like KVA, SSWBA, and NOSSU showed me that peace is a shared responsibility.
3. Referral pathways bring accountability. Sensitive issues such as gender-based violence
and child protection cannot be solved in isolation. Linking communities to authorities and service providers ensure cases are handled with care and professionalism. In the end, the Peace is Possible Project was not just about reducing tensions. It was about transforming relationships, building trust, and proving that peace is possible when communities are empowered, supported, and willing to confront the root causes of conflict Together.
Growing Through Peacebuilding
The project changed me in ways I did not expect. Managing logistical challenges, moderating sensitive dialogues, and balancing high community demand taught me patience, adaptability, and resilience. I learned to stay calm when things didn’t go as planned, to adjust quickly when circumstances shifted, and to keep moving forward even when resources were limited. I grew in my ability to listen deeply not just to words, but to emotions and unspoken concerns. I learned to value diverse voices, whether from women, youth, elders, persons with disabilities, or even those who had instigated conflicts, and to see each perspective as a piece of the larger puzzle of peace. Most importantly, I realized that peacebuilding is as much about relationships as it is about activities. The friendships formed, the trust built, and the confidence instilled in youth and community leaders are intangible yet powerful outcomes. These human connections reminded me that sustainable peace is not something delivered from outside it is co-created by communities themselves.
Closing Reflection
The Peace is Possible Project which began as a direct response to the July 2025 conflict in Kiryandongo grew into a story of resilience, inclusion, and growth. It showed that when communities are empowered and supported, they can overcome divisions, heal wounds, and build lasting harmony. For me, it was a journey of leadership, learning, and shared humanity. I saw young people step into roles of responsibility, elders regain confidence in guiding their communities, and women find their voices in spaces where they had often been excluded. I witnessed conflict instigators transform into participants in dialogue, proving that even those who once fueled division can become part of the solution. This journey taught me that peace is possible when everyone is included,collaboration is genuine, and accountability is upheld. It also reminded me that peace is not a destination, it is a continuous process, built day by day through dialogue, trust, and collective effort. Yet, despite the progress, critical challenges remain: resource competition which continues to strain relationships, psychosocial support being underfunded, leaving trauma unaddressed, and limited youth employment opportunities risk re-igniting frustration.
Sustaining peace in Kiryandongo requires more than short-term interventions; it demands long-term investment in dialogue spaces, psychosocial services, and livelihood opportunities. Humanitarian actors, donors, and policymakers must step forward to bridge these gaps. Peace is not a one-time achievement it is a daily commitment to coexistence, inclusion, and accountability, and without sustained support, the fragile gains made could be lost.
Written by Margret Nyaketcho, AYAN Field Coordinator – Kiryandongo