In this episode, we engage in a conversation with Kuol Arou Kuol, advocacy officer at the refugee-led organization network RELON in Uganda, about the significance of refugee-led approaches. We delve into the rights refugees are entitled to in Uganda, assess how these rights are being upheld, and discuss the localization agenda, a purported "paradigm shift" that introduces new methods for international organizations to collaborate, step forward, and step back to empower refugees to develop and lead solutions to issues affecting them.
Our discussion focuses on the impact of the localization agenda on refugee-led initiatives and communities in Uganda. Is this merely rhetoric, or are international organizations genuinely changing the status quo? We also explore the capacity of refugees to capitalize on such opportunities.
In our first episode, we sat down with Franko Lokunyumi, a South Sudanese citizen living in Uganda, to explore the intersection of peace and art. Drawing from Franko's personal experiences of displacement and music activism, we discuss the refugee experience and initiatives like KIFAYA, a music platform empowering refugees. We delve into the role of artists and music in conveying messages of peace and hope