August 25^th, 2014

“Community Consultation at the Traders Association in Kampala”

Location: Kampala, Uganda

I was supposed to have an appointment with the head of the Community Policing Division of the Kampala Metropolitan Police at 07:00 this morning. So I was there at 07:00 with sleepy head, knowing that something would happen and this meeting would not take place as scheduled. It turned out, as I predicted, he was deployed to somewhere in town for public order management as there was a mini bus drivers strike. Kabul is back!

Anyway, in the end, I met him at 10:00 and he suddenly said that he was gonna take me to a community consultation at the Kampala Traders Association. I didn’t expect this! He was the zen Ugandan style guy from last Friday so I thought he was still suspicious about me. But tadaaaa I was allowed to observe what he called a ‘community dialogue’ for 1 hour and a half.

The 'community dialogue'
(I know this photo isn't a good one but I wasn't sure if
they didn't mind being identifiable in photographs.) 

To me, as a person who has a little bit of knowledge of ‘dialogue’ in conflict resolution, it wasn’t a dialogue. I am not gonna explain what dialogue means here but this session was like a lecture. The ‘lecturer’ was this Uganda Police Force person who passionately talked about human rights, Ugandan laws, and importance of crime prevention. Since I was sitting next to him, I was almost slapped by his hand gesture at some point because his talking mode was really on. Hahahaha!!

I cannot make further comment on his ‘show’ because it took place in their local language. He summarized what he talked about later on in English for me though. Anyway, at least I was able to observe the session and what I surprised at was the fact that more and more people joined the circle and some of them were even taking notes! Especially, young people! Some middle aged men were falling asleep though.

The participants

And as a woman who always wishes women to be empowered beyond border, I was so happy to see a few women in the crowd. This traders association was dominated by men—as everywhere else. But two out of four raised their hands to ask questions to the UPF officer! Such brave women! This was absent in Afghanistan. I know it is wrong to compare women in Uganda and Afghanistan because the contexts are totally different. But when I see women in predominantly male-dominated environments, like in police and this kind of workers associations, regardless of such differences, I become happy and always feel I am empowered by them too. Strange, huh? But I guess it’s because I was the only woman in a police project office for over a year and a half. I was the only one who was walking in heels in the Ministry of Interior Affairs compound every day, rushing from one Dept’s office to another. No one asked me to work there; I chose it and stayed on because I liked my work despite challenges. Although I can easily imagine how many challenges they might be facing on a daily basis, I want those women that I met today to continue to raise their voice from women’s perspectives and make the police aware of their security needs which are often different from those of men.

Ok, I have to get back to my work! I have to think of how the hell I am gonna go to villages bordering with South Sudan in 2 weeks where there is no proper facility to lodge and securing transport is incredibly expensive! I have a whole set of stuff, like a pillow, mosquito net, sleeping bag, mattress, flash light and all, and am ready for camping as long as I can find a roof. But I still need a roof! An international NGO staff I met this afternoon already informed the District Police Commanders in two districts that I am coming, so I want to make it happen! Wish me good luck!

Look at these birds on the roof! Though I am a bird lover, these guys were a bit scary to me because they were trying to steal left-over pieces of beef! 

２０１４年８月２５日

“カンパラ労働組合での警察と組合員の意見交換会”

場所：カンパラ、ウガンダ

今朝、朝一の７時にカンパラ中央警察のCommunity Policing 課のドンとアポがあった私。経験上、ぜ～～～～～～ったい何かが起こって予定通りに会えないだろうと思ってたけど、一応７時には、まだ半分しか起きてない脳みそと一緒にちゃんと警察署に到着してた。そしたら、やっぱり予測してたように、マイクロバスの運転手たちのストライキが市内であって、彼を含めた警察たちが動員されたようで。カブールの記憶がよみがえるわ。

でも、結局１０時にやっとのことでこのドンに会えて、急に私をカンパラ労働組合での集会につれていくというではありませんか。これは予想してなかった！このドンは、先週金曜日に会った例の禅ウガンダ・スタイルの警官だから、私をまだ怪しい人と思ってると思ってたから。でも、じゃじゃ～ん、なんと１時間半にも及ぶ“community dialogue （日本語で意見交換？）”を視察していいという許可をゲット。

少しだけど、紛争解決における “dialogue”のことについて知ってる私にしてみれば、これは “dialogue”ではなかった。ここでは dialogue が何かについての説明は省くけど、要は講義みたいな感じだった。“講師”は、このウガンダ警察の人。人権、ウガンダの法律、犯罪の予防の大切さについて、めっちゃ熱く語ってました。激しい身振り手振りを交えた熱い語りの途中で、一瞬あまりに熱く語りすぎたはずみで、彼の横に座ってた私ビンタくらされそうになったくらい。爆笑！！

この警官のショーについては、残念ながらこれ以上コメントできない。なぜなら、この意見交換会は現地語で行われたから。終わりに彼が要約を私のために英語でしてくれたけど。ま、少なくともこの意見交換の様子は見学できた。そこで驚いたのが、どんどん人が参加してきたってこと。しかも、何人かはちゃんとメモも取ってた！特に若い人たち！中年のおっちゃんたちの中には、舟をこぎ始めた人もいたけど。笑

The back side of the meeting venue... 

それと、いつも国境を越えて女性がエンパワー（日本語でなんていうか助けてください。。。汗）されることを切に願っている一女性として、私は聴衆の中に女性の姿があったことが嬉しかった。この労働組合は、男性が大多数を占めてた – これは、どこでもいっしょ。でも８人いた女性のうち２人もが手を挙げて、このウガンダ警察の人に質問したり、その他の発言をしてた！とっても勇気がある！

これは、アフガニスタンではなかった。ウガンダの女性とアフガニスタンの女性を比べるのは間違ってるってわかってる。二つの国が置かれている状況や、社会的背景が全く違うから。でも、どこの国にいても、警察やこういう労働組合みたいに男性が大多数を占める環境で女性を見ると、すごくうれしく思うと同時に、彼女たちに“私も頑張らなきゃ！”って気持ちにさせられる。変でしょ？でも、それは、きっと１年半以上も警察のプロジェクトで、女性一人でやってきたからだと思う。内務省の敷地内のいろんな部署をヒールでコツコツ歩き回ってたのは私だけ。誰が頼んだわけでもない。自分でここを選んで、何度も契約が切れても延長をお願いした；それはいろいろ大変なことは毎日あったけど、なんだかんだいって自分の仕事が好きだった。本当、今日会った女性たちにも、大変なことはあるだろうけど、引き続き警察に、女性の視点から見た安全や治安の問題について意見を述べ続けてほしいと思う。女性と男性では、安全や治安に関する見方は違うものだから。

さてさて、そろそろ仕事に戻らなければ！まともな宿泊施設もなく、移動手段がめっちゃ高いウガンダと南スーダンの国境地帯の村に２週間後一体どうやったらいけるか考えなきゃ。枕、蚊帳、寝ぶくろ、マットレス、懐中電灯その他いつでも野営できる体制ではある。けど、屋根は必要！今日午後に会った国際ＮＧＯのスタッフが、すでに二つの県の警察長にコンタクトを取ってくれたから、何がなんでも行きたい！なんとかなるように祈ってて！

Banana sellers