April 23, 2007

Civil Affairs Teams Enhance Life in Uganda

By Petty Officer 1st Class Mary Popejoy
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Public Affairs

LIRA, Uganda, April 23, 2007 — After six months of providing much-needed support to the surrounding areas of Lira, Uganda, Civil Affairs Team 412 recently turned over its projects to a new civil affairs team which will continue the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa mission.
That mission includes coordination with Ugandan leaders and the Uganda People’s Defense Force military to help carry out the government’s plan for recovery, development and peace. This initiative resettles displaced persons into villages where infrastructures have been restored.

While there, civil affairs team members repaired 63 wells in Lira and Pader districts at a cost of $120,000, positively affecting 250,000 villagers.

“By repairing wells away from the internally displaced person’s camps it assists in the movement of villagers away from the camps to smaller resettlement villages," said U.S. Army Capt. Scott Hagerty, Civil Affairs Team commander. "By occupying the land, the villagers increase the stability of the region. The camps limited resources aren't strained anymore due to the fact that people aren’t occupying a small space and passing diseases amongst each other.”

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