Aim: Working together to reduce and mitigate the access, influence and expansion of drug use in the East African Region

Observations
The East African region is faced by many drug issues. Most of the countries in the region are either drug destination or drug transit points. Many young people have been influenced in the habit due to many underlying social and economic factors.There exists a major gap in the awareness of drug problems between different countries, and also communities at local levels. There is a need for more efforts to be aimed at strengthening the capacities of institutions and civil society actors if any meaningful impacts are to be realized. Civil Societies need to work closely with government institutions for better results. This needs to go beyond the National territories since drugs, and crime have been identified as cross-boundary issues.There is a call for more such integrated  forums in order to  strengthen the Network and achieve the vision of a drug-free East Africa region

From 26th July to 7th August 2023, the Liaison Representative, Paul Mburu set out on a road trip to visit some of the East African countries, for partner interactions, reviews, capacity building and planning for the next phase of the Network activities. The trip covered an approximately 3000km circuit, driving through Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Kigali, Rwanda: 27-28th July 2023

This was the first main stop. The Liaison Representative joined a group of religious leaders and youths who were having a convention. He was given 1 hour to share current life challenges, especially the drug problem in the region. At the end of the session, about 10 young people stood up and expressed their wish to start a drug-free life. The leaders committed to supporting their recovery journey through counselling and any other possible intervention.

Bukavu, East DRC: 29-31st July, 2023

This was the focal part of the mission. As the Sober Lives, Healthy Communities first phase draws to a close, there was a need to share its approaches and successes with the rest of the region, and indeed this is why the East and Central Africa region was initiated. The Eastern part of the DRC faces many challenges, including the cycle of civil conflict, poverty, gender and sexual violence, child labour and substance abuse. The region is the transit point of illegal firearms, minerals, and drugs from and into the vast country. Therefore, there is a need to increase the necessary interventions, strengthen capacity, and increase awareness of the challenges faced by the local communities. Several organizations, including OPADEC—whose Director Mr Emmanuel is the focal person, RENAF, NON ALA DROGUE, and CFGL, met with local media stations and attended the forum at the Bellevedere Hotel, Bukavu, to highlight the drug situation and the existing interventions at both government and private/ civil society levels. The verdict was unanimous: There has been a great influx of drugs in the region, and there is a huge gap in interventions which needs urgent attention.

Kampala, Uganda: 3 Aug 2023

On the return leg, the Liaison Representative met with the WFAD Vice President and Board Member representing Africa, Mr Rogers Kasirye, and discussed the steps which the regional network has achieved and its faced challenges. The core focus is the periodic forums by the partners; to learn and to share the best approaches. It is upon these grounds that we agreed to have a three-day forum in Uganda, specifically targeting the East DRC partners who are not much exposed to the dynamics and approaches of the World Drug issues. This will tentatively be done in October/ November 2023

Nakuru, Kenya: 7 Aug 2023

Back in Kenya and on the way to Nairobi, the Liaison Rep contacted and met with Magdalene, the founder of Talk to Save the Youth organization based in Nakuru, about 150 km from the City. She gave an emotional account of the experiences of her organization, working in one of the most volatile areas of Nakuru, called Kaptembwa slums. This is a place where drugs are commonly used and where rival gangs fight, mug, rape, and even kill each other and the local community. Her organization has come up with not only rehabilitative and reintegrative approaches; but also includes economic empowerment programs, such as waste recycling and traditional bead making for youths and teenage mothers. She is a champion of true life-changing and sustainable interventions whose support would be much more valuable.

Epilogue: The trip ended on 7th August 2023. It is our hope that more positive results will be realized as all relevant stakeholders unite their efforts to mitigate influencing factors contributing to the dtrug habit in the East and Central African region