Together with four member organisations, UYDEL, Slum Child Foundation, SCAD and Paddifoundation WFAD hosted the second East African Regional Forum. The workshop and forum were part of a pilot-study grant, funded by Swedish Development Agency Forum Syd. The two-day workshop hosted some 25 members from the Region (including Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, as well as two Nigeran participants), with an aim to deepen cooperation between and within civil society. 

The two-day Regional workshop dove into the strengths, needs and capacities in the region’s CSOs (within the field of drug and alcohol addiction). The result: The East African Network on substance Abuse was created. The group worked through the network’s vision, mission, objectives and activities and the Secretary and Chair of the network were chosen, Kikome Ruth, Uganda and George Ochieng Odalo, Kenya. For more information regarding the network, contact to receive the contact persons’ email. 

The results of the two-day workshop and discussions was presented in a joint declaration, named the KAMPALA DECLARATION. 

The final day, 6th of February, the WFAD East African Regional Forum on Prevention and Treatment of Drugs and Alcohol took place. Over 80 participants were joined by a high amount of media. The event, and interviews, were broadcasted on Ugandan television. The Day began with a testimony by Catherine Boyane of Nakuru Drop-In Centre, Kenya, who shared her story and presented the past workshop-days. 
Participants and speakers from the region and abroad joined the forum, which covered a wide range of areas from Convention on the Rights of the Child, Gender and Drug Abuse among Young Women, the Asian experience on Drug Demand reduction, the UN Convention on Transnational Organised Crime, a Drug free worksplace, legalisation of marijuana, Civil Society Impact on Policy Makers, and finally a panel discussion highlighting the situation for women facing addiction within East and West Africa. The Forum was co-funded by Förbundet Mot Droger, IFNGO, WFTC, Drug Free America Foundation and Carlton Hall Consulting LLC. We thank those who supported the forum, the media attendees, the UYDEL Team for hosting us, the speakers a special thank you to all participants in the workshop and forum! 

You can read the pressrelease and agenda here, and access powerpoints below. The Conference Report is attached here.

Agenda topics and power points
The Global Movement: Esbjörn Hörnberg, International President World Federation Against Drugs.
Gender and Drug Abuse among Young Women: Anna Nabulya, Uganda Youth Development Link.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child: Rogers Kasirye, Executive Director, Uganda Youth Development Link.
Asian Experiences on drug demand Reduction: Augusto Nogueira, President, IFNGO.
UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime, its Review Mechanism and the role of NGOs: Billy Batware, UNODC/UNOTC.
Promoting Prevention, Treatment and Recovery through a Drug Free Workplace: Carlton Hall, Drug Free America Foundation & President and CEO of Carlton Hall Consulting LLC.
Engaging with the African Union and emerging Legalization of drugs: George Ochieng, Founder Slum Child Foundation.
Civil Society Impact on Policy Makers: Regional and Global Advocacy: Eze Eluchie, President of the African Center for Health Law and Development.

Conference report 
Report on the East African Regional Forum: compiled by Lubega Andrew, UYDEL.

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