Life Concern (LICO)

Life concern (LICO) is a non-profit, rights-based NGO operating in West Nile. It was established in 1998 by a group of former seminarians hailing from Nebbi District/Zombo. In 2001 it was registered as a community-based organisation (CBO) with Nebbi District local government to address issues related to the rights of orphans, people living with disabilities and people living with HIV/AIDS.

In 2002, it was transformed into a fully-fledged NGO. Membership was opened to the public, individuals, and later partner CBOs joined the organisation. Its thematic areas expanded to include human rights, democracy and good governance education; peacebuilding, conflict resolution and transformation; environment, food and income securities as way of addressing the livelihood status of poor and marginalised people in West Nile Region.

LICO targets youths in schools in Uganda to empower them to promote peacebuilding and reconciliation. It has set up a number of peace clubs in schools, and conducts annual peace camps in primary and secondary schools in the West Nile region.

LICO engages local stakeholders in dialogue and information sharing as well as reflection on peacebuilding strategies.

Current activities target dialogue for peaceful elections and resource-based conflict mediation. LICO reaches out to land, wildlife and forest officials to facilitate the equitable sharing of resource usage. It also provides education on conflict early warning and other peace-related issues.