November 21, 2025 – In Uganda’s Karamoja sub-region, communities have endured decades of hardship, from cattle raids and armed violence to domestic unrest and deep poverty. These cycles of conflict and insecurity have left many people struggling with invisible wounds of trauma and grief.
Recognizing the critical need for psychosocial support, WPDI introduced Trauma Healing, Mental Health, and Counseling trainings under its Health & Well-being pillar. These trainings help communities engage on the path to recovery, equipping participants with the tools to identify signs of trauma, support others in distress, and refer individuals for professional care through established referral pathways.
A Growing Culture of Healing and Awareness
Since launching this initiative, WPDI has achieved remarkable success in helping communities in Karamoja begin their journey toward healing from trauma. The program empowers participants with knowledge on trauma awareness, mental health, and basic counseling, enabling them to recognize when someone is struggling and guide them toward appropriate help. This approach has already created ripple effects across the region. Mr. Solomon, Senior Psychiatric Clinical Officer at Moroto Regional Hospital, stressed the program’s impact during a recent graduation ceremony held at Moroto Government Prison:
“Mental health cases received at the mental health department in the hospital have greatly reduced due to the intervention of WPDI. Most of the cases we are receiving are now referred by individuals who know about mental health.”
These results reflect a growing community demand for empathy, understanding, and action — where residents are not only finding personal healing but also becoming first responders to emotional and psychological distress within their neighborhoods, schools, and even prisons.
Loduk’s Story:
“Every night I would dream of my two brothers pleading with me to rescue them,” Loduk recalls, describing years of recurring nightmares after losing his siblings to a raid. “I didn’t know this was post-traumatic stress disorder disturbing me.”
Through WPDI’s trauma healing training, Loduk learned to process his pain and regain peace of mind. A creative life-mapping activity led by our trainer Sarah helped him externalize his story, using stones to symbolize painful experiences and flowers to represent moments of joy. “After sharing my story, I stopped having the bad dreams. This training changed my life. I was a very bitter man before, but now I know how to handle disturbing issues before they get out of hand,” he says.
Today, Loduk is using his new skills to help other community members who face trauma and mental health challenges.
“I will help others just as I was helped. I am no longer the Loduk I used to be.”
Norman’s Story:
“When I came to prison, I was very traumatized,” says Norman. “But when the trauma training came, I joined — and it gave me hope.”
Through WPDI’s Health & Well-being program, Norman learned about the types and symptoms of trauma, coping strategies, and the importance of counseling.
“Now I have peace of mind. I feel okay mentally, physically, and emotionally, knowing that one day this will end.”
As a prison leader, Norman has become a peer counselor, offering support to fellow inmates.
“This training has given me the confidence to come out and counsel anyone who needs help. Many inmates come to me when they have problems and need someone to talk to.”
He now dreams of continuing his counseling education to transform lives both inside and beyond the prison walls.
Caroline’s Story:
Caroline, a resident of Nakapelimen village, enrolled in WPDI’s Trauma Healing and Counseling course out of compassion for others.
“For years, I witnessed people silently battling trauma and mental health challenges. This empathy, and my own experiences, led me to join WPDI’s training,” she says.
Through the course, she gained knowledge on active listening, empathy-driven counseling, and psychological first aid. She also learned the importance of self-care and ethical counseling practices.
“I’ve learned to process my own experiences with new understanding and feel a greater sense of resilience. The course has not only equipped me to help others but also given me a deeper sense of purpose.”
Now, Caroline facilitates small group discussions on mental health and stress management in her community.
“My goal is to help people share their burdens without fear of judgment. I thank WPDI for giving me this golden opportunity to make a difference.”
Building a More Resilient Future
Through these initiatives, WPDI is helping communities in Karamoja reclaim their peace of mind and rebuild their emotional strength. By training residents — including teachers, youth, and even prison inmates — to recognize trauma and extend compassion, WPDI is cultivating a culture of healing that begins within individuals and radiates outward to families and communities.
The results are precise: fewer untreated mental health cases, more community referrals, and countless personal transformations. Together, these efforts demonstrate that when people are given the tools to understand and heal, peace and resilience can take root, even in the most fragile settings.
This program is made possible thanks to the financial support of a foundation that wishes to remain anonymous.