Ponsiano Bimeny

Ponsiano grew up in Agago District, a remote area of northern Uganda a region that suffered more than 20 years of civil war and atrocities at the hands of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). He has got over 5 years’ experience working as a development professional with various NGOs in Agago, a neglected area with poor infrastructure where few INGOs operate, helping to rebuild his community and promote the enforcement of human rights.

His most recent professional experience was working as a programme coordinator for Agago and neighbouring Pader District for a UNICEF-funded programme called Justice for Children (J4C). J4C is implemented jointly by the Centre for Justice Studies and Innovations, and the Uganda Justice Law & Order Sector (JLOS). The programme ensures an effective JLOS response to children in contact with the law either as victims of violence or offenders considering prevention, protection, rehabilitation, and reintegration issues. In this role he provided technical support to senior law and order professionals through specialized training, mentorship, and capacity building; conducted community outreach programmes; supported individual cases of children at risk and developed diversion programmes to keep children out of the formal justice system.

Prior to this, he founded and became the first coordinator of the Agago District NGO Forum recruiting directors of NGOs operating in the region as members. The Forum provides a platform for engagement with local government in policy formulation whilst coordinating and improving service delivery to the community.

Ponsiano completed a MSc degree in Violence, Conflict & Development at SOAS, University of London. He is currently studying for a PhD in Development Studies at SOAS.   His research title is “Construction of the State, Violence and Political Settlement in South Sudan”.