As a result of CCFU’s work on culture in development as well as our engagement in the Citizens′ Manifesto processes, we recognized the influence of clan leaders in local governance. Clan leaders play an important role in addressing the day to day challenges experienced by many members of local communities. Their interventions, which include conflict resolution in resource and domestic conflicts, reconciliation, assisting in security and community management, enhancing community responsibility and service, environment protection and sanitation, among others, place clan leaders in a good position to propose and advise on policy formulation and amendments. By virtue of their position amongst the community, the clan leaders are "closer" to the poor and vulnerable members of society and are therefore in better position to propose by-laws to protect their rights. This influence has the potential to be effectively used to contribute to good governance at local level and can also be abused if not well defined and harnessed. Often clan leaders′ contributions are not registered as an important part of good governance, one of the reasons being that there is no point of (legal) reference.

With support from the Citizens′ Manifesto programme and the DRT Mwananchi (strengthen citizens′ engagement) programme, CCFU is facilitating the development of a clan leaders′ charter based on the experience of clan leaders in 6 regions across the country. This programme which runs throughout the year, entails the active participation of approximately 100 clan leaders from Nebbi, Busoga, Lango, Pokot, Buganda and Tooro in self-reflection and critique

Currently CCFU has completed introductory meetings in Nebbi and Busoga during which a small group of clan leaders (20) drafted their respective charters. By end of March, 2011, CCFU will have held validation meetings with approximately 80 clan leaders from both regions to verify and enrich the drafts developed. From April to October 2011, clan leaders in the other four regions will go through similar processes and the outcomes, six clan leaders′ charters will be compiled into one Charter on Clan Leaders in Uganda.

It is envisaged that at the end of these interactions the leaders will have had an opportunity to assess their contribution to development, analyse the relevance of their role as representatives of their respective communities, define their values, principles and code of conduct as a basis for engaging with other stakeholders and reposition themselves to be more effective partners in development.