Dialogue held at Pabo sub-county with WAN members, relatives and local leaders present. Photo by Patrick Odong/JRP.
As communities navigate a post-conflict journey together, it is key for a stage to be given for different groups within society to share their experiences, challenges and current journeys.
Recently, as part of the “Livelihood” project implemented by JRP and Women’s Advocacy Network (WAN), with funding from Uganda fund, four dialogues were organised in three districts: Pader, Nwoya, and Amuru. The formulation of these dialogues came about after feedback sessions conducted across various WAN groups had brought to light a number of common challenges faced by WAN members. It was conceived by JRP and WAN that such challenges should be discussed with members, local government and cultural officials, as well as spouses and supporting relatives as gender-related issues that need a holistic approach for them to be remedied.
Being mainly made up of victims of conflict-related SGBV, the WAN groups have been supported throughout this project in a number of ways. The project supports WAN groups in selecting an Income Generating Activity (IGA) for the group and building it together into a sustainable and efficient source of income for members. Throughout the project period, members have noticed that certain challenges are standing in the way of complete achievement of the project’s aims. Such common challenges highlighted included: jealousy, stigma, land conflict, lack of local authority assistance, and harming of animals distributed as part of project. During the dialogue, members were given the opportunity to elaborate on these points in order to help paint a clearer picture for those relatives and local leaders in attendance.
A key question posed to the groups was whether they felt they were experiencing such issues due to their identity as a victim of SGBV or whether it was due to their gender. Whilst some emphasized the role their gender plays in the challenges they face, most accentuated how being a victim of SGBV, and for many a returnee from LRA captivity, brought the most challenges. Although members perhaps did not agree completely, it is important that these members consider the gender aspect, so that effective remedies can be agreed upon.
When addressing the issues discussed that related to local land conflict or relations with the local authorities, local government officials were on hand to listen, respond and advise. Many of the local leaders acknowledged how they were formerly unaware of some of the problems the group faced and called for all groups to work closely with the local authority. Providing a space for discussion between the members and the local leaders proved promising and could be important for the future of the groups’ project implementation.
After such a long period of violence that impacted the lives of most in northern Uganda, it is necessary to aid in social reconstruction and reconciliation. In aiding groups to inform other members, relatives and important figures within the community on their activities, hopes and struggles, we hope communities within northern Uganda can build a bright and peaceful future together.
JRP and WAN meets with Ker Kal Kwero and family members to discuss the case. Photo by Joyce Abalo/JRP
The story of Okello*
When the truth is bitter: the story of a mother who long awaited to be reunited with her son
Okello, the son of a well-known LRA commander, was born in captivity during the LRA conflict. When he managed to escape from captivity he was still very young and escaped with a group of other children born in captivity, leaving his mother behind. Whilst Okello sought refuge in Rachele rehabilitation centre, a team of NGO agencies attempted to search for his maternal and paternal family. The search ended in NGO agencies finding what they thought was the biological maternal family of Okello and handed the child over to them for them to care of him. What later transpired was that there had been confusion concerning the mothers name, as both the biological mother of Okello and the daughter of the family caring for Okello had both been called Nancy*. Therefore, like many other cases of children who returned from captivity, Okello was not being cared for by his true family.
Without knowing the true identity of the child, the family he was given to continued to raise him. At this time, Evelyn, leader of WAN and a member of the JRP team, knew Nancy, the biological mother, from her time in captivity and came to believe that Okello was being taken care of by a family other than his own. Evelyn explained: “when I met with Okello some years back while I was still for studying on an adult literacy course. Okello told me he missed his mother and brother Banya so much that when he started to think about them he could not study well.” That was when Evelyn took a step to see that Okello privately met the mother. In 2014, Evelyn arranged for Okello and Nancy, the perceived biological mother, to meet at the JRP office. It was noted by those attending that both the mother and child instantly knew that they were matched correctly, as Okello immediately asked his mother about his brother, Banya – something only the true son would have been able to say. However, despite this meeting, Evelyn did not know how to tell this news to the grandmother of the child, as she knew how devastating it would be.
A few years passed and in this period the grandmother of the family that had originally taken Okello in had passed on. This news came to the attention of the school when the term finished and Okello was left at the school with no one to pick him up. His schooling, and that of many of the father’s other children, at that time was being funded by a sponsor organisation and so this organisation took it upon themselves to email his sponsor, a Belgian citizen, to explain the problem. Due to difficulties in arranging adoption, the same sponsor asked the deputy head teacher of Gulu Public Primary School to care for Okello and provided her with the monetary means to do so. When this issue arose, Evelyn communicated with the sponsor organisation that she believed the mother had actually returned from captivity and did not belong to the family who originally took care of Okello. Nancy, the friend of Evelyn who she believed was the real mother, was not sure whether Okello was alive or not.
When JRP and WAN came to hear of the worsening situation for Okello, they mobilised various important people involved in this situation for two dialogues to discuss and attempt to resolve this issue. The first meeting, chaired by JRP and WAN, brought together the prime minister of Acholi Ker kal Kwaro (a local cultural institution), Nancy Abalo (the lady claiming she was Okello’s mother), the benefactor that was supporting Okello in school and the elderly woman who claimed Okello was a grandchild of the family. During the meeting, the prime minister of Ker Kal Kwero asked Nancy Abalo to present the reasons as to why she claims that Okello is her son. With tears rolling from her eyes she said:
‘‘first of all, I did not die, I am alive. When the government soldiers attacked, I had already left that area, but my son was with another group that escaped and returned back home. My son, while in captivity, developed a disease that affected all the finger nails, and all were wounded. The finger nails grew back apart from one fingernail that did not grow back well, and that is a sign that I can use to identify my son. Besides, he knows his brother because by the time my son had been separated from me, his younger brother called Banya was already around and he loved him so much.’’
A member of the sponsor organisation said that in the process of seeking for the truth about Okello’s true mother, the Belgian sponsor had organised for a DNA test to be taken for both Okello and the mother. The member said: ‘‘I am pleased to inform that I have the copy of the DNA results which I shall hand over to the prime minister of Ker Kal Kwaro. These results stated clearly that Nancy Abalo is the biological mother of Okello – there is no doubt about it.”
Before the DNA test results were released, the member of Sponsor Children Uganda explained that at first, they thought that Nancy was not the biological mother of Okello. This was believed because the women who were close to Okello’s mother while in captivity said that Nancy had been killed by a bomb that had been thrown by the government soldiers, who even covered her body, confirming that she was dead.
A beautiful moment happened when one of the women claiming that Okello was not a son to Nancy arrived. She arrived just as the DNA results were being presented to the prime minister. On seeing that Nancy was alive she was completely shocked and asked, “where have you been that I could not see you?” She was overwhelmed with guilt and asked for forgiveness from Okello’s mother: “I am sorry for all that I said. I thought you had passed on. But now that you are here and alive, it is better for Okello that he lives with his biological mother, so that a bond may be built between them and they may feel the love each other missed.” The prime minister then resolved that a step needed to be taken so that Okello is given to his biological mother. The mother was full of joy and proclaimed, “I will carry my son on my back however old he is and give him all the love a mother can give her child.”
The second meeting held by JRP and WAN to discuss the issue further brought together members of both the paternal and maternal side of Okello, the family claiming to be related to Okello, the deputy head teacher of Gulu Public primary school and the Prime Minister of Ker Kal Kwero. In addressing the group, the prime minster said: “In Acholi culture it is not allowed for a different person to force and claim custody of a blood which is not theirs. Therefore, the reason the meeting was held was to ensure that Okellogets to know who his biological mother is and where he can finally call home.”
Once the Prime Minister confirmed that the DNA test showed the 99.99% likelihood of Nancy Abalo being the biological mother of Okello, Okot* a member from the family claiming Okello, narrated how he got to know Okello. He said:
“Okello is my nephew, a son to my sister Aciro Nancy* who was abducted from Koch Amar in 1988 and to this date has not returned. In 2004, I was approached by a team of members from Rachele rehabilitation Centre who came to my carpentry work place and told me of a child called Okello a son to Nancy. They said that I should take over the responsibility for caring for Okello. I took the news positively and spoke to my late mother. Together we organized various cultural procedures like ‘Nyono tong gweno’ (stepping on an egg before entering the home) and Okello was welcomed home.”
Despite the DNA test results, Okot went ahead and asked Nancy Abalo the name of her clan and its location, saying that she probably changed her name whilst in captivity. Despite this allegation, Nancy’s mother was present to prove that Nancy Abalo was not related to Okot – something that was clear just based on resemblance. Nancy’s mother said: “Nancy Abalo is my daughter and the name Nancy Abalo was given by me. She was abducted but returned. When she returned, I found her with two children, but she told me that her other son went missing. I am happy that her missing son is what we are discussing today because for so long she has been craving to meet him again.”
A paternal uncle to Okello explained, “my brother was abducted and at one point passed via home and said he had wives and children. I told him to return home with the wives and children so that he could start taking care of them, but he said his mission was not done yet. Therefore, I acknowledge that my brother has children, although some we don’t know their whereabouts. Okello is one of them and I believe the DNA test result. Although it is my first time to meet Nancy Abalo, I believe wholeheartedly that Okello belongs to her. A mother knows who her child is and who the father is.”
The uncle showed sincere sorrow and pain for the mistreatment of the children of his brother. He elaborated this by explaining how one of his brother’s children, whose mother comes from Pabbo, walked on foot to the paternal home due to mistreatment. He said, “we had to flee away from Patiko due to continuous attack by the government soldiers for where our brother was. My mother was severely beaten by the government soldiers because of my brother.” As he recounted the story he broke down in tears. He noted that, “it will be very important if these children are allowed to know their paternal family members, even if they are not able to stay with us due to financial difficulties. Unfortunately, we cannot take care of them all. However, we ask that those in scholarships will continue to be supported.” Later in the meeting, the paternal grandmother to Okello said, “I am happy to hear that I have grandchildren and I wish to see them while I am still alive. Even though my son is dead, I am happy that I can see his image through his children.”
The prime minster later explained that the Acholi Ker Kal Kwaro is not a court place to pronounce judgments. Instead, it listens to the situation of the people and helps bring forward resolutions to matters. The suggestions given by the Acholi Ker Kal Kwaro were as follows:
Nancy the mother to Okello has full rights to know, see, and talk to the child
As per Acholi culture, it is the role of the paternal side of Okello to care for the children
Unity is needed since Okello has a bond with both his biological parents and the families that took care of him
Plans to organise Okello and the other brothers to be taken home to both the maternal and paternal side
Therefore, it was resolved that everyone present would go and meet Okello at the home of the deputy head teacher. When the trip took place, Okello was told who his biological mother and paternal family were. To the dismay of many, Okello did not accept Nancy as his biological mother, saying, “I don’t know any Nancy Abalo, I only know Aciro Nancy, and my uncle Okot.” This caused Nancy Abalo a lot of pain and she broke down in tears. She later said to Evelyn, “my child has been brain washed.” When she had previously met Okello, he had been happy to meet her. She was consoled by Evelyn and was encouraged to never to give up. For Nancy Abalo, this day was full of mixed emotions: sadness after not being accepted by her son, but also happiness and joy after as she was able to see her son again after such a long time. Therefore, despite the fact that Nancy was denied by her son, she promised to always come and see him with his brothers, since they will also be enrolled under the same sponsorship that Okello is benefiting from.
The case of Okello highlights the many complexities of the LRA conflict. Nearly every family was impacted heavily by the conflict and in trying to deal with the consequences it can be extremely difficult. It is not rare that children who returned from captivity were reunited with a family other than their biological family, and in some cases, children were even taken in to be used as workers or housemaids. Therefore, WAN and JRP, with the help of cultural institutions, seeks to aid in reintegrating children born in captivity with their biological family, so a sense of identity and belonging may be reinstated and for the wellbeing of the child to be a focus for all involved.
*The names of those involved have been changed so that their identity may be preserved
Maternal and paternal family of child born from captivity laugh and share stories together. Photo by Patrick Odong/JRP
The maternal and paternal family of a child born from captivity have joined hands to brighten their futures together through the child reintegration programme.
In 2016, JRP and WAN supported one mother through the child reintegration project, in which her child who was born in captivity was reunited with their paternal home. After being contacted by the mother to express her gratitude for the team and the project, JRP conducted a follow-up visit with the mother to the paternal family in Palaro parish, Odek sub-county, to see how the families were working together.
The happiness and love shown by the two families for each other was greatly reflected in the stories told. The mother told JRP how the families had combined their efforts and resources to support the child at school and ensure the child has a bright future. The paternal family has not only given the mother a plot of their ancestral land to plough, but has identified a strategic piece of their land in the centre of Odek for the mother to build a business. By generously giving land and helping her to build a business and home in Odek, they ensure that she is close to the child and the family. The paternal family opened their arms to her other children and proclaimed that together they will join hands together to build a strong future for her and her children.
This story sheds light on how families across war-torn communities are supporting each other in life after the LRA conflict. Often those who return from captivity are faced with stigmatisation and rejection from their local communities. By providing a platform for these families to engage in dialogue and discussion over their experiences, hopes and interests for those children born in captivity, JRP hopes to bring light to the lives of many conflict survivors.
Participant speaks during a meeting held by Actionaid Uganda and the Greater North Parliamentary forum on ‘Making Transitional Justice work for Women in Northern Uganda’. Photo by Alice Baker/JRP
On Friday 23rd March, some of the JRP team joined an informative and lively discussion on “Making Transitional Justice Work for Women” organised by Action Aid Uganda. The meeting brought together civil society organisations, Greater North Parliamentary representatives and cultural leaders from across Uganda to give transitional justice an all important spotlight!
Reflecting on their transitional justice study report gave space for discussions surrounding National Transitional Justice policy, gender mainstreaming and women’s experiences and perspectives on transitional justice in Northern Uganda. It is important that we continue to come together and discuss such important issues! As one of the great speakers said today, “let’s not normalise an abnormal situation.”
For more information on ActionAid Uganda’s work on this subject and the current debate, take a look at the link below:
http://www.actionaid.org/australia/making-transitional-justice-work-women-rights-resilience-and-responses-violence-against
