Category Archives: Initiative Updates

Find information regarding the latest JRP outreach and advocacy programs, read community success stories and see photos from our work in the rural area

Survivors of Conflict Join Hands to Make Change

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Creating Global Connections

Justice and Reconciliation Project Head of Office, Mr. Okwir Isaac Odyia, JRP and WAN representatives, and exchange counterparts meet with the National Judicial Council of Nigeria. Photo Credit Benard Okot.

Survivors of conflict related sexual violence across the world, especially those who return from captivity with armed groups, face similar obstacles and challenges. These include stigmatization and rejection. Additionally, they suffer long term psychological distress as a result of the physical, sexual, and mental abuse they experienced in capacity.

This message shaped a five-day dialogue and experience sharing workshop, which took place between 21 and 25 of January 2019 in Abuja, Nigeria.

The exchange activity was sponsored by Trust Africa, under the auspices of the International Criminal Justice Fund.  Representatives of the Justice and Reconciliation Project (JRP) and Women’s Advocacy Network (WAN) traveled to Abuja, Nigeria to interact with survivors of sexual violence and Boko Haram captivity there. The program was hosted by the Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA).

The event provided opportunities for WAN members to share experiences with their counterparts at the Allamin Foundation for Peace. The participants’ focus was to illuminate the challenges faced in their countries and to think of strategies for overcoming these challenges together. Survivors from both countries shared their stories and experiences, allowing them to learn from one another and to build resilience.

Evelyn Amony, WAN chair and a survivor from northern Uganda, narrated how she was forced to marry Lord’s Resistance Army Commander Joseph Kony. She was ‘married’ to him for 11 years and had 3 children with him.

She was also taken to South Sudan, and faced great difficulties there. She recounted that many people drowned while traveling, because they were made to cross a dangerous river.

Her oldest child, who would be about 19 years old now, was captured during a clash. She never set her eyes on her again.

When Evelyn returned home in 2005, most of her relatives rejected her and the children. They were treated as outcasts.  Evelyn and other formerly abducted women wanted to show that what happened to them was not their will. Seven of the women came together to start a group known as ‘Rwotlakica’ (God is merciful) and she was chosen as the chair. This initiative grew into WAN.

Other WAN members also shared their stories. Survivors from North East Nigeria were inspired and talked of the horrors they endured in Boko Haram captivity.

Together, survivors from both countries learned that they had suffered many of the same human rights violations, and could come together in advocacy.

Women in North East Nigeria, however, face additional challenges, as war continues.

Hope Never Runs Dry

Allamin Foundation Founder Hajja Hamsatu speaks during the workshop. Photo Credit, Benard Okot.

 The fact that North East Nigeria is still in conflict has made it very difficult for the victims, especially those still returning home, to tell their stories.

Hajja Hamsatu, Founder of Allamin Foundation, noted that the victims in Northern Nigeria still face numerous human rights violations.

‘‘Even at the IDP [Internally Displaced Persons’] camp, there have been cases of rape by security personnels and vigilantes in the camps. One of the survivors, a 16 year old girl has a four month old baby, (allegedly from a police man in the IDP camp). Due to this form of treatment, many have gone ahead to be sex workers. Some survivors are being given away in cheap marriages by their parents,’’ she said.

Ms. Hamsatu described her work to support young girls who were abducted by Boko Haram. She started by organising them into social networks in Safe Spaces, providing them life skills, confidence building, self-esteem and empowerment workshops.  She  then matched existing programs with a grant so that survivors could explore their skills. She  noted, however, that there are still numerous obstacles to surmount as many more survivors are emerging, wanting to be part of the network. Affected survivors in the IDP camps do not have access to food on a constant basis. She appeals to the Nigerian government to take responsibility for  victims and for children born during captivity.

Interactions with human rights organisations during the workshop renewed hope for victims in northern Nigeria. At the Federal Ministry of Justice, and the National Human Rights Commission the government bodies pledged their commitment towards addressing the plight of survivors and encouraged that victims be supported to write petitions aimed at addressing their issues.

 A Brighter Future

Women from Uganda and Nigeria brainstorm ways to overcome the challenges they face and make change. Photo Credit, Benard Okot.

The exchange concluded with action points developed by both participants from Uganda and Nigeria. These are expected to feed into the broader attempts to develop a victim-centered transitional justice process for Nigeria, specifically facilitating survivors of sexual violence to build individual and collective agency as a means of kick starting survivor mobilization,  networking in order to influence policy and legislative discussions and processes and providing a space for learning from the lived experiences of survivors of conflict related sexual violence to develop better interventions and responses.

Despite the difficult subjects discussed, the week ended in celebration. The women from Ugandan and Nigeria exchanged gifts, and shared a meal.

JRP looks forward to continuing to partner with people from around the world, and push for social justice and change everywhere.

 

 

 

Supporting Survivors and Empowering Communities: JRP Programs Target Discrimination

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Women’s Advocacy Network Group Members in Abia pose for a photo after signing a new petition. Photo Credit. Sophia Neiman/JRP.

Jasper is a resident of Abia Sub-County, and was once a captive in the Lord’s Resistance Army. He watches children playing by the huts across the road. They kick up dirt and whoop and laugh, unfazed by the dry heat. Jasper claims his children were playing in much the same way, before being threatened and called the offspring of a rebel. A relative blamed the children after a cellphone disappeared, and brandished a ‘panga’ or machete, claiming they had rebel blood, and were thieves as a result.

The story is just one example of the stigma ex-abductees and their children face. This January, the Justice and Reconciliation Project took on two new programs; both sponsored by Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice in The Hague, in order to eliminate stigma and promote tolerance and understanding.

During the second week of January JRP representatives visited numerous Women’s Advocacy Network groups and conducted monitoring meetings and radio programs about stigma. These gave all involved a safe space in which to share challenges, as well as a platform for advocacy within the larger community.

Later, staff journeyed to Abia and Nomakora sub-counties, and distributed a petition demanding local leaders enforce existing laws to prevent discrimination, and enact similar customary laws.

The petition is shaped and driven by grassroots activism. JRP created it based on the previous monitoring visits, and also took into account requests made at the WAN quarterly meeting in October of 2018. WAN members from across Lango, Teso and Acholi sub-regions have taken led in sharing and signing the same petition, and actively promoted the project.

The work is vital, as stigma can be particularly harmful for ex-abductees. Speaking fervently, Jasper assertsthat he found his relative’s insults so painful, he wanted to kill the man and his family, simply to prove he was a murderer, and to make true suspicions and cruel words. Only after seeking counseling from JRP was he able to let go of this anger and consider forgiving his relative.

As the children continue to play, Jasper speaks of the future. He is devoted to sending all of his children to school, so they receive the education he never had. He is also working to acquire a plot of land to ensure a peaceful and prosperous life for his family.

Jasper is not alone in experiencing stigma. Evelyn of Nomakora Sub-County complains of being harassed when she goes to draw water from the well. Even when completing simple tasks, she is reminded of the past in ways horrible and humiliating. She also recalls other community members pointing when she walks to WAN meetings; creating divides between those who were abducted and those where not. Evelyn hopes change will come. “There should be equality. There should not be segregation,” she said.

JRP is dedicated to reducing and ultimately eliminating the stigma ex-abductees face and will support WAN members in continuing to collect signatures for the petition, before presenting it to local leaders. As always, JRP will continue to advocate for grassroots communities, and to uplift unheard voices.

JRP will share more information about these projects as each develops.

***

Yordanos Melake contributed reporting about monitoring meetings and radio programs. Ruben Hake conducted the interview with Evelyn and also contributed reporting.

 

 

 

Sowing the Seeds of Tomorrow: Success Stories in Photographs

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Margret leads JRP Staff to her Sorghum plantation near Pedar Town. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

Conflict not only robs people of the present. It does not only cause constant fear, or snatch autonomy. It can also alter the future. Those in Lord’s Resistance Army captivity lost youth and education. They returned home deeply traumatized and with children born of war, who also bear trauma. Many are still treated as social pariahs, and excluded from day-to-day activities.

Justice and Reconciliation Project programs use community-based livelihood support to create a better and brighter future for the formerly abducted. In 2017 JRP, with support from the Uganda Fund, worked to uplift six different Women’s Advocacy Network (WAN) groups, with loan capital and income generating items, such as seedlings and livestock. This November, JRP returned to those groups once again, and observed the incredible progress made. Members have improved and continued to improve their lives.

Here are a few of their stories.

Alero

Pauline gives JRP staff a tour of her farm in Alero. She raises chickens, goats and pigs and has also planted bananas, rice, oranges, pawpaw, and pineapples. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

Pauline’s husband often denied her money, making it hard to care for the children, and causing discord between the couple. She lacked the resources to properly support herself. Joining the Tam pi Anyim Child Mother’s Group in Alero provided her with new opportunities and connected her to a powerful network of women. Inspired by the hard work of her fellow group members, Pauline took a loan from the group saving scheme to purchase pigs, and another to buy seeds.

She has since planted bananas, pineapple, pawpaw, oranges, cassava and rice. Pauline works the land each day, and cares for the animals.  Her farm is a beautiful and sun-soaked place; the plants lush and fertile.

She is now able to pay her children’s school fees, and to support her family independently.  She hopes one day to build a permanent house for her children.

Beatrice makes local brew outside of her home in Alero. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

The LRA took Beatrice when she was still a teenager. She was forced to become a rebel’s wife in captivity, and was infected with HIV/AIDs. She had been abducted in her youth, but her youth ended in captivity, and she returned with a child.

Home again, Beatrice married and had three more children. She passed HIV/AIDs on to her husband, and he died of the disease. She struggled, often working in neighbors’ farms to make some small money. Beatrice married once more. That man impregnated and abandoned her, leaving her with another child to care for, and no support.

She joined the group in Alero at the urging of a friend, and used a loan to purchase maize and cassava, in order to make local alcohol. She now sells the alcohol, and is able to pay rent and her children’s school fees.

She plans to purchase additional tools for her business, and eventually to buy land and a home for her children.

Gulu

Nighty laughs while selling cabbages at Ceraleno Market in Gulu Town. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

Nighty is a member of Can Rwede Pe WAN group in Gulu municipality. She runs a small business selling cabbage. Nighty took a loan from the group saving scheme and used it to buy vegetables. She was able to quickly turn a profit and continues to do so. Nighty believes that additional financial training from JRP helped to make her work successful.

Another loan from the group helped her to pay her children’s school fees. Nighty asserts that it is particularly important that her children study, as captivity stole her chance to do so.

Grace stands among other group members in Gulu, holding a chicken and the eggs she has collected. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

Grace is a young, single mother, with three children. She is a member of Kica Pa Rwot Women’s group in Gulu municipality. Before joining the group, Grace often struggled to provide for her children. She took a loan from the group saving scheme, and used it to begin a tailoring business. She also collects and sells the eggs from chickens given to group members by JRP.

The group and program have had enormous impact on her life.  “Being in this group has lifted me up to the level that I am. If it wasn’t for that, I’d be nobody,” she said.

Grace hopes that the women will continue to care for each other in years to come. “Our future plan is to keep uplifting each other so we can get out of this life that we are in and be in a better life,” she said.

Pabo

Charles works outside of his metal shop in Pabo. Photo Credit, Patrick Odong and Yorandos Melake.

Charles is a father of five, and a member of Dii Cwinyi Child Mothers’ group in Pabo. While WAN groups are primarily made up of war-affected women, men are also welcome, as true equality is only possible when all advocate for it.

 Charles used a loan from the group to open a metal workshop, where he also teaches young people his trade.  The money from his business has helped him send his children to school. Charles hopes to continue teaching youth group about metal work, in order to provide them with new knowledge and a source of income.

Atiak

Lucy and her children display freshly harvested Cassava to JRP staff. Photo Credit, Patrick Odong and Yordanos Melake.

Lucy used a loan from Lacan Pe Nino Group in Atiak to purchase and plant two hectars of cassava and three hectars of SimSim.  She used the money to pay her children’s school fees, and to purchase a cow which has since given birth.

She is proud of all she has accomplished so far, and wants to work to be more independent and self-reliant.

Pader

Margret shows the Sorghum she has planted. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

Margret daughter was abducted was abducted by the LRA, and was a member of Okony Waa Group in Pader. She was often too busy farming to attend group meetings, so sent Margret in her place. Being in the group taught Margret about the horrors so many endured in captivity, and the obstacles they must surmount today.

When her daughter married and moved to a different district, Margret became an official group member. She took a loan to pay school fees for her grandchild, and used the balance to buy and plant sorghum.

The sorghum has grown tall. Margret will soon harvest and sell it, using the funds to feed her family.

A member of Can Rwede Pe group leads JRP staff to her home in Gulu, her baby strapped to her back. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

These are just a few voices, but they are proof of the power, hard work and determination in the community.

Show how very possible it is to construct a better life.

***

JRP is grateful to the Uganda Fund for its support in 2017. The program continues this year with the support of the Welfare fund, as JRP delivered livestock and income generating items to five WAN groups in various locations.

 

The Justice and Reconciliation Project Goes Abroad: An Update on International Travel and Collaboration

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WAN Chair Evelyn Amony and JRP Board Chair Michael Otim at the United Nations Security Council . Photo courtesy of Erin Baines.

Justice and Reconciliation Project staff is often on the road, driving long distances and engaging with grassroots communities throughout Uganda’s northern region. In October and November of this year, travel was also international, as two JRP officials participated in programs overseas.

Women’s Advocacy Network Chair Evelyn Amony journeyed to New York City, as she was invited by the Government of Poland to address members of the United Nations Security Council. Mrs. Amony was accompanied by JRP board chair Michael Otim and University of British Columbia Professor and JRP advisor, Dr. Erin Baines.

She shared her experiences in Lord’s Resistance Army Captivity, while also illuminating a path for the future. Specifically, Mrs. Amony told United Nations members about the importance of child tracing in post-conflict Uganda, a process through which children born of war are reunited with their families.

“It is the right of the child to know his paternal home,” Mrs. Amony said. In Acholi culture, identity and heritage are passed through the male line. Following, child tracing programs establish a previously lost sense of identity. Regardless of whether children are reunited on the maternal or paternal side, such work also alleviates many of the brutal challenges they face, providing security, the resources for an education and even land to cultivate. By supporting children now, non-profit organizations and government bodies can build the Uganda of tomorrow.

Mrs. Amony claims that her presence at the United Nations meeting was a powerful step towards a more inclusive vison of social justice, in which all voices are welcome and heard. “There is the thinking that only people who are educated should be invited in such a meeting, which I am not,” she said.  “I know that in life there are ups and downs. What I went through is not determining what I should do, that has passed. It is not about education per say, it’s about the person you are.”

Meanwhile, JRP head of office Mr.  Okwir Isaac Odiya traveled to Switzerland, to take part in Geneva Peace Week. There, he spoke on the importance of child reintegration in global peace and security measures. He also attended a meeting on Victims’ Rights organized by the Office of the Ambassador of Ireland and Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice in The Hague. He joined a panel and elaborated on the ways in which local justice mechanisms can complement the International Criminal Court.

Like Mrs. Amony, Mr. Odiya advocated for inclusivity, making powerful, international organizations and government officials aware of local initiatives.  According to Mr. Odiya local non-profits, deeply entrenched in the community, have the best understanding of community needs, but do not always have the resources to fulfill their mandate.  International organizations have those resources, but often lack inside knowledge. Thus, true partnership and collaboration are crucial going forward.

Following the trip, and back at the JRP offices in Gulu Town, Mr. Odiya spoke about the dynamics of such collaboration in depth.  “The international bodies should first come to the local partners, should come to the grassroots people. . . to understand what they are doing and then build on what [locals] have already started,” Mr. Odiya said.

Specifically, he called for research and continued international workshops, in order to create a culture of mutual learning and support. “I would love the international organizations or bodies to partner with local organizations like Justice and Reconciliation Project to build momentum.” he said.  He continued on to explain that local and international organizations can work together to implement a variety of protocols, creating a more holistic approach to transitional justice practices.

Mr. Odiya made clear that the need is urgent, and these partnerships should be established with haste. He spoke of war wounds untreated, of bullets buried deep in flesh, of burns from bombings and of women afflicted with fistulas, the final aliment a result of wartime sexual and gender based violence. Many conflict survivors still await treatment, as the national transitional justice process lags, despite the pressing nature of these medical issues. Thus, he hopes to build on the awareness created at international meetings, in order to address key challenges as soon as possible.

Both meetings paved the way for collaboration and Mrs. Amony and Mr. Odiya remain pleased with the outcome. JRP will continue to promote inclusivity and grassroots work. Moreover, it looks forward to building strong relationships with global partners in order to effectively meet the needs of the community.

Local Leaders Commit to Aiding Survivors of Conflict at JRP Hosted Regional Dialogue

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Local leaders divide into smaller groups in order to best discuss strategies to support survivors of conflict. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.
Local leaders divide into smaller groups in order to best discuss strategies to support survivors of conflict. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

The Mayor of Pader Town Council, Kilama Fearless Wodacholi, folded his hands and leaned across the table. “It touched me so much that my country has not yet done enough for [the survivors], he said. “It touched me that a lot of them say the war has not ended. It is only the silence of the guns.”

Mr. Wodacholi had just come from a regional dialogue, organized by the Justice and Reconciliation Project. The meeting took place on Wednesday, October 31st and brought together local leaders from across Northern Uganda, as well as victims’ representatives. Almost 90 people attended. It was sponsored by the Trust Africa Fund and hosted at Global Friendship Hotel in Gulu Town. The goal was to discuss the challenges victims currently face, and come up with comprehensive strategies to tackle those challenges, ahead of a national conference in January.

Post -conflict restoration is an oft forgotten battle-ground.  Wars finish with an exodus. Weapons are laid away, journalists turn off their cameras and aid organizations depart. Yet, peacetime brings its own set of obstacles, and the world turns a blind eye. The exodus complete, national and international attention is diverted to problems considered more pressing.

Wednesday’s regional dialogue empowered survivors to be activists, as they illuminated post conflict issues and demanded action. A woman identified as Winnie spoke passionately about the trauma latent in her community. Many of her fellow abductees have never received counseling or medical care. They still carry the burdens of war. Daily torment rubs salt in these wounds. She described being taunted when she left her home; her movements restricted. She also claimed that there have been few initiatives to support survivors. “Our very leaders are fighting us. Do we still belong to the community, or have they rejected us?” Winnie asked. Her voice rose and her eyes were wet.

Another woman, called Lily, explained how stigma is passed on to the next generation. Children born in captivity are punished for the simple fact of their existence. Some are bullied by their classmates and teachers to the extent that they stop attending school. “They stay in fear,” she said.

Leaders were moved. “There has been a gap,” said Abia Sub-County Chief, Sylvia Ometo. “We have not been following up on our women and girls who have come back from captivity . . . when I go back [home] I will give special concern to them.”

Leaders spent the rest of the meeting developing blueprints for change. They discussed using existing structures, such as the radio, community gatherings and the church to promote acceptance, and implanting livelihood initiatives to alleviate poverty. They also spoke of gathering data on how many former abductees exist in their communities, in order to better understand the problem and allocate aid.

There were also calls to push for an act of parliament, and to support survivors of conflict via affirmative action. “The most painful thing on earth is the memory of what you saw,” said Mr. Wodacholi. “Being a slave in your own land is a very painful moment . . . to reduce the suffering of these young people, and to give them hope, there must be an act of parliament.”

Leaders took careful notes, while brainstorming new stratagies. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.
Leaders took careful notes, while brainstorming new strategies. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

Rampant corruption, however, impedes change, particularly at the national level. “For long are we going to pretend that we are standing for the plight of vulnerable persons?” asked Chairmen LCV of Omoro, Peter Douglas Okello. He added, “We must make the parliament and government accountable to the citizens. We must have a government that is accountable to the people.” He spoke at the official close of the meeting and appealed to the collective audience.

Later, standing in the bright sun outside of the hotel, Mr. Okello recalled his time as the District Speaker of Gulu. He presided over a petition submitted to parliament by WAN. Parliament deliberated over the document, but there has been no action from the central government of Uganda. That was nearly five years ago. He indicated that in addition this stalemate, the state of corruption in Uganda is such that services are poorly delivered and money is misspent. Mr. Okello called ardently for action. “The government of Uganda and the development partners all over the world need to review the development agenda for Northern Uganda, to focus on post-conflict recovery, transformation and development,” he said.

On the whole, leaders considered the meeting a success, and remained optimistic about future proceedings. Lapono Sub-County Chief, Akullu Margaret Otto, claimed that leaders will now, “advocate so much that [survivors] should be treated as our own people.”

JRP will continue to work directly with vulnerable communities and with officials in order to develop the strategies discussed, and will bring those strategies to the national conference in January.

A previous version of this article stated that the WAN petition was submitted to parliament seven years ago, rather than five. JRP deeply regrets this error.

Community Theatre Gives a Powerful Platform to Survivors of Conflict

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Community members gather to watch a theatre program in Nomakora. They share snacks and soda. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.
Community members gather to watch a theatre program in Nomakora. They share snacks and soda. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

The journey to Nomakora sub-county is difficult. One must first drive from Gulu towards Kitgum and from Kitgum veer off tarmac and on to red dirt roads. Rains have not come this year, and the dust seems to predict another sort of storm. Vehicles kick up enough of it to obscure everything. Dust leaves a fine film on the skin. It comes into the nose. It makes lungs feel dirty.

Justice and Reconciliation Project staff traveled to Nomakora last week, in order facilitate a community outreach program. Women’s Advocacy Network group members designed a theatre piece in order to teach their neighbors about the horrors of abduction and life in the bush. The goal was to reduce stigma within the community, by showing both the difficulty of the past and the promise of future reconciliation. The program also helps to empower women previously silenced, and gives them a powerful platform and voice.  JRP has a history of facilitating similar community theatre programs, with great success.

The afternoon sun blazed and women sat in the shade, away from the dusty road. They made props, weaving tiny AK47s from stiff grass. Children picked at the false weapons, eager for new toys. Babies nursed. A DJ arrived to set up a sound system for the program, and community leaders and other villagers arrived as well, settling into wooden chairs or simply sitting on the ground.

Before the play came a prayer for those still in the grip of the Lord’s Resistance Army. According to the LRA Crisis Tracker, sponsored and created by Invisible Children, the rebels have been active in the Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo as recently as September of this year, with an attack near Yalinga, DRC. A number of children remain in captivity.

This prayer complete, a woman named Evelyn asked the community for peace. Her voice soft and earnest she said, “If you have killed everyone, who will help us? Who will be the next generation?”

The drama itself began with a portrait of daily life in the shadow of violence. Children supposed to help their mother cook begged to play outside instead. Then, without warning, they were snatched from their homes and taken to the bush. The actors mimed beatings and battles and being forced to carry guns and heavy loads.

It was not difficult to image the same scene playing out here and nearby, in the surrounding villages, and along the porous parts of maps. It was not difficult to imagine also those traumas not portrayed; to imagine the forced marriage of young girls, offered up like objects to senior commanders.

WAN group members reencact scenes of LRA captivity. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.
WAN group members reencact scenes of LRA captivity. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

At last, the story came to its cautiously hopeful conclusion. Those children once supposed to help cook, returned home and to their mother. She cried out in joy and gripped them to her, but the children were too tired to speak about their experiences. “Let us rest,” they said. Family reunions were haunted by other ghosts.

While it ended with a reunion, the play made clear that a new set of challenges lay ahead. The formerly abducted face daily discrimination. Unable to finish school, they lack job skills, making it difficult to support themselves and their families. Many are victims of domestic abuse.

One woman, identified as Jennifer, spoke directly about this violence.  The program had ended and the sun was setting fiercely. We had stepped away from the crowd. Jennifer said, “Whenever [our husbands] go on a drinking spree they take that opportunity to insult us, stigmatize us and abuse us.” Her comments implied alcoholism and a lack of security, even within the home.

The war is over in Uganda, but many obstacles remain.

Counselor Five Nomakora Sub-County , Kenneth Nyero, speaks about the need to create more programs for survivors of conflict. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.
Counselor Five Nomakora Sub-County , Kenneth Nyero, speaks about the need to create more programs for survivors of conflict. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

As a result of the drama, local and cultural leaders and community members have become increasingly aware of the hurdles returnees must surmount. District officials are eager to ameliorate the situation. Following the drama, many made passionate speeches.

Counselor Five Nomakora Sub-County, Kenneth Nyero, seemed particularly eager to aid the formerly abducted. He was deeply moved by the program. Following his speech, we talked in more depth. The DJ had begun to play by then, and music echoed over the conversation.

Mr. Nyero hopes that the government and non-profit organizations can form long term partnerships in order to support vulnerable people, and specifically those returned from captivity. “We will work together as a team supporting humanity,” he said. “We have to support the ones who have come from the bush . . . the government does not have a specific program targeting [returnees]. If possible, there is need to design a specific program that will target these groups.”

Community members were also touched by the program. An older woman, called Anette, claimed that piece truly showed what happened in Namokora.  Her tone implied memories awakened and a sense of watching history on repeat.  Her daughter was abducted during the insurgency, but has now returned, even serving as secretary for the WAN group in Namokora.

Anette spoke little about her own experiences and past, focusing instead on the future. During the play she observed community members crying, overwhelmed by the intensity of it all. She hopes this is a sign of change to come. “There is going to be great impact for those who have the feelings,” she said.

The drama and speeches complete, Namokora returned to its normal rhythms. Children turned summersaults in the grass. Others rushed back down the road with yellow water jugs, trying to reach home before dark. The chairs were brought back. Women took advantage of the DJ and danced wildly.

Life went on.

Community members in Namokora dance, while a DJ plays. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.
Community members in Namokora dance, while a DJ plays. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

The drama program in Nomakora is a microcosm; one aspect of a much larger  initative. Following, JRP staff visited Lapono and Adjumani, where community theatre performances also took place. Women in Lapono shared stories of alcoholism and domestic abuse, presenting possible situations for redress through continued dialogue and active leadership. Performers in Adjumani reenacted battles, while leaders called for more services, overwhelmed by the ongoing transitional justice process and South Sudanese refugee crisis simultaneously. Meanwhile, women in Soroti staged a radio program about stigmatization.

Community members in Adjumani portray scenes of conflict. Photo credit, Sophia Neiman.
Community members in Adjumani portray scenes of conflict. Photo credit, Sophia Neiman.

According to Community Development Officer Lapono Sub-County, Bena Sarah Ongom, there is profound desire to share these dramas more widely, in order to increase their impact. “Clearly the play is based on a true picture of the community. Whatever challenges they gave in the role play, is the actual truth on the ground. I think from the good practices they picked from the drama they can be in position to improve, especially against gender based violence and how they can overcome it. We advise that this kind of play should be expanded to most of the parishes,” she said.

Community dramas speak to the fortitude of returnees and to the strength it takes to rise up and teach others, no matter how exhausting or difficult the task. They speak to the capacity for learning and forgiveness, and to the possibility of complete reconciliation within the community. They also speak to the vast scale of the problem and to the clear need for continued support; for more support. Many returnees have not been able to form non-profit supported groups, and so cannot take part in programs such as these. Thus, the performers represent a fraction of the voices and stories within the northern region.

JRP will remain invested in these communities through community theatre programs and other means, and continue to amplify marginalized voices and foster reconciliation. Information gathered will also aid the development of a best practices guide of other non-profits working with survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, ultimately expanding JRP’s reach.

Women in Namokora carry chairs used in the community theatre program back home. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.
Women in Namokora carry chairs used in the community theatre program back home. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

Moments of Joy: Goat and Sheep Deliveries in the Northern Region

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WAN group memebers gathered in the shade of large trees, the branches splitting the sun, while the men and women split sugar cane with thier teeth. They waited, talking and laughing, for goats and sheep to arrive.

Last week, Justice and Reconciliation Project staff completed deliveries of more than 100 animals to conflict affected areas across the Northern Region. They traveled to Lapano, Nomakora,  Adjumani, Soroti and Abiya. The following photo essay documents the process and the imapact these animals will have on the community.

Here, a woman waits to recieve her goat in Adjumani. JRP staff distributed over 100 goats and sheep across the Northern Uganda this month. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.
Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

Here, a woman waits to receive her goat in Adjumani. Following trainings on financial management and animal care, JRP staff delivered more than 100 goats and sheep to groups to community groups during the month of October.

The deliveries were a cause for great celebration. One woman siad, "This is going to change our lives. We were people who faced torture in the bush by the rebels, but now we have been picked again into somebody . . . The trauma that we had it is going to go away." Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.
Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

The deliveries were a cause for great celebration. One woman said, “This is going to change our lives. We were people who faced torture in the bush by the rebels, but now we have been picked again into somebody . . . The trauma that we had, it is going to go away.”

Many will use the money raised from the animals to pay schools fees for the children, providing an education to the next generation. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.
Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

Many will use the money raised from the animals to pay schools fees for their children, providing an education to the next generation.  According to one woman, “I have children which I came with from the bush. The goats will help support them.”

Others will repair thier homes, pay medical bills and provide more nutritious food for thier families. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.
Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

Others will repair their homes, pay medical bills and provide more nutritious food for thier families.

Here, a man poses with his goat in Adjumani.
Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

The deliveries mean that both men and women will be able to provide effectively, something that was often very difficult before. One man said, “That goat is going to change me in the community. It is going to change my life. It is going to take me from zero up to at least somewhere.”

For a long time people in Northern Uganda were neglected and thier stories were ignored. One woman said, “We were people who had been forgotten; voiceless; who could not speak from anywhere." Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.
Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

For a long time people in Northern Uganda were neglected and thier stories were ignored. One woman said, “We were people who had been forgotten; voiceless; who could not speak from anywhere.”

Insitutional support is also lacking. Another woman said, "JRP is the first organization that has come in to recuse my life and rescue my family." Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.
Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

Institutional support is also lacking. Another woman said, “JRP is the first organization that has come in to recuse my life and rescue my family.”

One man said, "Since I came back from the bush I never got any assistance from anyone." Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.
Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

Here, residents of Lapono lead their goats home. One man said, “Since I came back from the bush I never got any assistance from anyone.”

The JRP project is a symbol of hope and life. According to a resident of Soroti, “We are now seeing life coming back to us. As a victim, I am very proud for this. I pray, people of good will, to always remember people who were victimized.” Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.
Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

The JRP project is a symbol of hope and life. According to a resident of Soroti, “We are now seeing life coming back to us. As a victim, I am very proud for this. I pray, people of good will, to always remember people who were victimized.”

Here, one man dances with his new goat, beaming. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.
Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

Here, one man dances with his new goat, beaming.  Recipients  were eager to name the animals and to welcome them home, promising to care for them well.

Recipiants were eager to name the animals, welcome them home and promised to care from them. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.
Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

Deliveries will also bring change and progress to the community as a whole. One woman said, “We are going to be examples in the community. We are going to see ourselves as people of change in the that community and we are going to be people the community can account for.”

Here, an man prepares to travel with his new goat. He wears a shirt from JRP bearing the slogan, Speak up and Act. SGBV is real. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman JRP.
Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

Here, an man prepares to travel with his new goat. He wears a shirt from JRP bearing the slogan, Speak up and Act. SGBV is real.  The powerful message speaks to the horror of the past. While there are numerous challenges still to overcome in the North, the future is bright.

Goat Rearing Brings Economic Opportunities to Survivors of Conflict

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The sun in Lapono beat down fiercely. Little rain has come to region, so dust swirled in the air with hot wind.  Despite the heat, residents waited eagerly in the village center, talking and laughing with palpable excitement.

Following a long training on goat rearing earlier last month, Justice and Reconciliation Project staff returned to Lapono on Wednesday, October third. They presented thirty-eight goats to Women’s Advocacy Network group members there. The group was also given a cash box and fund, from which they can take small loans.

Distributing all thirty-eight goats was an exhilarating process. The animals were tried in a grassy field and labeled with numbers one through thirty-eight. Stubborn, they bleated and kicked at the ground. Residents were also assigned numbers and found the goats with corresponding digits. After picking their animals women cried out in ojili or jubilation and everyone posed for a picture.

Residents of Lapano pose for a group picture with thier new goats. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.
Residents of Lapano pose for a group picture with thier new goats. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

Life in Lapono remains difficult, and the formerly abducted must surmount many obstacles. Stigma runs rampant. “Now people are trying to abuse us from the community. They are violating our rights to live in harmony,” a woman named Akello said. She has remained in Lapono for more than a decade; ever since she escaped the rebels. Furthermore, according to the Community Development Officer, Bena Sarah Ongom, domestic abuse, school dropouts and teenage pregnancy are also prevalent. Many women possess limited, if any, ownership over crucial resources.

Thus, the goats mark new opportunities. It is a signal of possibility. Now, the animals will aid in farming. As time passes, money raised from the goats can help send children to school, pay for medical bills, or be used to buy more nutritious food in the market place. “I know my life is going to change,” said Akello.  She continued, “I am going to take good care of [the goats] to ensure they grow up very well and help me in paying for my children to go to school. I didn’t get the chance to study so I need my children to study.” She is currently a mother of four.

Ideally, effect of the project will reach beyond WAN group members, and influence people throughout the area. “They can act like role models in the community, so that other people can adopt their standard of life and their standard of saving culture. The goats that they have been supported with can multiply, and eradicate household poverty,” Ongom said.

Goat deliveries were not limited to Lapono. JRP staff gave thirty-six goats to residents of Namokora, near the border with South Sudan. In the coming weeks, they will journey to Adjumani and Soroti. The program is made possible due to the generous support of the Welfare Fund.

A woman celebrates with her goat. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.
A woman celebrates with her goat. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

 

Economic Empowerment and Community Building in Lapono

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The villages of Lapono sub-county are hidden among imposing rock formations, and fields of sunflowers and banana plants. In late afternoons, children bathe in the rivers along the red dirt roadside and cattle graze. This is now a peaceful place, but it was the site of a horrific 2002 massacre by the Lord’s Resistance Army. While the war is long over, the memory is fresh and abductees face daily stigma.

On Tuesday September 4, select residents of Lapono were trained in goat rearing. They will receive 38 goats in the coming month. This is part of a larger initiative by the Justice and Reconciliation Project (JRP) and the Women’s Advocacy Network (WAN), reaching communities in five areas previously affected by conflict. The goal is to economically empower survivors of wartime sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), many of whom still lack crucial resources. JRP has created groups of survivors, all of whom also belong to WAN, and taught leadership and group dynamics, providing both communal and finical support.

District veterinarian Richard Otema met with Lapono group members and JRP representatives in the village center. After the group had prayed, he explained how to breed and care for goats, emphasizing the importance of keeping the animals clean and recognizing certain diseases.

Dr. Otema said it was his first time working with returnees and he found the experience enlightening. He is eager to continue supporting the community. “After giving the goats there should be regular check-ins and treatment,” he said. Furthermore, if the group proves successful Dr. Otema will work with the sub-county to provide more goats for cross-breeding.

Dr. Otema teaches reminds participants of the importance of keeping goats clean and healthy.
Dr. Otema reminds participants of the importance of keeping goats clean and healthy.

Group members listened intently, taking notes and pausing only to share sweet tea and a simple lunch. Many wore shirts from JRP, bearing the slogan, “Speak up and Act, SGBV is Real.” Others brought children who wandered between the training classroom and the meadow outside.

Participants are eager to use the income generated from goat rearing to better their communities and lives. Plans include sending children to school, saving to buy a cow to plow fields and even romance. One member hopes to get married, once his goats have mated and multiplied.

Following the training, participants expressed gratitude for JRP. One man said, “I want to thank JRP for coming to support vulnerable women and children, because there was a massacre in Lapano and many people died.” He added that he hopes the project can be expanded. Another resident claimed that the training and group will help to combat other issues in the village, such as domestic violence. He said, “The training is proof that there is reconciliation in the community.”

The group ended their meeting just as it had begun: joined in prayer. They returned the next day for additional lessons in financial planning, provided by members of the JRP staff. These trainings will enable both the group and individuals to save money with purpose, and continue to work towards a bright future. Members remained engaged and eager to learn throughout the training; a clear sign of progress and hope in the Lapono.

Transnational exchange between Women’s Advocacy Network and South Sudanese survivors of sexual violence

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Members of Women’s Advocacy Network and South Sudanese during an exchange at Justice and Reconciliation Project office- Photo by David Jame
Members of Women’s Advocacy Network and South Sudanese during an exchange at Justice and Reconciliation Project office- Photo by David Jame

Why South Sudanese counterparts are hopeful they will not go back the same people

The pursuit of acknowledgement and justice for survivors of sexual- and gender-based violence (SGBV) continues boldly.  Earlier this month, victims of conflict from two countries, Uganda and South Sudan, joined together to share their experiences.

From 15th to 17th August 2018, the Justice and Reconciliation Project, together with the Women’s Advocacy Network (WAN), hosted five women from South Sudan. They were accompanied by members of the Foundation for Democracy and Accountable Governance (FODAG). The organisation works in South Sudan to support victims of human rights abuse, especially victims of torture and SGBV.

FODAG aims to reach across borders, encouraging people from multiple countries to share stories and experiences. In fact, this is a key strategy in helping survivors of conflict feel more comfortable speaking about their struggles, and ultimately seeking justice.

The people of northern Uganda are incredibly resilient. They suffered through a two-decade long war, and have progressed greatly, despite the odds being stacked against them. This is a potential source of inspiration for the group from South Sudan.

The aim of WAN members was to share their experiences during conflict, and their post-conflict journeys, emphasizing the power of solidarity as a formidable factor enabling them to come together as survivors and build a strong future. Further, WAN sought to engage their guests in two activities. The first was a workshop during which the two groups could exchange experiences. This was followed by two days of visits to various WAN groups.

The collaboration was incredibly fruitful.

The Power of Solidarity and Stories of Resilience

The exchange featured in-house discussions and experience sharing among the participants. The WAN chairperson explained that she and her colleagues had sat down years ago and in conversation realized that they could advocate for themselves and respond to many pressing issues. Her stories received much attention. She spoke powerfully of how the original seven members were able to defy odds and gain huge amounts of support from other victims. This ultimately lead to the creation of many groups under the umbrella WAN.

Members of Women's Advocacy Network in Awach pose for a group photo together with the SGBV victims from South Sudan after a visit
Members of Women’s Advocacy Network in Awach pose for a group photo together with the SGBV victims from South Sudan following an experience sharing meeting.

Two WAN members added evocatively to the discussion by sharing their experiences in captivity.  They were forced to walk long distances and endured brutal punishment and sex slavery. They also faced many challenges as a result of fighting with the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF)

Akello*, a member of WAN, shared her story of rape which caused many of the south Sudanese victims to break down. ‘I was fourteen when I was given to a man of 43 whom I should almost call my grandfather. He turned me to be his wife ……and raped me’. Akello said.

The story of Aloyo* was equally touching for the women, encouraging the five participants from the worlds’ youngest nation to start telling their stories. Aloyo shared, ‘I want to thank God that he protected me to date. I was abducted in 1996 when I was 14. I was straight away given to a  man. I had never known a man in my life and I had to bear helplessly………after a year I became pregnant, but that man also died, and the suffering continued.’

Through the various advocacy efforts, both locally and internationally, WAN members continue to share their experiences and as well as learn from other networks of survivors that have been through similar traumas. According to them, this will strengthen collaborations and increase the platforms to learn and advocate together on issues affecting survivors of conflict SGBV.

At the close of the event, WAN members held a debrief meeting to reflect on what was gained from this experiences exchange. Great satisfaction was immediately expressed by the South Sudanese who explained that they had learnt a great deal and will not go back home the same people.

The two parties concluded that in spite of all they went through, they will not sit and wallow in pain and misery.  Rather they will work hard to alleviate the challenges they are facing.

*Not their real names