James Wani narrates his experiences to JRP staff in Adjumani. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.
James Wani ran from conflict for the first time as a boy. The brutal dictator Idi Amin Dada gained power in Uganda. James escaped to what is now South Sudan, his education disrupted. Sudan descended into civil war and he returned to Uganda as a man. Home again, James took two wives and attempted to continue his education, proceeding up until senior three. At that point, he stopped studying and turned to farming as a means of survival.
War came again, as Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army rose to power in northern Uganda. James was captured on three separate occasions. Each time he was tormented in captivity. He does not describe his experiences in detail, alluding instead to a horror unspoken.
The war is over, and Uganda is calm again, but James remains unsettled. He does not see true recovery yet, and feels that he and people who suffered as he did lack support. Many basic needs are simply left unmet, as people struggle to get clean water, or reach hospitals on dusty and unpaved roads. The land itself is difficult to till and cultivate, because it was left empty for such a long time. Listening to James speak, it is not difficult to imagine earth that is full of blood.
The lack of support is so extreme that James claims that should another conflict break out in Northern Uganda, it might be better to return to the bush and join the rebels.
He is also a community leader, with concrete suggestions for peaceful change and development. James believes that livelihood and education programs will greatly serve the community, as many struggle to make ends meet, or to send their children to school. He also hopes that new health clinics can be established. Personally, he longs to educate his nine children, but lacks the resources to do so effectively. He claims that his hands are tied and hopes that Adjumani can receive more assistance in the future.
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The Justice and Reconciliation Project remains committed to supporting the voices and needs of vulnerable populations throughout Northern Uganda. JRP has supported three Women’s Advocacy Network groups in Adjumani, providing income generating items and loan capitals.
This article is part of a larger series on the needs of communities in Adjumani. The project was made possible with the support of the Trust Africa Fund, with the goal of elevating forgotten voices and evaluating the success of existing programs. Interviews with from the project will aid in the development of a best practices guide for supporting victims of sexual and gender based violence. This guide will be presented at an international exchange in Nigeria. The guide will also be circulated to researchers, practitioners and government officials to ensure effective response.
Project Interviews were conducted by JRP Communications Intern Sophia Neiman and Research Assistant Benard Okot. Translation was provided by Emmanuel Anyovi.
Henry Amadra poses for a portrait, following an interview with JRP staff. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.
Henry Amadra is 34 years old. When he speaks, he seems much older.
Henry was born in Loa, South Sudan, though at the time of his birth it was simply called Sudan. He remembers his home village as a good place, but gives few details.
His youth was undoubtedly shaped by the Second Sudanese Civil War. Fought between government forces in Khartoum and the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Army in the south, the conflict was a bloody one. It lasted 22 years, and remains one of the longest civil wars on record, with a high civilian death toll. Henry fled to Uganda in 1998.
Yet, there was no peace in Uganda. Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army gained power and attacked indiscriminately, often savaging the refugees. Deciding it might be safer in his home country; Henry crossed the border again and returned to Southern Sudan in 2001. “I ran because of a conflict, but I came and met another conflict. It is better I go back,” he said.
Existence remained unstable. The civil war went on until 2005. After leaving Uganda in 2006, the LRA continued to commit atrocities in Southern Sudan, before moving to the Democratic Republic of Congo. South Sudan finally won its independence from Sudan in 2011, becoming the world’s newest nation.
For a time, there was tranquility. Renewed fighting broke out in 2013 between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar, when Kiir accused Machar of plotting a coup. The country descended into violence once more, and as ever, humanity was the first causality of political war.
War reached Henry’s village in 2015. Violence was constant. Government soldiers attacked, beat and killed the villgers.
Henry remembers a brutal interrogation after a military officer, who happened to be from their village, escaped under mysterious circumstances. About 56 men were taken to military barracks, early in the morning. Soldiers beat them, demanding to know the whereabouts of this officer. They were not allowed to leave the room, even to urinate. They were released late that night.
Life in the village grew steadily worse. Business stopped, elders were arrested and children could not attend school. They lived within the ever present rhythm of gunfire. Death was a daily occurrence. Henry decided to travel to Uganda with this wife and three children.
The family walked to a trading center, where they could get transport across the border.
They traveled by vehicle, eventually reaching a military checkpoint. It was near water and Henry was certain they would be thrown in and left to drown unless able to provide a proper explanation. The driver bribed the soldiers and continued onwards. Such were the facts of the perilous journey; anyone without funds to bribe the soldiers would be killed.
By the time the family reached Uganda, all of their money had been spent on bribes to ensure their passage. The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) placed them first in a temporary settlement. The ground was swampy and the weather cold. After a week there, the family moved again to Pagirinya Refugee Camp.
They are safe, but it is still difficult to settle. For example, many refugees need grass to build thatched huts. The host community opposes this, however, as they often cut the grass and sell it, adding to an already limited income. Natural resources are few. Furthermore, the United Nations provides only food, but no monetary support. As a result, for every ten cups of food the family receives, Henry will often sell two cups, in order to make some small income.
Now, Henry sees few differences between the situation in South Sudan and the situation in northern Uganda. He also had few hopes to return to his homeland. He insinuates that the current peace deal will not hold and mentions the failures of previous peace talks held in Juba in 2015.
Henry claims that if he returns to South Sudan he will not bring his family, as he is afraid violence will return again and again. He will simply go alone in order to find paying work and provide for the children. He is a teacher by profession and hopes very much that his children can study in the future.
***
The Justice and Reconciliation Project remains committed to supporting the voices and needs of vulnerable populations throughout Northern Uganda. JRP has supported three Women’s Advocacy Network groups in Adjumani, providing income generating items and loan capitals.
This article is part of a larger series on the needs of communities in Adjumani. The project was made possible with the support of the Trust Africa Fund, with the goal of elevating forgotten voices and evaluating the success of existing programs. Interviews with from the project will also aid in the development of a best practices guide for supporting victims of sexual and gender based violence. This guide will be presented at an international exchange in Nigeria. The guide will also be circulated to researchers, practitioners and government officials to ensure effective response.
Project Interviews were conducted by JRP Communications Intern Sophia Neiman and Research Assistant Benard Okot. Translation was provided by Emmanuel Anyovi.
Representatives from the International Criminal Court gave a detailed update on the trial late last month. Photo Credit, Yordanos Melake.
Cultural and religious leaders, representatives of civil society organisations and district officials and chiefs met with two officials from the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutions Office in Gulu on Tuesday, November 27. The meeting was organized by the ICC’s outreach team, based in Kampala.
The objective of this meeting was to provide updates to the relevant stakeholders on the on-going trial proceedings of alleged Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) Commander Dominic Ongwen and to discuss concerns. The ICC representatives of the Prosecutions Office also answered audience questions. This fits in with a many other outreach initiatives by the ICC, including rural screenings and discussions, to better link the affected community and the court.
The meeting was characterized by constructive and critical questions raised by the audience and with a high level of participation and engagement. Since Gulu has been heavily affected by the LRA insurgency, community leaders and members showed great interest in following the current trial and the national discourse surrounding it.
After a brief introduction from all participants, the ICC representatives summarized the key elements and points from the current state of the trial.
The trial against Ongwen began in December of 2016. Ongwen is accused of 70 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, allegedly committed in northern Uganda.
The Prosecution has completed its presentation of evidence and legal representatives of victims have called witnesses to testify before the chamber. In September of 2018, the Defence made its opening statement and began presenting evidence on October 1. So far, twelve out of 60 witnesses of the Defence have been heard. The remaining witnesses and testimonies are expected to be concluded in the end of 2019.
A judgement is estimated to be made in 2021.
Key issues of the Defence during the opening speech as well as witness presentation have included the following:
Provision of an understanding of the Acholi culture and the conflict in northern Uganda
The relationship between Ongwen and LRA leader Joseph Kony.
The role of and crimes committed by the Government Forces
The coercive environment and the fact that Ongwen was himself a victim
The importance of traditional Acholi values and the destruction of these values due to attacks on and abductions of civilians have also been highlighted.
Additionally, Ongwen is charged with crimes on grounds of gender-based sexual violence. The defence has claimed that men also had no choice other than taking the women, due to the orders given. This view is not shared with the Prosecution since women were not only distributed to soldiers and combatants as wives, but were also victims of forced marriage and sex slaves.
For their part, witnesses of the Defence have concentrated on crimes and atrocities committed by other actors than the LRA, such as the Ugandan Government. The lack of a solid basis of evidence at the current moment for such claims led the Prosecution to not investigate the allegations.
The Prosecution is also aware that crimes have been committed against men during the conflict between the LRA and the Ugandan Government. It did not, however, perceive these crimes as systematic and widespread.
The introduction of spiritualism during the trial has caused the Prosecution to use careful tactics during to cross-examination. Spiritualism played a vital role for the LRA and more importantly for the abductees. The indoctrination of children into the armed group has included spiritual practices which reinforced the belief that Kony can predict the future. This made any attempts to escape impossible and severely punishable.
The complexity of bringing the spirit world to the court room caused the prosecution to use limited cross examination tactics when engaged with these witnesses, avoiding cross examination about spirits.
Several questions were raised by community members and stakeholders during the meeting. Those included the role of victims and affected communities, as well as reparations. One CSO has strongly questioned the Court’s effort on pursuing the arrest of Kony and highlighted Ongwen’s attachment to the sole decision-maker within the LRA. Furthermore, reconciliation and healing processes within communities are still on-going and many will not find peace until justice is served. It was emphasized that peace is temporary, leading to demands for redress for victims and calls to boost ICC’s strategy for state cooperation.
The meeting gave people a platform on which to share concerns, and provided crucial information about the trial. As always, JRP will continue to share all developments as information comes to light.
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.
The Trial of Thomas Kwoyelo continues with plea taking. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.
Eyes downcast and voice quiet, accused rebel Thomas Kwoyelo repeated the same phrase over and over; “I did not know about it and I did not do it.” The first of the Lord’s Resistance Army to be tried in a domestic court, Kwoyelo stands accused of 93 counts of murder, rape, kidnap, and torture, as well as violations of the Geneva Convention. Plea taking occurred on November 12 and 13, 2018 at the High Court in Gulu. Kwoyelo pleaded not-guilty to all charges.
Following plea-taking, the case was adjourned until next year, and will continue in February of 2019. This follows a previous adjournment in September, when defense attorneys argued that the accused had not been presented with a proper translation of his indictment. A bail hearing set to take place on November 15, 2018 has also been postponed until January. Kwoyelo will again return to prison, awaiting a trial that has taken nearly ten years to come.
In addition to these continued delays, Victim’s Counsel Komatech Kilima claims that survivors’ voices have not been properly represented. Speaking outside of the court, following the first day of plea-taking, he said, “The trial has not been fair to victims.” Specifically, Kilima asserts that he has not been given the necessary facilitation by the International Crimes Division of the High Court in Uganda (ICD) to visit impacted areas, and gather opinions and testimony. A lack of funding has made it virtually impossible to share the voices and needs of those affected by war.
Kilima called passionately for grassroots programs and non-profit intervention to bring more attention to the trial, encourage community participation and protect the rights of all those involved. He said, it is crucial to, “keep it on people’s lips throughout.”
Meanwhile, Lady Justice Kiggundu claimed that the ICD in Uganda should provide proper facilitation for the Victims Counsel to properly consult with affected persons ahead of the bail application.
The Justice and Reconciliation Project will continue to share news and information about the trial as the story develops.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.”
Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.
Others will repair their homes, pay medical bills and provide more nutritious food for thier families.
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.
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.”
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.
“You could see people in the court room laughing and even Dominic Ongwen would fall behind his hands,” said Justice and Reconciliation Project Head of Office, Mr. Okwir Isaac Odiya. “[Ongwen] was genuinely happy with the testimony given.” As the defense team continued to mount its case, Mr. Odiya journeyed to the International Criminal Court in The Hague to monitor the trial on behalf of JRP.
The image of the accused in a fit of giggles seems almost incongruous with the case itself. Abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army as a young boy, Ongwen eventually commanded the Sinia brigade. He is accused of 70 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including abducting children to use as soldiers and sex slaves.
The defense argument is thoroughly unique. Lawyers, led by Counsel Krispus Ayena, assert that Joseph Kony had spiritual power over his army. Thus, Ongwen was not only indoctrinated. He was possessed by spirits. Ayena brought forward a number of witnesses, including a local chief and traditional Ajwaka or Witch Doctor. These witnesses explained the depth of the spiritual realm and, through it, the control Kony exerted over his followers. In other words, Ongwen’s actions were not his own.
According to Mr. Odiya, There was little cross examination, and the judge asked questions only to clarify. Similarly, observers leaned in with rapt attention, at first listening only to understand. Ayena’s argument is certainly surprising and even tricky, but not without the possibility of success. “If the court allows there is a spirit world, the case may be dismissed,” Mr. Odiya said.
The defense team also strove to prove that the Uganda People’s Defense Forces were culpable in the insurgency. Blame has thus far fallen primarily on the rebels, and history has ignored government crimes. Ayena asserts that exposing these atrocities now may pave the way for future prosecution.
Meanwhile, Ongwen has been well cared for in The Hague. His condition stands in sharp contrast to the experiences of fellow rebel Thomas Kwoyelo, who has spent the past decade in the overcrowded Luzira prison. Ongwen is given a monthly allowance to buy food and clothes. This allows him a level of financial security that many Ugandans lack, particularly in conflict affected areas. He has also become an excellent cook, often preparing meals for his defense team, and learned to read and write in English and play the piano.
Gaps in knowledge about the court are striking. While many residents of the Acholi Sub-Region have followed the case through community screenings, run by the ICC, few understand its intricacies or the manifold arguments put forward by the defense. Some even fear for Ongwen’s life. During a JRP focus group last month, a resident of Pajule said, “Killing Ongwen will not raise up those who died.”
The clear next step is to bring information about the case and arguments made back to the communities. Specifically, Mr. Odiya hopes to make the court process and the rights of the accused clear going forward.
In addition to attending trial sessions, Mr. Odiya participated in a number of meetings with court officials. He spoke at length the victims’ council and the prosecution team as well as the Registrar of the court and Director of External Division, among other official and identified multiple programmatic areas to complement the court process.
Whether Ongwen is proved innocent or guilty, the society needs repair. Reconciliation is crucial and war-time wounds must be healed. Mr. Odiya will focus on leading JRP to advocate and contribute in fostering ‘beyond court room’ initiatives.
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.
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.
