Tag Archives: northern Uganda

A Return to School after Decades of War: Florence Modo Tells her Story

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Florence Modo poses outside of the WAN shop in her school uniform. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

Florence Modo and Sophia Neiman worked closely together in crafting this article, with Florence providing input throughout the process, and helping to shape the structure of the piece.

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Florence Modo was born in the Eastern Region of Uganda, the second of eleven children. She was a lively baby, and in good health. Life was not easy for the family, and four of her siblings died in childhood, because hospitals were far and the roads poor.

When Florence was five years old, she became very sick. She now assumes the illness was polio, but at the time she was treated for malaria. Having not received proper medicine, Florence spent three years bedridden, unable to walk, stand or do anything for herself. Even after she regained her health, one leg remained twisted and she could not put weight on it, making it difficult to move. She fell frequently.

Despite this, when Florence was eight years old, her parents decided she must attend primary school. Every day, her father placed her on his bicycle. They rode the two miles to school together in the mornings, and he would bring her home after her lessons in the afternoon. Florence was an eager reader, and her father helped her to learn, teaching her the difficult words. “I think my father really cared about my education. He wanted me to study. He wanted me to learn,” Florence said.

The war came to their village in 1989. The Lord’s Resistance Army burnt the family home to the ground, and they lost much of their property, including her father’s bicycle. They were forced to depart to another village, 14 miles away. Rebel bombardments were constant there as well.

The family returned home again in 1996, but there was no peace. LRA attacks became increasingly frequent in 2003, when the rebels invaded their district. Her family and many others would flee during these ambushes. Since Florence could not run, she was forced to stay behind, alone.

“On many occasions my family members would take off from home, when the rebels attacked and leave me alone at home. While in their hideouts they would worry about me and always return to check on me. During such days I would hide in a bush near our home, and survived on groundnuts and water until my family returned home, which usually took two days,” Florence said.  In that time, her greatest fear was for the lives of her family members. Florence worried that they would return to check on her before it was safe to do so, and be slaughtered by rebels on the road.

It was torment. “One day I decided to leave, so that my family did not have to go through this,” she said. Florence told her mother that she was going to the market to buy a dress. Her mother, ever protective, offered to go instead, but Florence insisted on being independent. Once at the market, she sold a chicken, and used some of the money to get transport to Mbale District.

She arrived at the doorstep of a Catholic Church there, and was eventually taken in by a man who gave her meals and a place to stay and paid her to harvest sunflowers and maize. Life was uncertain. After the harvest, she found a job sorting groundnuts in town, and later worked as a cook for nuns, remaining among the sisters from 2007 until 2011.

One of the sisters, who had been transferred to Mbale, was impressed by how well Florence cooked and managed to move, despite her disability, and encouraged her apply to St. Monica Girls’ Tailoring School in Gulu District. It was still hard for Florence to write in English, so a nun penned a letter for her to copy.

Florence was accepted. Before coming to Gulu, however, Florence journeyed to her family home. They had believed her dead, and were overjoyed to find that she had survived. Still, the family had suffered greatly and Uganda remained in a precarious period. “The guns had stopped, but people were still in the [Internally Displaced Persons’] camps, trying to get back,” Florence said. “I remember my mother just prayed and thanked God I am back.”

Florence began her education at St. Monica in earnest. She learned to cut and sew fabric, and took additional classes in craft tailoring, adult literacy and agriculture. Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe sent Florence to Kampala, where she got an operation to help heal her leg. Sister Nyirumbe also paid Florence for each bag she made, allowing Florence to support her younger sister in attending school.

Florence works at her sewing machine in the WAN shop. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

While at St. Monica, Florence met Women’s Advocacy Network Chair, Evelyn Amony.  Mrs. Amony welcomed Florence into WAN, and Florence began working in the WAN shop, saving to pay her own school fees. Friends discouraged and even mocked her, telling her she was wasting time, but Florence was determined to return to school. She noticed that because she spoke English, many people expected her to read and write for them, but she did not know how to do so properly. She was desperate to learn, so she could aid those who came to her.

Mrs. Amony offered encouragement, telling Florence to registrar to study, and even buying her school uniform. Florence also received support from two University of Oklahoma instructors she met at St. Monica, called Professor Lunpe and Professor Sally.  In July of 2018, Florence enrolled in Holy Rosary Primary School, Primary Seven. Florence began school in the second term, and Professor Lunpe paid Florence’s school fees for that term, allowing Florence to put her savings from the WAN shop towards the third term.

The head teacher was skeptical upon seeing Florence, and wondered how she might fare in a classroom of children. She told him, “Sir I can study amidst the babies.” He was convinced and brought her to meet the class.

So, Florence began primary school again, sitting in the back of the room. The Social Studies teacher was particularly welcoming and encouraged the students to help Florence and teach her all she had missed in the first term. Help her they did. The children often gathered around Florence’s desk, guided her hand when she struggled to hold a pen properly, and taught her to form certain letters. “One of the children came to me and said to me, you see Florence, when we are writing we have what we call sky letters and we have ground letters,” she explained.  Sky letters go above the line on the paper, while ground letters reach below it.

The school is closed for the holidays now, but Florence is hopeful that she will pass her exams and return again next term. She remains close with the children, who are eager to greet her and even visit her at the WAN Shop. “We are really best friends,” she said.

She is now able to help her friends as she first intended; reading and writing messages for them. Florence is eager to continue learning in order to create a better world. “If I manage to study well, I can help the community,” Florence said. She is particularly passionate about issues of soil erosion due to over-grazing, which she learned about in school, in her home village. “Nobody can speak for those who are remaining in my village, who don’t know anything about these issues,” she said.  Florence asserts that many people in her village depend upon the land, so doing harm to the environment will have terrible repercussions. “If people don’t protect the environment it is really very dangerous,” she said. She hopes to use her newfound knowledge to be a voice for the voiceless in her community, certain her education is crucial not just for herself, but also for others.

Beads on display in the WAN Shop. Photo Credit, Sophia Neiman.

For now, Florence continues to work hard. When not in school, she runs the WAN shop each day and even sleeps in an attached room. Despite the challenges in her life, Florence is optimistic. “I thank God that he has given me life. Disability is not inability” Florence said. “I have arms. I must work. I must try to handle it like any other person.”

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You can find beautiful handmade products including dolls, skirts, bags and paper beads at the Women’s Advocacy Network Shop, located on Acholi Lane next to Makome Guest House. All of the proceeds benefit war affected women like Florence, allowing them to meet basic needs, and create new opportunities.

WAN Products and other stunning designs by Ugandan, female artisans can also be found at Lamaro Studio located in Gulu Crystal Hotel on Acholi Road.

This holiday season consider buying gifts at these locations. A simple purchase can have a tremendous impact on someone’s life.

 

 

 

Ongwen Trial Continues: JRP Endeavors to Bridge Divides between the Community and the Court Room

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“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.

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.

 

International Criminal Court Presents Community Screenings of the Ongwen Trial

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The trial of former LRA Commander Dominic Ongwen resumed on Tuesday, September 18, at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, with an opening statement from the defense. Miles and miles away, Ugandans gathered around televisions and hunched over radios, following each detail of the proceedings. Many attended screening events organized by the ICC itself. The court endeavored to make the trial accessible to those people whose lives were torn apart by conflict. The Justice and Reconciliation Project hosted one such screening in the organization offices at Koro-Pida.

Some one hundred participants arrived by bus from various locations. They crammed together on white, plastic chairs. Mothers brought small children, who sat in their laps or played on the floor. The screening was near silent. Attendees only spoke during the breaks, when they shared snacks and soda, or relaxed in a courtyard.

The ICC strove to create an open space, where the community could truly engage with the trial, however distant. Eric MP Odong, a field assistant, said, “We are here to execute the mandate of the registry of the court, and to serve the victim community.”

The screening at JRP was not the first of its kind nor was it the only event in the area. Another screening, this one at Gulu District Hall, was so packed that people spilled on to the ground outside. Engagement in the case is high. “We are responding to the interest and the demand of communities, who want to follow the trial,” said Jimmy Otim, another field assistant. In fact, the ICC has organized screening events since Ongwen’s trial began two years ago. Court representatives travel to areas with little electricity and bad roads in order to disseminate information.

Many of these locations were the sight of LRA attacks. Emotions run high and memories of war are fresh. “My better half of my life is the conflict,” said Otim. “That is why I studied conflict, to understand why people suffer.” His work is personal. Otim also vividly remembers trial screenings at which community members corroborated the information on screen, pointing to places where violence occurred. As a result, counselors and facilitators are always present.

community members watch the Dominic Ongwen defnese at the JRP offices in Koro-Pida. Photo credit, Sophia Neiman
Community members watch the Dominic Ongwen defnese at the JRP offices in Koro-Pida. Photo credit, Sophia Neiman.

Responses to these screenings have been overwhelmingly positive. According to Otim, “[The community] is happy that what happened to them is being heard in an independent court, they are happy that what happened to them is being recognized. They are happy that maybe, ultimately, they’ll get justice.”

Odong agrees. “I see justice being done,” he said. “The prosecution did its part and now it is the defense’s turn. I see justice by allowing different parties to express themselves.” Odong claims he will be satisfied regardless of the outcome. “The process of the trial will have cleansed the accused, even if he is set free,” he said.

The trial culminates a longer hunt for Ongwen and his fellow rebels. More than eleven years ago, the ICC issued a warrant for his arrest, along with warrants for Vincent Otti and enigmatic leader Joseph Kony.  In 2014, Ongwen was captured along the border between South Sudan and the Central African Republic, and turned over to the court. His is a painful saga, and one that contains the complex history of the conflict itself.

Ongwen was abducted by the LRA when he was nine years old. He was walking to primary school near Gulu. Like many other young boys, he was forced to watch and later commit heinous acts, and was brutally inducted into the army. Unlike many, however, Ongwen ascended the ranks. He reached the LRA control alter and came to command the notorious Sinia Brigade. This wing of the LRA attacked internally displaced person’s camps, specifically Abok, Odek, Lukodi and Pajule. Ongwen himself is charged with 70 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including abducting children to use as soldiers and sex slaves.

Thus, Ongwen can be cast as both victim and perpetrator; a man whose life was altered by the conflict, and a man who altered the lives of others. He is also the first and lowest ranking member of the LRA to be tried internationally. Kony is still at large. Otti is presumed dead.

Seeing such a man stand trial can be divisive and upsetting. Some want him in jail, punished for years of havoc, while others believe he was boy brainwashed, and so deserves amnesty. Many community members are former abductees themselves, and do not understand why they have been forgiven and Ongwen has not.

Andrew Simbo has worked in transitional justice in both Uganda and Sierra Leone. He is currently the executive director of Uganda Women’s Action Program. The organization helps to bring more women and children to the ICC screenings. He claims that communities have now become fully reintegrated, “Those who actually carried out the atrocities are in the communities now. They have been given amnesty. They are the boda boda riders; some are musicians. They are there. They have been integrated into the community,” He added, passionately, “people have moved on.” While UWAP remains a neutral body, Simbo asserts it can be difficult to explain the mere fact of Ongwen’s charges to community members.

Justin Ocan, a community representative from Lukodi, believes that the screenings themselves will lead to a better future. “We tell these populations that this is also a learning environment, because we need to learn this time, so that you transfer the knowledge you gained from this screening to your children, so that in the future they don’t engage themselves in such kinds of practices,” he said.

Regardless of what the court decides, or even of divided opinions, one thing is certain. Sharing information, and making that information accessible, is crucial. It brings people together. It binds them in knowledge and informed conversation. It cements community. Justice itself is a long and twisting process, and its outcomes can never be universally satisfying. Yet, Ocan puts it beautifully, if simply: “Justice is a collective effort to attain a peaceful life.”

As the trial continues, people of many different opinions, can come together and watch it unfold.

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.

When the truth is bitter: the story of a mother who long awaited to be reunited with her son

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JRP and WAN meets with Ker Kal Kwero and family members to discuss the case. Photo by Joyce Abalo/JRP
JRP and WAN meets with Ker Kal Kwero and family members to discuss the case. Photo by Joyce Abalo/JRP

The story of Okello*

When the truth is bitter: the story of a mother who long awaited to be reunited with her son

Okello, the son of a well-known LRA commander, was born in captivity during the LRA conflict. When he managed to escape from captivity he was still very young and escaped with a group of other children born in captivity, leaving his mother behind. Whilst Okello sought refuge in Rachele rehabilitation centre, a team of NGO agencies attempted to search for his maternal and paternal family. The search ended in NGO agencies finding what they thought was the biological maternal family of Okello and handed the child over to them for them to care of him. What later transpired was that there had been confusion concerning the mothers name, as both the biological mother of Okello and the daughter of the family caring for Okello had both been called Nancy*. Therefore, like many other cases of children who returned from captivity, Okello was not being cared for by his true family.

Without knowing the true identity of the child, the family he was given to continued to raise him. At this time, Evelyn, leader of WAN and a member of the JRP team, knew Nancy, the biological mother, from her time in captivity and came to believe that Okello was being taken care of by a family other than his own. Evelyn explained: “when I met with Okello some years back while I was still for studying on an adult literacy course. Okello told me he missed his mother and brother Banya so much that when he started to think about them he could not study well.” That was when Evelyn took a step to see that Okello privately met the mother. In 2014, Evelyn arranged for Okello and Nancy, the perceived biological mother, to meet at the JRP office. It was noted by those attending that both the mother and child instantly knew that they were matched correctly, as Okello immediately asked his mother about his brother, Banya – something only the true son would have been able to say. However, despite this meeting, Evelyn did not know how to tell this news to the grandmother of the child, as she knew how devastating it would be.

A few years passed and in this period the grandmother of the family that had originally taken Okello in had passed on. This news came to the attention of the school when the term finished and Okello was left at the school with no one to pick him up. His schooling, and that of many of the father’s other children, at that time was being funded by a sponsor organisation and so this organisation took it upon themselves to email his sponsor, a Belgian citizen, to explain the problem. Due to difficulties in arranging adoption, the same sponsor asked the deputy head teacher of Gulu Public Primary School to care for Okello and provided her with the monetary means to do so. When this issue arose, Evelyn communicated with the sponsor organisation that she believed the mother had actually returned from captivity and did not belong to the family who originally took care of Okello. Nancy, the friend of Evelyn who she believed was the real mother, was not sure whether Okello was alive or not.

When JRP and WAN came to hear of the worsening situation for Okello, they mobilised various important people involved in this situation for two dialogues to discuss and attempt to resolve this issue. The first meeting, chaired by JRP and WAN, brought together the prime minister of Acholi Ker kal Kwaro (a local cultural institution), Nancy Abalo (the lady claiming she was Okello’s mother), the benefactor that was supporting Okello in school and the elderly woman who claimed Okello was a grandchild of the family. During the meeting, the prime minister of Ker Kal Kwero asked Nancy Abalo to present the reasons as to why she claims that Okello is her son.  With tears rolling from her eyes she said:

‘‘first of all, I did not die, I am alive. When the government soldiers attacked, I had already left that area, but my son was with another group that escaped and returned back home. My son, while in captivity, developed a disease that affected all the finger nails, and all were wounded. The finger nails grew back apart from one fingernail that did not grow back well, and that is a sign that I can use to identify my son. Besides, he knows his brother because by the time my son had been separated from me, his younger brother called Banya was already around and he loved him so much.’’

A member of the sponsor organisation said that in the process of seeking for the truth about Okello’s true mother, the Belgian sponsor had organised for a DNA test to be taken for both Okello and the mother. The member said: ‘‘I am pleased to inform that I have the copy of the DNA results which I shall hand over to the prime minister of Ker Kal Kwaro. These results stated clearly that Nancy Abalo is the biological mother of Okello – there is no doubt about it.”

Before the DNA test results were released, the member of Sponsor Children Uganda explained that at first, they thought that Nancy was not the biological mother of Okello. This was believed because the women who were close to Okello’s mother while in captivity said that Nancy had been killed by a bomb that had been thrown by the government soldiers, who even covered her body, confirming that she was dead.

A beautiful moment happened when one of the women claiming that Okello was not a son to Nancy arrived. She arrived just as the DNA results were being presented to the prime minister. On seeing that Nancy was alive she was completely shocked and asked, “where have you been that I could not see you?” She was overwhelmed with guilt and asked for forgiveness from Okello’s mother: “I am sorry for all that I said. I thought you had passed on. But now that you are here and alive, it is better for Okello that he lives with his biological mother, so that a bond may be built between them and they may feel the love each other missed.” The prime minister then resolved that a step needed to be taken so that Okello is given to his biological mother. The mother was full of joy and proclaimed, “I will carry my son on my back however old he is and give him all the love a mother can give her child.”

The second meeting held by JRP and WAN to discuss the issue further brought together members of both the paternal and maternal side of Okello, the family claiming to be related to Okello, the deputy head teacher of Gulu Public primary school and the Prime Minister of Ker Kal Kwero. In addressing the group, the prime minster said: “In Acholi culture it is not allowed for a different person to force and claim custody of a blood which is not theirs. Therefore, the reason the meeting was held was to ensure that Okello gets to know who his biological mother is and where he can finally call home.”

Once the Prime Minister confirmed that the DNA test showed the 99.99% likelihood of Nancy Abalo being the biological mother of Okello, Okot* a member from the family claiming Okello, narrated how he got to know Okello. He said:

“Okello is my nephew, a son to my sister Aciro Nancy* who was abducted from Koch Amar in 1988 and to this date has not returned. In 2004, I was approached by a team of members from Rachele rehabilitation Centre who came to my carpentry work place and told me of a child called Okello a son to Nancy. They said that I should take over the responsibility for caring for Okello. I took the news positively and spoke to my late mother. Together we organized various cultural procedures like ‘Nyono tong gweno’ (stepping on an egg before entering the home) and Okello was welcomed home.”

Despite the DNA test results, Okot went ahead and asked Nancy Abalo the name of her clan and its location, saying that she probably changed her name whilst in captivity. Despite this allegation, Nancy’s mother was present to prove that Nancy Abalo was not related to Okot – something that was clear just based on resemblance. Nancy’s mother said: “Nancy Abalo is my daughter and the name Nancy Abalo was given by me. She was abducted but returned. When she returned, I found her with two children, but she told me that her other son went missing. I am happy that her missing son is what we are discussing today because for so long she has been craving to meet him again.”

A paternal uncle to Okello explained, “my brother was abducted and at one point passed via home and said he had wives and children. I told him to return home with the wives and children so that he could start taking care of them, but he said his mission was not done yet. Therefore, I acknowledge that my brother has children, although some we don’t know their whereabouts. Okello is one of them and I believe the DNA test result. Although it is my first time to meet Nancy Abalo, I believe wholeheartedly that Okello belongs to her. A mother knows who her child is and who the father is.”

The uncle showed sincere sorrow and pain for the mistreatment of the children of his brother. He elaborated this by explaining how one of his brother’s children, whose mother comes from Pabbo, walked on foot to the paternal home due to mistreatment. He said, “we had to flee away from Patiko due to continuous attack by the government soldiers for where our brother was. My mother was severely beaten by the government soldiers because of my brother.” As he recounted the story he broke down in tears. He noted that, “it will be very important if these children are allowed to know their paternal family members, even if they are not able to stay with us due to financial difficulties. Unfortunately, we cannot take care of them all. However, we ask that those in scholarships will continue to be supported.” Later in the meeting, the paternal grandmother to Okello said, “I am happy to hear that I have grandchildren and I wish to see them while I am still alive. Even though my son is dead, I am happy that I can see his image through his children.”

The prime minster later explained that the Acholi Ker Kal Kwaro is not a court place to pronounce judgments. Instead, it listens to the situation of the people and helps bring forward resolutions to matters. The suggestions given by the Acholi Ker Kal Kwaro were as follows:

  • Nancy the mother to Okello has full rights to know, see, and talk to the child
  • As per Acholi culture, it is the role of the paternal side of Okello to care for the children
  • Unity is needed since Okello has a bond with both his biological parents and the families that took care of him
  • Plans to organise Okello and the other brothers to be taken home to both the maternal and paternal side

Therefore, it was resolved that everyone present would go and meet Okello at the home of the deputy head teacher. When the trip took place, Okello was told who his biological mother and paternal family were. To the dismay of many, Okello did not accept Nancy as his biological mother, saying, “I don’t know any Nancy Abalo, I only know Aciro Nancy, and my uncle Okot.” This caused Nancy Abalo a lot of pain and she broke down in tears. She later said to Evelyn, “my child has been brain washed.” When she had previously met Okello, he had been happy to meet her. She was consoled by Evelyn and was encouraged to never to give up. For Nancy Abalo, this day was full of mixed emotions: sadness after not being accepted by her son, but also happiness and joy after as she was able to see her son again after such a long time. Therefore, despite the fact that Nancy was denied by her son, she promised to always come and see him with his brothers, since they will also be enrolled under the same sponsorship that Okello is benefiting from.

The case of Okello highlights the many complexities of the LRA conflict. Nearly every family was impacted heavily by the conflict and in trying to deal with the consequences it can be extremely difficult. It is not rare that children who returned from captivity were reunited with a family other than their biological family, and in some cases, children were even taken in to be used as workers or housemaids. Therefore, WAN and JRP, with the help of cultural institutions, seeks to aid in reintegrating children born in captivity with their biological family, so a sense of identity and belonging may be reinstated and for the wellbeing of the child to be a focus for all involved.

*The names of those involved have been changed so that their identity may be preserved

Building a future together: two families joining hands to change the lives of those who experienced LRA captivity

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Maternal and paternal family of child born from captivity laugh and share stories together. Photo by Patrick Odong/JRP
Maternal and paternal family of child born from captivity laugh and share stories together. Photo by Patrick Odong/JRP

The maternal and paternal family of a child born from captivity have joined hands to brighten their futures together through the child reintegration programme. 

In 2016, JRP and WAN supported one mother through the child reintegration project, in which her child who was born in captivity was reunited with their paternal home. After being contacted by the mother to express her gratitude for the team and the project, JRP conducted a follow-up visit with the mother to the paternal family in Palaro parish, Odek sub-county, to see how the families were working together.

The happiness and love shown by the two families for each other was greatly reflected in the stories told. The mother told JRP how the families had combined their efforts and resources to support the child at school and ensure the child has a bright future. The paternal family has not only given the mother a plot of their ancestral land to plough, but has identified a strategic piece of their land in the centre of Odek for the mother to build a business. By generously giving land and helping her to build a business and home in Odek, they ensure that she is close to the child and the family. The paternal family opened their arms to her other children and proclaimed that together they will join hands together to build a strong future for her and her children.

This story sheds light on how families across war-torn communities are supporting each other in life after the LRA conflict. Often those who return from captivity are faced with stigmatisation and rejection from their local communities. By providing a platform for these families to engage in dialogue and discussion over their experiences, hopes and interests for those children born in captivity, JRP hopes to bring light to the lives of many conflict survivors.

 

Making Transitional Justice work for Women in Northern Uganda

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Participant speaks during a meeting held by Actionaid Uganda and the Greater North Parliamentary forum on 'Making Transitional Justice work for Women in Northern Uganda'. Photo by Alice Baker/JRP
Participant speaks during a meeting held by Actionaid Uganda and the Greater North Parliamentary forum on ‘Making Transitional Justice work for Women in Northern Uganda’. Photo by Alice Baker/JRP

On Friday 23rd March, some of the JRP team joined an informative and lively discussion on “Making Transitional Justice Work for Women” organised by Action Aid Uganda. The meeting brought together civil society organisations, Greater North Parliamentary representatives and cultural leaders from across Uganda to give transitional justice an all important spotlight!

Reflecting on their transitional justice study report gave space for discussions surrounding National Transitional Justice policy, gender mainstreaming and women’s experiences and perspectives on transitional justice in Northern Uganda. It is important that we continue to come together and discuss such important issues! As one of the great speakers said today, “let’s not normalise an abnormal situation.”

For more information on ActionAid Uganda’s work on this subject and the current debate, take a look at the link below:
http://www.actionaid.org/australia/making-transitional-justice-work-women-rights-resilience-and-responses-violence-against

‘From Training to Gaining’: Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Skills Training for the Women’s Advocacy Network

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Last July, around 215 women and 31 men of the Women’s Advocacy Network (WAN) Groups received livelihood and entrepreneurship trainings in Alero, Atiak, Pader, Pabo and Gulu town. The purpose was to equip them with relevant knowledge and skills based on their income generating activities (IGA’s) for the proper management and sustainability of their projects. The groups had collectively selected two IGAs they wanted to deliver to the market in order to create a community-based sustainable livelihood. Most of the groups opted for new farming strategies, and were willing to embrace new market opportunities.

For instance, the breeding of the recently arrived Kuroiler chicken from South East Asia shapes new possibilities for multiple reasons. Firstly, Kuroiler chickens grow faster and bigger than local chickens, and lay more and bigger eggs. The market value of a Kuroiler chicken and its eggs are therefore two to three times higher than the local chicken. Furthermore, when the houses are modified, cleaned, and the vaccines have been given, the Kuroiler chickens are easy to keep – they eat a diet based on local foods – and are strong. Other selected activities included goat rearing, pine tree farming and more.

All trainings were given by properly qualified sub-county officials (e.g. veterinarians and certified farmers), who were willing to share their contacts details. As some participants complained that the national government had not responded to their calls for assistance, the JRP believes that these IGA initiatives will empower the groups, because now they can directly contact the local experts when help is needed. Furthermore, the participants shared their knowledge and learned from each other during group and plenary sessions. Since the trainings were interactive, there were vibrant discussions and many questions were answered. Overall, the participants enjoyed the trainings and requested for more, and even want to invite their relatives for the upcoming activities.

Tam Pi Anyim woman’s group attending a training in Alero sub-county
Tam Pi Anyim woman’s group attending a training in Alero sub-county

All trainings covered the following topics: goat rearing, poultry keeping, best farming practices, business enterprise, housing, hygiene, cost-benefit analysis, reproduction of animals, diseases, vaccinations and possible risks, and addressed some management and planning skills. The trainers stressed that record keeping and documentation is vital for a successful business. For example, pine tree farming is time consuming and will only be successful, if seven steps (lining, marking, pitting, ring weeding, spraying, planting and site selecting garden) are meticulously taken in accordance with seasonal changes.  Furthermore, each necessary vaccination for livestock should be given at a specific age of the animal, which makes record keeping a crucial exercise. The same counts for the reproduction of animals.

Multiple times during the trainings, there were smiling faces and clapping hands. The women’s groups were excited by the opportunity provided to them by the JRP to improve their own livelihoods with dignity. Each participant is now equipped with (new) farming techniques, as well as management and planning skills that they can apply to create a sustainable income. The groups learned to manage their own budget, and draft their own financial plans. Some groups even arranged set prices for their products on the market, which will be beneficial for the entire community and create more trust among its members.

Dii Cwinyi child mothers brainstorming in Pabo
Dii Cwinyi child mothers brainstorming in Pabo

It is also important to manage any potential conflicts which may arise. Some groups already received training sessions on group dynamics on behalf of their own request, and other groups might receive similar trainings in the future. In our view, the trainings contributed to community building, since it brought the members together and created a healthy and safe environment for engagement. During lunch breaks, women helped each other with their children, were chatting with one another, and had some time for themselves. It was noticeable that the participants dressed up nicely during the training. Lalam from Gulu town is quoted as saying “it is a social event, we interact with each other. This group also organizes activities, like dancing together.”

We observed that in most trainings, there were consistently 5 to 6 men participating. They were often seated in the back, and were the last to ask questions or take food when offered. Although JRP’s livelihood project focuses primarily on war-affected women, it also creates a space for men to be included and involved. In the long run, it is possible that the JRP will contribute to changing stereotypes about gender roles, and the acceptance of women’s agency and entrepreneurship through the participation of men in women’s empowerment programs.

The JRP is delighted to stimulate and contribute to the empowerment of its Women’s Advocacy Network Groups and its communities by working to lift living standards. In order to make maximum use of this potential, and to make this project as successful as possible, we have been in active talks with our main donor, the Uganda Fund, to incorporate refreshment trainings in the near future. JRP will be monitoring and documenting success stories and the impact of the project. The distribution of the start-up capital takes place in August and September 2017, and further updates will be posted.

(Jumi van der Velde was a volunteer with JRP)

Children play as part of an innovative project documenting the lives and experiences of children born into LRA captivity. Photo courtesy of Beth Stewart.

Lessons on Post-Conflict Integration of ‘Children Born of War’

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Children play as part of an innovative project documenting the lives and experiences of children born into LRA captivity. Photo courtesy of Beth Stewart.
Children play as part of an innovative project documenting the lives and experiences of children born into LRA captivity. Photo courtesy of Beth Stewart.

As nations around the world rebuild from protracted armed conflicts, many are struggling with a consequence of war that has largely been ignored by integration programs and policies: How can societies address the unique needs of the thousands of children conceived as a result of sexual violence and exploitation against women and girls during armed conflict?

Referred to as “children born of war,” they represent a particularly vulnerable class of war-affected children.

Over the past five years, grass-roots women’s organizations in northern Uganda have been providing valuable lessons on how to integrate these youth in post-conflict societies. These include mitigating future challenges the children might face by mediating family reconciliations and creating economic opportunities for these children through access to land ownership.

Data on these boys and girls, especially in conflict and post-conflict countries in sub-Saharan Africa, are sparse and lacking. Some independent and expert sources offer conservative estimates, saying the number of children born to women raped during the Rwandan civil war ranges from 2,000 (PDF) to more than 10,000. In the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, up to 17 percent of women and girls who survived conflict-related sexual violence have reported becoming pregnant. In northern Uganda, more than 10,000 (PDF) girls abducted by the Lord Resistance Army (LRA) between 1988 and 2004 became child mothers. Most reportedly bore two or more children before being rescued by government forces.

Research (PDF) from war-affected countries such as Bosnia and Sierra Leone shows that children born of war confront complex challenges, including socioeconomic marginalization, family rejection, stigmatization, and violence. They struggle with issues of identity and belonging (PDF). They’re all too often turned into outcasts, rejected by families and communities. That also makes it highly unlikely for their mothers to disclose how they were conceived or help the children access social services.

Being born because of wartime rape ‘handicaps children for life.’

Patricia A. Weitsman, the late political scientist and scholar who studied sexual violence and identity in war, has argued that being born because of wartime rape “handicaps children for life.” (PDF) Families and societies can’t separate children of war from the circumstance of their conception. Their identities are forever linked with the men who raped their mothers, even when they are raised in their mother’s communities, according to Weitsman’s research.

A 2016 study by Myriam S. Denov, a McGill University professor, and community-based researcher A.A. Lakor documented the views and experiences of Ugandan children whose mothers were raped while prisoners of the Lord Resistance Army. The youths said their life in captivity was “debilitating and horrific.” But they described their current, post-release lives as worse, due to the stigma and abject poverty they endure. They appear to prefer war to peace, but it is not their fault. Governments and institutions in civil societies have failed to fully and meaningfully integrate the children into postwar life, the researchers said.

There are signs of better ways forward: The Women’s Advocacy Network, a group of more than 600 Ugandan women who were LRA abductees, is addressing this issue in a sensitive and creative manner. In November, I spoke with Lucy, a group leader in the Northern Uganda city of Gulu who asked to be identified by her first name. She said the network is striving to find relatives of some war-born children, hoping to pull them from shame and exile, and reuniting them with extended families of their fathers and reintegrating them into communities.

“These children, who are now between the ages of 12 and 20, are asking about their fathers,” Lucy said. In some cases the youths already have been branded as perpetrators “so it’s important to connect them to any family member from the father’s side that can help them navigate problems they are facing as a result of who they are,” she said.

In some northern Ugandan traditions, children inherit land from fathers or through their paternal line. If war-born children are cast out and cut off from this important resource, the consequences—especially for young men—can be economically devastating and affect the rest of their lives. Without a way to provide for spouses and families, young men will experience greater societal rejection than their female counterparts.

Not every attempt the Women’s Advocacy Network makes to reunite children of war with their extended families is successful, Lucy cautioned. Some children were fathered by former soldiers who were abducted and forced to serve in the rebel groups; they may have changed their names and can be hard to find. Even if family members are located, the children can still be rejected.

Since the 2006 ceasefire between the Ugandan government and the LRA rebels, officials and international organizations have used a “transitional justice framework” to offer redress for victims of sexual violence and exploitation—and their children. This process is put into place when existing judicial systems in nations or regions can’t fully deal with large-scale or systemic human rights violations. The framework has helped to foster a range of initiatives in post-conflict northern Uganda to establish accountable institutions, give victims options to pursue justice, and to facilitate community dialogues for reconciliation. But it has neglected the long-term needs and challenges of war-born children, according to a 2015 assessment (PDF) by the International Center for Transitional Justice. That group found that officials have focused on mothers, wrongly assuming benefits would trickle down to the children born of war.

The women’s network, however, has identified the unique needs of these youths, and the group’s push for reunification between children and families may hold promise. The group has benefited from deep community involvement and by having members who are parents of “children born of war.” This has allowed the group to have a broader and more inclusive view of what is needed to achieve a sustainable and holistic integration process for these children.

The network’s efforts may provide a model for other countries in the region facing similar challenges. In Nigeria, for instance, the militant Islamic group Boko Haram has abducted over 2,000 women and girls since 2014—and 214 of 700 kidnapped females rescued by the Nigerian army were pregnant. As more girls are rescued, and these women and their children born of war start integrating and reintegrating into their families and communities, organizations will need to consider designing programs that provide immediate relief and services for mothers and their children. Future initiatives also need to take into account the long-term impact of what being a child “born of war” entails—and be sensitive to the complex ways it can affect postwar life.

Mahlet Woldetsadik is an assistant policy researcher at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation and a Ph.D. candidate at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. She is the project lead on the research project “Beyond the Survivor: The impact of conflict-related sexual violence on families of survivors in northern Uganda” . This blog post was written for the Pardee Initiative for Global Human Progress and was originally published on the RAND Blog.