Tag Archives: WAN

Survivors of Conflict Join Hands to Make Change

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Creating Global Connections

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hope Never Runs Dry

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

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

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

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

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

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

 A Brighter Future

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

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

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

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

 

 

 

Sowing the Seeds of Tomorrow: Success Stories in Photographs

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

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

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

Here are a few of their stories.

Alero

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gulu

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pabo

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

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

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

Atiak

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

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

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

Pader

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

***

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

 

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.

*** 

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.”

***

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.

 

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Providing a platform for important dialogues on gender-related issues

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Dialogue held at Pabo sub-county with WAN members, relatives and local leaders present. Photo by Patrick Odong/JRP.
Dialogue held at Pabo sub-county with WAN members, relatives and local leaders present. Photo by Patrick Odong/JRP.

As communities navigate a post-conflict journey together, it is key for a stage to be given for different groups within society to share their experiences, challenges and current journeys.

Recently, as part of the “Livelihood” project implemented by JRP and Women’s Advocacy Network (WAN), with funding from Uganda fund, four dialogues were organised in three districts: Pader, Nwoya, and Amuru. The formulation of these dialogues came about after feedback sessions conducted across various WAN groups had brought to light a number of common challenges faced by WAN members. It was conceived by JRP and WAN that such challenges should be discussed with members, local government and cultural officials, as well as spouses and supporting relatives as gender-related issues that need a holistic approach for them to be remedied.

Being mainly made up of victims of conflict-related SGBV, the WAN groups have been supported throughout this project in a number of ways. The project supports WAN groups in selecting an Income Generating Activity (IGA) for the group and building it together into a sustainable and efficient source of income for members. Throughout the project period, members have noticed that certain challenges are standing in the way of complete achievement of the project’s aims. Such common challenges highlighted included: jealousy, stigma, land conflict, lack of local authority assistance, and harming of animals distributed as part of project. During the dialogue, members were given the opportunity to elaborate on these points in order to help paint a clearer picture for those relatives and local leaders in attendance.

A key question posed to the groups was whether they felt they were experiencing such issues due to their identity as a victim of SGBV or whether it was due to their gender. Whilst some emphasized the role their gender plays in the challenges they face, most accentuated how being a victim of SGBV, and for many a returnee from LRA captivity, brought the most challenges. Although members perhaps did not agree completely, it is important that these members consider the gender aspect, so that effective remedies can be agreed upon.

When addressing the issues discussed that related to local land conflict or relations with the local authorities, local government officials were on hand to listen, respond and advise. Many of the local leaders acknowledged how they were formerly unaware of some of the problems the group faced and called for all groups to work closely with the local authority. Providing a space for discussion between the members and the local leaders proved promising and could be important for the future of the groups’ project implementation.

After such a long period of violence that impacted the lives of most in northern Uganda, it is necessary to aid in social reconstruction and reconciliation. In aiding groups to inform other members, relatives and important figures within the community on their activities, hopes and struggles, we hope communities within northern Uganda can build a bright and peaceful future together.

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

Women trained on community theatre for advocacy

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Members of the Women's Advocacy Network's Rwot Lakica Women's Group pose with Jeff Korondo, 7 February 2014 in Gulu. Lindsay McClain Opiyo/Justice and Reconciliation Project.
Members of the Women’s Advocacy Network’s Rwot Lakica Women’s Group pose with Jeff Korondo, 7 February 2014 in Gulu. Lindsay McClain Opiyo/Justice and Reconciliation Project.

On 6th September 2016, 12 WAN group representatives from the six groups from Adjumani, Pader and Lira districts that are supported by the MacArthur Foundation project on ‘‘Redress for Sexual Gender Based Violence on Conflict Related Wrongs’’ will be trained on community theatre. The objective of the training is to strengthen survivor networks and prepare them on how to effectively use community theatre to address their challenges like the different aspects of revictimisation towards survivors of conflict SGBV.

The training will cover the importance of using theatre, theatre as a way of healing and reconciliation, developing skills for advocacy using theater, documentation of theatre processes, publicizing the theatre, planning, logistics and lobbying for support. Participants will also be trained on how to plan for community theatre performances and this will cover aspects of sharing and analyzing other’s stories, creating theatre performances, directing and rehearsing performances, mapping resources for the theatre activity, conducting theatre performances and evaluating performances.

It is hoped that the knowledge and skills gained will be utilized and demonstrated by the respective groups during the upcoming community dialogues in October 2016 to engage communities in preparation for their forthcoming outreach events in their respective communities viz, dialogues with the community and leaders.

Since theatre is a simple way of communicating sensitive and complicated issues in the community spaces, group members will   use songs, drama, art and poetry to communicate to communities what they have not been able to do using mere words.

2015 Women’s Advocacy Network Annual General Meeting asks “What is the future?”

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The second day of the Women's Advocacy Network 2015 Annual General Meeting, 18 November 2015.

As the year 2015 come to an end, more than 100 members of the Women’s Advocacy Network (WAN) held their annual general meeting at Comboni Animation Centre from 17th to 18th November 2015 to review the year and discuss plans for 2016. The two day meeting was attended by members from all over northern Uganda to discuss the success and challenges of the WAN.

The meeting was guided by questions such as: what has been done? What has not been done yet? What needs to be done? What is the future of WAN?

The meeting began with an opening prayer by participant members from Can Rwede Pe Women’s Group. After this, the WAN chairperson listed the successes the WAN has achieved in 2015. These included opening a WAN bank account and medical services being secured for people with fragments of bullets still in their bodies. The WAN has alsoregistered in Gulu district as a community-based organisation (CBO), conducted child tracing and family reunification processes, and admitted three new groups from Adjumani, Pader and Lira districts.

The meeting informed participants about some of the pending tasks including following up on the petition WAN made to parliament in 2014, advocating to ensure the needs of war-affected women are considered in the PRDP 3, and also organising a meeting with the Office of the Prime Minister to make proposals for consideration of WAN members in government programmes.

However, challenges were also noted: a member from Rwot Lakica Women’s Group said that too much sunshine has affected their harvest which has affected the yield of  a livelihoods project being implemented by the WAN. Also the threat of physical violence during child tracing and lack of unity and cooperation among WAN group members has at times brought other challenges.

When asked what needs to be done to work effectively in 2016, a member of Okony Wa Women’s Group from Pader said that members should have unity, hard work, continuous lobbying and love for one another.

The WAN’s proposed plan for 2016 includes the groups contributing to the new WAN account through membership dues, proposals for funding being written, child tracing and family reunification continuing, sub-county officials being trained on gender-related issues affecting women, conducting group savings, holding exchange visits, as well as trainings on clerical skills for members.

In all, the AGM was a successful event that brought together more WAN members at one time than any other event. It contributed to exchange and learning among members and has set the foundation for an active and fruitful 2016 for the network.

Read more about the WAN here.

See pictures from the AGM on JRP’s Facebook page here.

For Ugandan children born of war, the struggle continues

In the News,

By Samuel Okiror

http://www.irinnews.org/report/101721/for-ugandan-children-born-of-war-the-struggle-continues

KAMPALA, 7 July 2015 (IRIN) – Actual combat may have ended almost a decade ago in northern Uganda, but for many women abducted by the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army and the children they conceived in captivity, the war is far from over. Sexual exploitation, beatings, stigmatization and community rejection, lack of medical care and education, and deprivation of land rights are among the challenges faced by those who escaped from or were released by the LRA.

For two decades from the mid-1980s, between 10,000 and 15,000 girls and women were abducted from their homes in northern Uganda to serve as fighters, porters and sex slaves of LRA commanders. These forced unions resulted in a population group often neglected by post-war recovery programmes: children born of war.

According to a recent article published by the International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), “Thousands of such children exist on the margins, fathered through sexual violence by not only the LRA, but also government forces and a multitude of other state and non-state armed actors.”

A new report by the Justice and Reconciliation Project, based in the northern town of Gulu, points out that scores more women were subjected to sexual violence and exploitations in the so-called “protected villages” where most of the population of northern Uganda was forced to live during the war.

“As if the original violations were not severe enough, female victims are especially susceptible to ongoing forms of re-victimisation that extend long after initial violations occur,” says the report, titled, “Alone Like a Tree: Reintegration Challenges Facing Children Born of War [CBW] and Their Mothers in Northern Uganda.”

 

The members of Awach tailoring group, Gulu district. The group is of mothers of children born out of war and other conflict related situations

 

Consequences live on

The consequences for the women of protracted stigmatisation can include depression and other forms of mental illness as well as increased vulnerability to future abuse and violence due to economic marginalisation.

Women interviewed by the report’s authors said their new partners often “do not want to pay their [children’s] school fees, and the step-parents are reportedly a major source of insults against CBW. They are continuously ostracised and isolated in some homes.”

Interviewees also reported many cases of sexual abuse of both female and male CBW by stepfathers and other relatives. Reporting such abuse was very difficult, especially when the perpetrators were members of the armed forces.

“In the new relationships, the slightest disagreement between husband and wife gets blamed on the women’s past. Even when the man is also formerly-abducted, he can stigmatize the woman, accusing her of sleeping with many men from the bush as a means of justifying his abuse,” says the report.

One 17-year-old boy born in LRA captivity told the researchers: “We are sometimes told the home we are staying in is not our home, and the person taking care of us is not our father. That we should go and look for our father. This is always said by other children in that home. This makes our lives miserable.”

Neglected by reintegration programmes

According to Jackson Odong of the National Memory and Documentation Centre in the northern Ugandan town of Kitgum, the needs of such populations have been neglected.

“Children born in captivity and their mothers continue to suffer because while they were encouraged to return, there was limited support for their reintegration. Focus was largely on ex-combatants. There have been little or no specific interventions targeting surviving children and mothers,” he said.

Irene Ikomu, a human rights lawyer and the coordinator of Parliament Watch Uganda, told IRIN that the report highlighted the need to evaluate current reintegration processes in northern Uganda. “There are clearly gaps that are yet to be addressed and this explains the continued challenges despite peace,” she said.

“Successful reintegration is not just about short-term concerns and political stability, but should especially focus on the long-term strategies for economic reconstruction and development,” added Ikomu.

“In northern Uganda, we cannot say we have fully addressed reintegration without dealing with the issue of land access for the former combatants and victims, especially with regard to CBW,” she said.

The chairman of Uganda’s Amnesty Commission, Peter Onega, shared this view.

“It’s a serious issue. If not addressed urgently, it’s recipe for violence and conflict. As a commission, we haven’t done proper reintegration of these people because we are incapacitated. We don’t have the resources due to low government funding,” he told IRIN, explaining that only around US$1.5 million of the $2.5 million budgeted for reintegration programmes annually had been forthcoming.

“We need to carry out community sensitization, dialogues and reconciliation meetings to create an atmosphere for the community members to fully accept and live peacefully with these children and women,” he added.

 

The children born of war and their mothers performing Acholi traditional dance in Atiak sub county, Amuru district

The ICTJ article noted that while rebels who surrendered “were awarded reinsertion packages of basic household items by the government, there were no additional allowances for those with children born in captivity. This trend continues today, with many governmental and non-governmental programmes recognizing formerly-abducted persons as a special category for assistance, but not children born of war.”

Even within this category, different groups have different needs, the article explained.

 

“For instance, female and male children will face different challenges in societies in which females’ families receive dowry when their daughter marries while males are expected to inherit land and other resources when they come of age. In northern Uganda, some families and clans have rejected male children born of war to a higher extent than females because they do not want to allocate land to them on which to settle when they come of age.”

In March 2014, the Women’s Advocacy Network, a coalition of various groups, including some made up of mothers of CBW, petitioned parliament to set up a gender-sensitive reparations fund to provide free health services to women and children affected by the insurgency, and a mechanism to “identify, integrate, and regularize stateless children born in captivity.” The network also called on the government to “identify, integrate, and resettle child victims of formerly-abducted women whose clan/cultural belongings are unknown.”

While parliament did pass a resolution, it has yet to bear fruit.

so/am