Last Day- Entebbe

I am sitting in my hotel cafe overlooking Lake Victoria. Aljezeera news is on and I am catching up with the world events. I leave tonight and I am really enjoying the A/C and the big bed. Peter and Rose joined me at the hotel last night and we will be meeting with Betty later in the day. It has been an overwhelming experience. I know that it will take me some time to really process all that I have heard and the experiences that I have had. I heard a lot of stories of abduction, child defilement, torture, abuse, violence and poverty. This does not get forgotten easily. The faces that I met and the stories that were shared, were at times very difficult. A certain amount of distance is necessary in order to get through the day, but there were times when I really wanted to stand up, walk away, and go for a really long run.

A big part of my learning has been just sitting and chatting with people in restaurants, cafes, busses, and landrovers. And, of course also while on dirtbikes and motorcycles. This is when you learn the most – casual conversation between two people without the forced confinements of an implied consent form, a tape recorder, and a notebook. These were the toughest ones to hear. As Hassan recounted an ambush by the LRA at the site we passed on the Kitgum road, the reality of the war and the effects of the violence were closest. The rocks that they hid behind, the shacks where the children escaped to, the bushes where the women and girls were raped and killed, the verandas where the people took cover, and the fields where their bodies now lay, were right in front of me.

The war continues to claim victims from landmines, unexploded ordinance devices, hand grenades and guns. Many of these weapons are found on the corpses of people found in the bush. Instead of distance markers, you will find signage to warn people not to pick up anything metal or unknown from the ground. Children are far too often the victims of these accidents as their natural curiosity leads them into danger. Child trafficking , child sacrifice, and abduction are also a serious problem and very disturbing public service announcements are played on local tv to warn parents to watch their children. At the same time, broadcasters also try to dispel public misconception about formerly abducted children and the negative stigma that accompanies them in the community. Some of the children are referred to as “rebels” and “murderers.”

Poverty is the biggest problem as people try desperately to rebuild their lives after more than 20 years of civil war. With the elections in 2011, many are hopeful that the elections are not violent and people are able to look forward to a more peaceful and violence free country.

I am leaving Uganda tonight with a determined agenda to turn the stories into a sustainable plan for action. The solutions have been provided to us, we just need to find a way to implement them, using the strength of our international partnerships. Nothing is easy and we never feel like we have done enough, but we do what we can to build capacity and to foster resilience in this generation of children. While we all have different ideas about how to do this, we are all motivated by the inspiration and hope that is evident in every child and adult we meet. This is what makes us work hard.

I am going for a walk by the lake and then headed home. Will be back to Uganda in April or May 2011. Thank you for following the blog and thank you for your comments.

Afuoyo

Jan

On the road

Its a really bumpy road, but I am on my way to Kampala. Hassan is driving and I am accompanied with the hotel manager from Churchill Courts. Two things to remember if coming to Gulu….Hassan from Access Tours Uganda is the best tour operator in all of Uganda. Responsible, friendly, knowledgeable, and very business minded. He knows just what his clients want and he comes through every time.

The second thing is if going to Gulu, you have to stay at Churchill Courts. Best staff and best hotel stay in all of Gulu. Clean, has water (hot too), and everyone is friendly. If you are lucky, Caroline will serve you in the restaurant. The veg curry is very good. William is the manager and he will give you a good room if you say I sent you. I told him this.

Should be in Kampala in an hour or so. Happy to be moving South. Not totally looking forward to the two day travel home, but VERY happy to be coming home.