UGANDA THE BEAUTIFUL PEARL OF AFRICA DESTROYED BY CHRONIC CONFLICT

Uganda-The Pearl of Africa is a very beautiful country found right in the middle of East Africa. Blessed with lots of natural forests, waters, very fertile land producing all sorts of food particularly some of the sweetest fruits on this planet earth. Uganda boosts one of the best tropical climates, indeed a must visit destination for every nature loving person who needs to see nature at its best.

However, due to the conflict that has been a part of this country since its independence, Uganda’s vast potential has not yet been tapped and properly exploited. Since its independence in 1962, Uganda’s history has been marked-indeed charred by armed violence. Conflict has affected almost every corner of the country and all the conflicts have mainly been based on struggles for resources and power. However, there has been no other conflict with some of the worst and far reaching effects on people as the current twenty one year old protracted civil war in the Northern part of the country. The conflict between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Uganda Government has been responsible for hundreds of thousands of wanton killings and gross violations of human rights and some of the worst human crises the world has ever seen. The war-torn districts have become grossly impoverished as a result of this war. About 70% of the populations in Northern Uganda live below the poverty line with each adult spending about 20,000 shillings (11$) per a year. The consequences of the war have generated untold suffering on the people of Northern Uganda which majority are internally displaced and forced to live in squalid and life-threatening conditions dependant upon relief from humanitarian organizations.

Although the effects of this conflict have affected the people of this region in various ways, there is perhaps no other group that has been more affected than the children, youth and women who have been the direct targets of attacks by the LRA. Over 25,000 children have been abducted and trained to become child soldiers by the LRA, a process in which they get killed in battle or face other physical and psychosocial traumatic experiences including being stigmatized for the conflict.

In the words of Herbert Hoover, ‘older men declare war, but it is youth that must fight and die’ many young people have died as a result of this conflict. While other children went to school, the abducted children were being trained to fight wars they never started. Others witnessed the killings of their parents or families members or were displaced with their families. Girls have been abducted to serve as sex slaves for the LRA soldiers who the media erroneously calls ‘wives’ of the LRA while others have also suffered body organ mutilation, rape and forced impregnation.

In July 2006 however, the LRA requested the Government of Uganda for Peace talks. These peace talks which have been mediated by Riek Machar, the Vice President of the Government of South Sudan in Juba were a light in the tunnel for many Ugandans particularly for those directly affected. The Peace Talks resulted into the signing of four preliminary Peace Agreements between the LRA and the Government of Uganda but however hit a snag in April 2008 when the rebel chief Joseph Kony refused to sign the final peace deal. Media reports however have indicated that the rebel chief has again requested that the peace talks resume.

Where as there is relative peace in the country side right now because there are no direct attacks of the LRA of civilians, peace for the people from this part of the country is yet to really to be achieved. This peace does not mean only the absence of guns shots but for a secured live hood and future for every one particularly for the young people who now are faced with the reality of growing up in a society where survival is practically a struggle.

Hi to all

Am Moses Kalanzi a human rights activist finalising my BA education degree at Makerere University. My areas of specialisation include human rights reporting and advocacy. I currently work with a youth-led community organisation concerned with resettling children from the streets of Kampala through the use of sport. We have realised that many of these children are victims of conflicts in the Northern part of the Country and from the North Eastern part of Uganda( Karamoja area) I look forward to exchanging experiences and learning from others in conflict areas.
Moses

Introduction

Dear Friends,
Greetings to all of you. It is great that we are having such an imoportant forum to learn from each other. My name is Monicah Amoding. Iam a Ugandan female aged 27 years from North Eastern part of Uganda, a region that is just recovering from the Lord’s Resistance Amrmy (LRA) conflict but currently working and residing in Kampala the capital city of Uganda.

I am a women’s rights activist consistently working to make a contribution to the women’s movement for gender equality in Uganda and Africa. I hold a Bachelors degree in Social Sciences with a bias in Social Administration and Economics. Currently Iam writing up my thesis for an award of a Masters degree in Gender Studies from Makerere University on a research topic; Youth Particiapation in Peace building: A gender anlysis of the peace building initiatives in Gulu District.

I have experience in Policy Analysis, research, Advocacy and Communications. My main interest is in the area of Conflict and Peacebuilding, Commucations, human rights and gender issues.

Currently, I am working for a women’s parliamentary association (Uganda Women Parliamentary Association- UWOPA) as a Policy and Communications Officer. I am also currently volunteering my time in building up a newly founded Young Women Leaders African Movement (YWLAM)-Uganda Chapter. Through this new initiative; I am working to strengthen the Young Women’s Movement in Uganda.

I am also a founder member of the Centre for Advancement of Gender Equality (CAGE), a newly founded organisation that we are building to promote the ideals of gender equality in Uganda. I am particularly building up a programme that will closely work with young women and men. I have special interest in working and empowering young people.


I look forward to fruitful exchanges with all the YAC team.


Monicah Amoding