Reports

Visit report by Charles Badenoch, CEO World Vision UK with David Peck, The Archbishop of Canterbury's Secretary for International Development 16-20 October 2006

Executive Summary
1. Objectives of Visit
  - To meet people affected by the conflict in Northern Uganda in order to gain a better understanding of the issues and problems they are facing.
  - To see first-hand the humanitarian and development programmes being undertaken by World Vision, the Church of Uganda and other partners, especially in Northern Uganda.
  - As a result of this first-hand experience and understanding, to be better able to support advocacy, communication and education about Northern Uganda through our respective networks.
2. Key impressions and learnings
  - This tragic and brutal war that has been going on for 20 years must be brought to an end. There are too many lost childhoods; children who have died, children abducted into the Lords Resistance Army (LRA), children conscripted into the Uganda Peoples Defence Force (UPDF), children who have only known life in IDP camps, children living in fear who have been commuting each night into the town for protection. This war has grandchildren, as well as children.
  - 96% of Ugandans want the current peace process to succeed. The communities in Northern Uganda are desperate for peace. The international community must act to continue to vigorously support the key processes. During the war over 2m people have been held hostage in IDP camps. Today there are still estimated to be some 1.2m people in IDP camps awaiting a peace agreement.
  - The presence and role of the Acholi Religious Leaders (ARL) at the peace talks in Juba has been crucial for the continued building of confidence and trust in the LRA. We were told by the Chair of the ARL that in a face-to-face meeting with Kony at the end of July 06, Kony wanted true peace talks that would succeed. We feel that the spiritual dimension of the conflict and the peace talks, particularly with regard to Kony, is under-estimated.
  - Also, from our meeting with community and church representatives in Northern Uganda we heard about the significant role played by churches and faith based organisations in the indigeneous grass roots delivery system for peace and reconcilication as well as education and health services, and that this role could be better enabled and supported by NGOs, government and international donors.
  - A great deal of attention and resources must be given to the resettlement process. The needs and the challenges are huge. The geographic area of instability and displacement due to this protracted conflict constitutes one-third of the country and therefore we need to have an all-inclusive definition of Northern Uganda that includes the 4million-plus people who have been affected. These people have missed out over 20 years on the economic growth benefits enjoyed by the rest of Uganda as a result of peace and stability. Post-conflict reconciliation will need major commitment to development, both by the Government of Uganda and the international community.
  - The needs of children must be paramount - children who have known only war and displacement and many who have suffered deep psycho-social wounds. For the sake of these children and their future, Northern Uganda needs a major and well-integrated investment in quality education, particularly at the secondary and tertiary level, which is currently almost non-existent. This needs to include the recruitment and training of quality teachers at all levels, as well as building and refurbishing of school buildings and teachers’ accommodation. The churches have both educational infrastructure and deep spiritual commitment to education that needs to be included in any EFA (Education for All) strategy around school rehabiliation, teacher recruitment and training. HIV/AIDS programming needs to be mainstreamed through all of the post-conflict development to bring a halt to the currently high prevalence rate, estimated to be well in excess of 10%, which is creating more orphaned children.
  - We found very little support for the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants. The community had far more concern for reconciliation rather than justice, and for peace rather than punishment. Many people in Northern Uganda say they are willing to forgive, but at the same time they want an acknowledgement of and accountability for what has been done by those who have inflicted pain and suffering on their communities. We all heard requests for a real and open dialogue with all people affected by the conflict, with input from traditional and religious leaders, as well as legal experts. Even the few supporters of the ICC warrants that we found agreed that the communities would need to take a deep intake of breath and accept a full amnesty in order to gain a lasting peace.
  - The negotiation of the peace agreement is the work of the Government of Uganda, the LRA and mediators. However the work of peace-building and community reconciliation will be the work of the community leaders, including all FBOs (faith-based organisations) and traditional leadership, especially for the relocation and resettlement of people out of IDP camps and back to their “home” villages. These community leaders will need the support and encouragement of the whole of Uganda’s civil society, as well as the government of Uganda and the international community. Again, the spiritual dimension of Uganda should not be under-estimated by our UK secular society. Unless harmony (the ‘software’) is restored through genuine reconciliation, the physical resources (the ‘hardware’) supplied by the GovU and the international community will not work.
  - All the above impressions are summed up in the story of Maurice, whom we met at the WV Children of War camp. Maurice, now aged 12, was abducted by the LRA in the middle of the night at the age of 8. He told us horrifying stories of three years of beatings, abuse and being forced to see and do things no human being, let alone a child, should experience. When asked about his future ambitions, he smilingly told us he wanted to study and become a driver. There are four conditions that we must strive to implement to enable Maurice to reach his relatively modest aspirations:
    - A lasting peace to end the violent conflict and the huge displacement of communities;
    - Psycho-social care and healing of the deep traumas affecting the children and their families;
    - Speedy building and resourcing of a quality education system;
    - A halt of the spread of HIV/AIDS.
3. World Vision calls on the UK government and the international community:
  1. To strongly support the Juba peace talks between the government of Uganda (GovU) and the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) and to put pressure on both sides to be serious and to put forward reasonable proposals. Since they began in July, peace negotiations brokered by the government of south Sudan (GovSS) have created an unprecedented opportunity to bring a just and lasting peace to Northern Uganda to improve security throughout the region. GovSS brings credibility to the process and we applaud its leadership in addressing this regional issue. People in Northern Uganda have widespread support for this process and for flexibility and patience on the part of all concerned parties in order for this 20-year conflict to finally be ended so that people can return to their homes and begin rebuilding their lives. We do not see how any military solution could create a just and lasting peace.
  2. To provide appropriate and timely technical, material and financial support for this peace process. Continuing progress in negotiation will likely be difficult and costly and the GovSS has asked for assistance to help finance this process, as well as for the monitors to ensure implementation of the ceasefire agreement. The UK and other international supporters can play a key role in helping to maintain the sustainability and success of this peace process in a number of ways:
    - by providing diplomatic and financial support to assist the parties involved to maintain the ceasefire agreement, and to bring the peace processes to a successful conclusion; including supporting of positive incentives for the LRA to put down their arms as well as pressure on external actors to halt the flow of financing and arms for military hostilities by both sides;
    - by serving as a strong peace partner for the government of Uganda, encouraging them to stick with the peace process, even through any unavoidable setbacks, such as the less than successful face-to-face meetings between President Museveni and the LRA last weekend;
    - by encouraging and supporting participation of Northern Ugandans and their community leaders, especially the Acholi Religious Leaders, who will be key in building trust and confidence, and in maintaining public support for any negotiated settlement. The significance of the spiritual dimension of this conflict must not be under-estimated by our secular society;
    - by co-ordinating the other donor nations to ensure consistent, coherent international support for the peace process;
    - by continuing to provide appropriate humanitarian and development assistance during and after these peace talks. To work closely with other donors, the UN, the AU and NGOs to address the enormous resettlement and reconstruction needs for communities in Northern Uganda, to recognise and enable the key contribution to development and social care that the churches are uniquely well placed to deliver and to support appropriate justice and reconciliation processes. Reconciliation is needed in Northern Uganda and also between the north and south of the country, and we feel churches, in co-operation with the NGOs and government, can and do play an important role in facilitating this process.
  3. To encourage and empower churches and faith based organisations:
    - to continue and intensify their efforts to provide spiritual and moral leadership to communities of Northern Uganda and to those involved in this peace talks process;
    - to play their part as an invaluable grass roots delivery system for peace and reconciliation programmes as well as for education and health services;
    - to call upon their international networks in the UK and elsewhere to support and advocate for the above calls on the UK government and the international community.
4. World Vision UK makes a commitment:
  - To continue giving priority to advocacy and communications activities in support of the peace process for Northern Uganda and to encourage our partners in other World Vision offices around the world to do the same until a sustainable peace is achieved.
  - To continue our support for World Vision Uganda’s advocacy for peace in Northern Uganda as well as for other other programmes to address the humanitarian and psycho-social needs of people affected by this conflict, to assist with resettlement and reconstruction of communities displaced by the conflict and to work in partnership with churches and other NGOs to promote reconciliation.

Background Introduction.

20 years is an alarmingly long time for conflict to continue. This is the case in Northern Uganda where destruction and devastation has been the result of the LRA’ opposing rule by the government of Uganda. And, it is the civilians, especially children, who have borne the brunt of this war. There have been specific political and economic interests at stake and these have prolonged the conflict even further. A military solution has not succeeded in ending this war and will never be able to deal with the root causes of this conflict. The urgent priority now is for this peace process to bring an end to the killing and displacement so that people can return home and begin to rebuild their lives and their communities. But this will not the end of the conflict – in the longer term there is a desperate need for all of Uganda to address the underlying political, economic, social and spiritual causes of this conflict.

Where are we with the Statistics?

There were 1.7m internally displaced persons in December 2005 (Uganda Humanitarian Upate UNOCHA) living in squalid camps where there is inadequate water, sanitation, clothing and privacy. Over 25k children have been abducted by the LRA and 30k children have been night commuters (UNICEF Humanitarian Situation Report Nov. 2005). These boys and girls suffer from a fear of being coerced to commit atrocities as child soldiers, being victims of excruciating and gender-based violence, killing, maiming and injury. Children make up 85% of the LRA (UNICEF Humanitarian Action: Uganda Donor Report Update 28 December 2005). The death toll is one of the most controversial statistics that had been reported, that 1,000 people die weekly (Government of Uganda Ministry of Health and World Health Organisation survey). The government of Uganda has refuted some of the statistics on Northern Uganda, as evidenced when the Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs addressed the UN Security Council in April 2006. One camp claims that the numbers are inflated whereas the other camp maintains that the numbers are under-reported. But no one denies the fact that very many people in Northern Uganda have been displaced, abducted, maimed and killed over the past 20 years

Personal Stories We Heard
1. World Vision Uganda Children of War Rehabilitation Centre
  1. Margaret
    We didn’t meet Margaret but we experienced her story through photos. Margaret was caught in an ambush by the LRA. Because she was pregnant, the LRA didn’t kill her but cut off her lips and her ears. She survived this mutilation and was brought to the World Vision rehabilitation centre, where she met the perpetrator of her vicious attack who was introduced to Margaret, and she had a reconciliation with her attacker. We understand that Margaret’s act of forgiveness has been key in her fight against her trauma.
  2. Lily
    Lily is a child mother now aged 20. She was abducted in the middle of the night at the age of 12 with several other girls. She was taken to Sudan where she was ‘given’ to a Commander in the LRA who already had 8 wives. At the age of 13 she refused to sleep with the Commander and was severely beaten by 5 members of the LRA. For 3 days she was tied up waiting to die because of the stand she took. Finally she slept with the man who then continued to beat her over the coming years. At the age of 15 she was sent to fight in southern Sudan and was forced to carry very large and heavy burdens (the lootings from the raids) over treacherous mountain paths back into Uganda. Lily was severely beaten for falling down and letting some of the supplies fall down the mountain. Again Lily thought she would be killed by the LRA. She often experienced extreme hunger. At the age of 18 Lily became pregnant but was still forced to fight. Eventually she was captured and brought to the World Vision centre. Unfortunately her mother and father had died during her period of abduction and she now lives with her grandmother. Lily is learning how to look after her 18-month-old child. She has called her Rwatomara (the Lord loves me) Jolly Joe.
  3. Florence
    Florence is the World Vision Counsellor whom we met with Lilly and Maurice. She had her own daughter abducted by the LRA at the age of 12 for 6½ years. Florence is an outstanding example of modelling forgiveness and reconciliation and not letting herself become a victim.
2. Noah’s Ark – Refuge for Child Night Commuters
  
  Noah’s Ark was home at night for 7,400 children walking each night up to 5 kilometres from their homes into this refuge in the middle of Gulu. The children and their parents were driven by fear of abduction at night by the LRA, as experienced by Lily and Maurice. Now, due to the improved security situation and the peace talks, there are only 200 children staying at the centre at night. We met Flavia, aged 13, and Martin, aged 12, who have been ‘commuting’ for 2 years. Naturally Flavia and Martin long for the time when they can spend the night at home with their families, feeling safe and secure.
3. Awer IDP Camp
  
  The IDP camp we visited was no longer full, and people have started to move back to the villages, but there is still an estimated 30,000 people living in the camp. We met with representatives of youth, youth leaders and the camp leader. They described to us the very poor facilities in the camp and their strong desire to go back to their villages. Once again we heard the individual stories of abduction of children, mutilations, killings and the destruction of homes and properties. “We have seen our own children taken by the rebels and also seen them killed. We have also seen our children ‘recruited’ into the UPDF in order to protect us from the LRA and our abducted children.” We were told that another enemy is HIV/AIDS, which is killing a lot of people. There was a very strong desire for peace but some people were losing hope because of the negative actions by both parties to the conflict. The people we met felt very strongly that there was too much silence about, and too little understanding of, their plight. We were urged not to forget them.

Linking Programmes and Advocacy in Northern Uganda

World Vision advocacy for peace in Northern Uganda has been a collaborative effort amongst advocacy staff of World Vision Uganda, UK, US, Canada, Germany, the Africa region, the partnership office (New York & Geneva) and Australia. In addition, World Vision runs direct programme interventions aiming to meet the basic needs of communities affected by the conflict. These include the Pader Food Aid Project, Integrated Mine Action Project, the Uganda Children of War Rehabilitation Programme, the Northern Uganda Child Protection Project, Emergency Aid to Displaced Persons in Pader, the Pader Watsan Project, Pader Construction, Gulu Emergency Education Project, Kitgum Night Commuters Project and Pader Emergency Education Project.

Pawns of Politics - Children, Conflict and Peace in Northern Uganda was produced by World Vision to help guide joint advocacy on the need for peace in Northern Uganda, starting with the historical legacy and spiritual dimensions of constant conflict. Pawns of Politics reviewed the probable causes of the conflict. Building on World Vision’s experience in northern Uganda, the report analysed children at risk, the humanitarian cost and the HIV/AIDS prevalence, while proposing ways to end the conflict, and post-conflict reconstruction. General and specific recommendations are made. One underlying theme is that the proposed solution is both viable and desirable. A peace initiative with the participation of local, government, UN and international bodies is necessary. The protection of civilians is paramount, especially the provision of education to rehabilitate the former abductees, the provision of night shelters and assistance and counselling for children living in camps, or internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Charles Badenoch
23 October 2006

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