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Last Updated: Jul 2nd, 2008 - 20:21:03
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Over the past two decades about 50,000 Ugandan children have been abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army, brutalized into a life of sex slavery and trained as guerrilla fighters to slaughter their countrymen.
Terrorized physically and emotionally many were killed, but thousands escaped the horrific enslavement, making their way out of the bush and home to whatever was left of the life they once knew.
With the civil war in Uganda finally nearing an end, the biggest battle of all is ready to begin: rebuilding lives.
Beatrice Lagada, Member of Parliament for the Oyam District in Uganda and director of Uganda Northern Community Renewal, says the astronomical task might seem impossible, but there is hope.
“It’s like learning to live again,” she said.
Lagada is visiting North America to raise awareness about the plight in Uganda and will share her country’s story on the TV program Insight at 10 a.m. today on the Miracle Channel.
The Ugandan MP, along with former Lethbridge resident and missionary Ruth Potter, are also travelling to Winnipeg, then back to Texas where Potter now lives. The two women met while Potter was living in Uganda.
In addition to highlighting the situation in Uganda, Lagada and her non-government organization, Uganda Northern Community Renewal — a group that has partners in Canada and the United States — is hoping to raise $3 million US to build a treatment facility in Oyam to help rehabilitate children who survived the LRA enslavement and address the alcoholism, high rates of suicide, HIV and problems with domestic violence that have reached epidemic proportions.
Lagada explained many civilians were maimed and killed at the hands of child soldiers and communities are struggling to accept the young people back.
“Thousands of children are coming back to a community that is not prepared,” she said. “There is so much anger and violence they don’t know how to cope.”
Her government readily admits the magnitude of the situation is simply too much for it to handle alone.
The Oyam treatment facility will include counselling rooms, dormitories, a guest floor, pharmacy, clinic, clothing bank, group session areas, a school and Alcoholics Anonymous treatment program.
Lagada and Potter say the first step to restoring some level of normalcy to the Ugandan people involves strengthening their spirits and ensuring they are physically and emotionally ready to rebuild schools, hospitals and the rich agriculture industry the area is known for.
In addition to medical and psychological experts, counsellors and other workers who will be needed when the centre is built, the UNCR is also hoping farm teams will make the journey to Uganda and donate their expertise to help Ugandan farmers get back on their feet. As the rebuilding process progresses, teachers will also be needed to share their expertise and help educate children whose schooling was cut short.
Lagada explained her niece was abducted by the LRA in 1996 and the girl wasn’t able to escape until 2005. Now in her 20s, she is in school with 14 year-olds as she continues to rebuild her life. She is one of the success stories.
Other children enslaved by the LRA don’t adapt nearly as well.
Lagada recalls one situation where a girl — previously enslaved — and her sister were collecting firewood. When the younger girl was exhausted and could not continue carrying the wood home, her sibling killed her and left her at the roadside.
“When you were tired, you were killed,” explained Lagada, noting the influence of the LRA isn’t easily erased. “It’s going to take a lot of work and a lot of years.”
Anyone interested in learning more or making a donation to help build the treatment centre is asked to call Sandy Broadbent at 780-712-3230. Cheques to Uganda Northern Community Renewal can be mailed C/O PO Box 98; Warburg, AB, T0C 2T0.
Additional information and updates can also be obtained by e-mailing Ruth Potter at ruthpotter@cfaith.com.
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