I left for the northern town of Gulu on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 with a colleague of mine named Robert Mubiru. Gulu town has been riddled with insecurity for the last 16 years. The government soldiers have been battling a rag-tag guerilla group led by Joseph Kony called the L.R.A. (Lord’s Resistance Army). The L.R.A. has strong roots in witchcraft and practice cannibalism. These brutal bandits have no regard for human life whatsoever; hence the fear they have instilled into the area. Their mode of conscription is by the forceful abduction of men/women and children.
Children in fear of abductions by rebels trek from villages as far as 13-15 miles every night to come and sleep in Gulu town, where government soldiers guard them. These are children of all ages and adults.
Children leave Gulu town very early in the morning to trek back to their villages, families and schools.
The IDP camp we visited is the smallest 5/6 miles from Gulu town called Unyama. It has approximately 10,000 people living there in very squalid conditions.
Every morning the children rise up at 6:00am and trek back to their home(s) villages even without breakfast.
Two Ugandan girls trek to Gulu town for protection against abduction.
At dawn and and dusk the street are filled with children seeking shelter. Shelter comes at a first come first serve basis due to the lack of space at shelters.
The children in uniforms are envied because they are able to go to school.
