Here is a Northern Uganda Reading List taken from Chris Blattman's blog - See: http://chrisblattman.com/ This is my favorite blog regarding Northern Uganda.
"A northern Uganda reading list
I am often asked for recommended reading on the war in northern Uganda. The literature is vast, but a few works on culture, politics and history stand out.
For history and analysis of the war, this ACORD volume presents the evolution of the war (and previous attempts at peace) from the perspective of numerous Ugandans. Also very good is the background material in this report by Tim Allen.
This report from the Refugee Law Project (RLP) at Makerere University provides another fine analysis of the causes of violence in Uganda. Check out the RLP website for dozens of contributions on displacement and war in Uganda. Its director, Chris Dolan, has written extensively about Uganda, but only a few of his works (like this one) seem to be online.
Some excellent books are also available. Heike Behrend’s account of Alice Lakwena, a spiritual and rebel precusor to Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army, is a must read. Sverker Finnstrom’s account of life under displacement is also excellent. The more time I spend in northern Uganda, the more insightful I find his writing.
I will save a full listing of the human rights, NGO and other gray literature for another time. But my own reports and work on Uganda (with Jeannie Annan, Dyan Mazurana, and Khristopher Carlson) are available on the Survey of War Affected Youth website.
For Acholi cosmology and traditional forms of coping and healing, five authors, including my friend and colleague Ron Atkinson, recently collaborated on an excellent short book on the subject.
Erin Baines has also been working with Acholi religious leaders on processes of community truth-telling in Acholiland as well as traditional processes of justice and reconciliation.
On less traditional forms of justice, Tim Allen has a short book on the International Criminal Court’s intervention in Uganda. He makes a convincing case for a more formal system of justice and accountability. Adam Branch also has very provocative views on the ICC in Uganda.
Intelligent political analysis of the Lord’s Resistance Army is scarce, but a few notable contributions exist (in addition to Allen’s and Finnstrom’s contributions above). For instance, some excellent papers on the logic of LRA violence and organization have been by Doom and Vlassenroot, van Acker, and Branch.
Mareike Schomerus has recently written about the LRA in Sudan. Mareike has had unprecedented access to the LRA in recent years, but unfortunately most of her work has yet to be published. Look for early warnings on this blog, as her work is bound to be interesting.
Tim Allen and Koen Vlassenroot are also editing a book on the LRA, with contributions from many of the authors mentioned above. Drafts may be available later this year. My own chapter (with my wife, Jeannie Annan) is here. We focus on the nature and logic of LRA child recruitment.
For current news and updates on the war, peace talks, and regional security, the Uganda Conflict Action Network and Resolve Uganda blogs are good sources of daily information. Both offer RSS news feeds.
Finally, one of my collaborators, Nathan Fiala, has scanned and posted resources for learning the Acholi language.
As I said, this list is only partial, and omits a number of topics and authors. If there are any special requests (e.g. gender, displacement, economic activities, etc.) please leave a comment. "
Above taken from: http://chrisblattman.com/
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Many updates to follow upon my return
I am traveling back to the States now but will be updating this Blog regularly in the days and weeks ahead as a means of recording and communicating the many events that took place over the course of the past two weeks. Please continue to check into this blog from time to time in the weeks ahead as much more to come.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Gulu
The people of Gulu have been through more than most people could possibly bear. They suffered dearly under the terrible reign of Idi Amin as he hated the Acholi people who are the dominant tribe in the Gulu area. He had his thugs carry out horrible atrocities among these people in the Northern region of Uganda. Then for 20 more years these people have suffered under the terrorism of Joseph Kony and his lawless thugs in the LRA. They operated ruthlessly throughout the Gulu area and the entire Northern Uganda region. Taking children as they slept or walked to school, or played on the streets and they turned them into child soldiers. The LRA trained these kids by making them kill other innocent people to turn them into heartless killers. Kony and his thugs repeatedly kidnapped women and raped them and turned them into their sex slaves and often killed or maimed them when they were through with them. One of the young men I met at Keziya Orphanage was a child soldier and was forced to kill or be killed. He escaped and has written his story which I am bringing back with me to seek a publisher for his story. He is an impressive young man who desperately wants to go into Journalism and is in dire need of a sponsor for his education expenses. He sleeps on a mat on a dirt floor in a mud and straw hut here as does most everyone in the area.
In addition to Amin and Kony the area has been ravaged by disease: Ebola, Malaria, Cholera, AIDS, the list goes on. Many people here suffer from malnutrition due to the collapse of the farming system in this agricultural based economy. The education system has collapsed, families have disintegrated, businesses destroyed, infrastructure in dire need of repair after years of neglect and precious few resources to re-develop. Yet their faith remains strong - unbelievably so. They worship, praise and give thanks to God every chance they get - it is deeply humbling and Holy to be among these terrific people.
People have been leaving the IDP camps set up near Gulu to go back to their homes and to their property. Unfortunately, without any organization with the resettling, this has caused great strife amongst neighbors as territorial disputes are now erupting over their properties and the police station and courts are full of these cases presently. A surprising number of people still remain in the IDP camps as they have lived there for so long and they have built a community there and have chosen to remain. The conditions in these camps are difficult at best and much improvement in sanitation, health systems, education, housing and food are needed.
Many of the people resettling onto their lands find that their homes have been destroyed as the LRA burnt homes to the ground as they moved through the area. I saw many burned out homes and buildings through the Gulu area. Additionally, the people returning are often weak from hunger, or they are infirm or impoverished and they cannot rebuild their homes. Help is urgently needed here for homebuilding assistance and for an improvement in the quality of the housing in general. It is time for aid agencies like Habitat for Humanity to return to Gulu and to step up their commitment to this region which was one of the first areas Habitat built in when Millard started the organization. Gulu needs Habitat and other home building agencies in a big way now.
The agricultural industry has been decimated. When farmers are not able to farm for any extended period of time, crops die off, seeds die off, soil overgrows and farmers need to start from scratch. Livestock was essentially killed and eaten by the rebels throughout the region and stocks have been depleted. The farmers here urgently need, seeds, tools, appropriate farming machinery, restocking of their livestock and microfinance loans to start up their farms again. The lack of farming and the current drought conditions have caused food shortages throughout the area and governmental aid agencies are needed to supply food to the area until the farming industry can recover. Farmers need to visit here to learn how they can assist these farmers.
Education has been deeply impacted as the students and teachers have been under immense stress for a very long time. They value and try so hard at their academics yet the difficulties of life simply overwhelm their abilities at times. They work with such meager means it is astonishing to me that the students learn anything in their school environments. Yet - these amazingly dedicated teachers and administrators here continue to teach their kids day after day and few of them make it on to university. Schools need all kinds of supplies from paper and pens to books to sponsors for tuition payments. Educators need to visit here to see where they can assist. One headmaster I met with was ambushed by the LRA and shot up (took two bullets into his back) and had his left arm crushed in several places and left for dead. He spent six months in the hospital and then returned to work for precious little pay to continue to teach his kids. There are stories like that in every school here.
This is a beautiful region inhabited by beautiful people with gentle spirits who have been tormented over a long period of time. Healing and restoration will take time and a collected dedicated effort by those who are committed to bringing quality of life back to this region is needed. There are many shining bright stars here such as Chairman Mao, Watoto Church and Orphanage, Children's Village, Rev. John Ocholo, Rev. Otto Naptali, and Jared White at Invisible Children to name a few. More on them in a later report.
In addition to Amin and Kony the area has been ravaged by disease: Ebola, Malaria, Cholera, AIDS, the list goes on. Many people here suffer from malnutrition due to the collapse of the farming system in this agricultural based economy. The education system has collapsed, families have disintegrated, businesses destroyed, infrastructure in dire need of repair after years of neglect and precious few resources to re-develop. Yet their faith remains strong - unbelievably so. They worship, praise and give thanks to God every chance they get - it is deeply humbling and Holy to be among these terrific people.
People have been leaving the IDP camps set up near Gulu to go back to their homes and to their property. Unfortunately, without any organization with the resettling, this has caused great strife amongst neighbors as territorial disputes are now erupting over their properties and the police station and courts are full of these cases presently. A surprising number of people still remain in the IDP camps as they have lived there for so long and they have built a community there and have chosen to remain. The conditions in these camps are difficult at best and much improvement in sanitation, health systems, education, housing and food are needed.
Many of the people resettling onto their lands find that their homes have been destroyed as the LRA burnt homes to the ground as they moved through the area. I saw many burned out homes and buildings through the Gulu area. Additionally, the people returning are often weak from hunger, or they are infirm or impoverished and they cannot rebuild their homes. Help is urgently needed here for homebuilding assistance and for an improvement in the quality of the housing in general. It is time for aid agencies like Habitat for Humanity to return to Gulu and to step up their commitment to this region which was one of the first areas Habitat built in when Millard started the organization. Gulu needs Habitat and other home building agencies in a big way now.
The agricultural industry has been decimated. When farmers are not able to farm for any extended period of time, crops die off, seeds die off, soil overgrows and farmers need to start from scratch. Livestock was essentially killed and eaten by the rebels throughout the region and stocks have been depleted. The farmers here urgently need, seeds, tools, appropriate farming machinery, restocking of their livestock and microfinance loans to start up their farms again. The lack of farming and the current drought conditions have caused food shortages throughout the area and governmental aid agencies are needed to supply food to the area until the farming industry can recover. Farmers need to visit here to learn how they can assist these farmers.
Education has been deeply impacted as the students and teachers have been under immense stress for a very long time. They value and try so hard at their academics yet the difficulties of life simply overwhelm their abilities at times. They work with such meager means it is astonishing to me that the students learn anything in their school environments. Yet - these amazingly dedicated teachers and administrators here continue to teach their kids day after day and few of them make it on to university. Schools need all kinds of supplies from paper and pens to books to sponsors for tuition payments. Educators need to visit here to see where they can assist. One headmaster I met with was ambushed by the LRA and shot up (took two bullets into his back) and had his left arm crushed in several places and left for dead. He spent six months in the hospital and then returned to work for precious little pay to continue to teach his kids. There are stories like that in every school here.
This is a beautiful region inhabited by beautiful people with gentle spirits who have been tormented over a long period of time. Healing and restoration will take time and a collected dedicated effort by those who are committed to bringing quality of life back to this region is needed. There are many shining bright stars here such as Chairman Mao, Watoto Church and Orphanage, Children's Village, Rev. John Ocholo, Rev. Otto Naptali, and Jared White at Invisible Children to name a few. More on them in a later report.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
An amazing few days here in Gulu
We've had an amazing few days here in Gulu meeting so many people of the community and learning much about the Keziya Orphanage operation and their most urgent needs. Meeting these children has been a humbling experience as we hear the unbelievable tragic stories of their sufferings at the hands of the LRA and other circumstances such as AIDS. They exude astounding resilience and even joy in the face of horrific circumstance of life . One young woman was captured by the LRA and dragged off to be repeatedly gang raped. She became pregnant and was eventually rescued by the Uganda army. Both her and her son live at the Keziya orphanage as they have no other place to go. Both of her parents were reportedly killed by the rebels.
We have met with inspirational educational leaders, civic leaders and church leaders all who work miracles out of very meager resources. Their needs are very great. One of the urgent needs expressed by all was a top quality vocational school to teach their children skills in carpentry, masonry, plumbing, garage mechanics, etc. as Gulu has precious little teaching in these much needed areas. We met with Rev. John Ocholo of the Gulu Primary school, a very impressive man, his school has 1561 students and is also the Northern Uganda center for the blind of which he has 86 young blind boys and girls. He needs to partner with an association for the blind in the West that can provide him much needed resources for his blind children. He is also desperately in need of bunk beds for the children who live on the schools grounds on mats on the floor all crammed together in little rooms.
We had a big ceremony yesterday at the Keziya Orphanage where we took photos of many of the children, hosted local leaders and discussed their needs along with their learning more about the operation of Keziya. We were entertained by an amazing youth drumming and dance core which everyone loved and then feasted on a great African meal. The gracious hospitality and generosity of Otto and Filder from Keziya Orphanage was overwhelming. It was heart aching to see the many children at the orphanage who had no sponsors and are on the waiting list. These little children so need sponsors for as little as $25 a month to provide for their food, clothing, shelter and school fees. At the other end of the spectrum they have orphans whom they have educated to Senior Level 6 and now need to move on to university or a trade school but their sponsorships end. They desperately need sponsors to step in and sponsor these orphans in their university or trade school fees. It would make such a tremendous difference in a young persons life who greatly values education and hard work.
This morning Michael and I went to Watoto church here in Gulu which was an amazing experience of praise and worship. I am thrilled to know that such a place is alive and well here in Gulu which gives me much encouragement. Watoto is the church where Michael and Maria go in Kampala and they have an extension here in Gulu.
We've made good progress on Francis' case and we meet with him and a doctor tomorrow for a further review. It has been a long road but I feel the Lord's presence leading us onward for Francis. Local leaders told me yesterday that they have many such cases here and are hoping we are successful with Francis. When I return to Kampala I'll meet with the US Embassy to further review Francis' case with them in our attempt to seek a medical visa for Francis.
There is so much more to share here about the stories and the needs of the people here in Gulu which will come out in due time. Please keep the people of Northern Uganda in your prayers. We visited the IDP camps as well which I will write about at a later date. Rich blessings of peace to you.
We have met with inspirational educational leaders, civic leaders and church leaders all who work miracles out of very meager resources. Their needs are very great. One of the urgent needs expressed by all was a top quality vocational school to teach their children skills in carpentry, masonry, plumbing, garage mechanics, etc. as Gulu has precious little teaching in these much needed areas. We met with Rev. John Ocholo of the Gulu Primary school, a very impressive man, his school has 1561 students and is also the Northern Uganda center for the blind of which he has 86 young blind boys and girls. He needs to partner with an association for the blind in the West that can provide him much needed resources for his blind children. He is also desperately in need of bunk beds for the children who live on the schools grounds on mats on the floor all crammed together in little rooms.
We had a big ceremony yesterday at the Keziya Orphanage where we took photos of many of the children, hosted local leaders and discussed their needs along with their learning more about the operation of Keziya. We were entertained by an amazing youth drumming and dance core which everyone loved and then feasted on a great African meal. The gracious hospitality and generosity of Otto and Filder from Keziya Orphanage was overwhelming. It was heart aching to see the many children at the orphanage who had no sponsors and are on the waiting list. These little children so need sponsors for as little as $25 a month to provide for their food, clothing, shelter and school fees. At the other end of the spectrum they have orphans whom they have educated to Senior Level 6 and now need to move on to university or a trade school but their sponsorships end. They desperately need sponsors to step in and sponsor these orphans in their university or trade school fees. It would make such a tremendous difference in a young persons life who greatly values education and hard work.
This morning Michael and I went to Watoto church here in Gulu which was an amazing experience of praise and worship. I am thrilled to know that such a place is alive and well here in Gulu which gives me much encouragement. Watoto is the church where Michael and Maria go in Kampala and they have an extension here in Gulu.
We've made good progress on Francis' case and we meet with him and a doctor tomorrow for a further review. It has been a long road but I feel the Lord's presence leading us onward for Francis. Local leaders told me yesterday that they have many such cases here and are hoping we are successful with Francis. When I return to Kampala I'll meet with the US Embassy to further review Francis' case with them in our attempt to seek a medical visa for Francis.
There is so much more to share here about the stories and the needs of the people here in Gulu which will come out in due time. Please keep the people of Northern Uganda in your prayers. We visited the IDP camps as well which I will write about at a later date. Rich blessings of peace to you.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Driving to Gulu today
Great visits in Jinja and Mukono yesterday. Michael and I picked up the Toyota Rav 4 and drove to Jinja yesterday morning. We met with Vincent and the Children of Grace team and he updated us the Fairway orphanage. We then met with Pastor David Sabufu at the Miracle Center in Jinja where he sponsors the National Uganda Cycling team and received an update on his ministry and the team We had lunch at Ozzies with Abraham and then onto the Orphanage. Driving to Gulu today - long 5 to 6 hour drive - hope to finally see Giraffe 's in the wild!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Arrived into Kampala and heading to Jinja
I arrived into Kampala last night with no problem but the Shangri-La Hotel was unable to provide me a room even though I had a reservation. It seems the guy in my room left all his stuff in there so they didn't know what to do and had no other rooms. So I booked nearby in the Fang Fang Hotel which is cheaper but still a nice hotel. My dear friends Michael & Maria Ssansa came over for dinner last night - we had Chinese Food at the hotel restaurant which was pretty good. They both send their greetings to our friends who know them. I spoke with Bishop Zac and we will try to connect later this week when I return to Kampala. A little change in plans in that Michael and I decided to pick up the car a day early and we're heading to Mukono (Habitat house and Fairway Orphanage) and to Children of Grace in Jinja today. Then we'll come back tonight for one more night in Kampala before we head up to Gulu tomorrow. Driving here is going to be nuts but I still feel that it is an important next step in my acclimation to the country. My cell phone number is: (011) 256-077-469-9206. Remember that I'm 11 hours ahead of the states.
The World Food Program has been cutting way back on their food distribution in Northern Uganda which has been deeply impacting NGO's such as schools and orphanages here. That coupled with a drought in the area has people being severely impacted from the lack of food in the outlying and upcountry areas. I should here much more about it today as we begin traveling North.
The World Food Program has been cutting way back on their food distribution in Northern Uganda which has been deeply impacting NGO's such as schools and orphanages here. That coupled with a drought in the area has people being severely impacted from the lack of food in the outlying and upcountry areas. I should here much more about it today as we begin traveling North.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Arrival in Dubai - First Class!
I have arrived into Dubai and toured their incredible airport before securing a voucher for a free hotel room from Emirates Air both for tonight and for the return leg of the trip. The check-in person for Emirates in SFO was so gracious in upgrading me to Business Class for no charge which I was thrilled with. Wonderful reclining seat with all kinds of amenities and a scrumptious meal. When dinner was over I was settling in to a good movie when the 1st. class stewardess came by and asked if I wanted to move into 1st. class which of course I immediately did! 1st. class on this plane was unbelievable. I had my own private apartment with a big flat screen TV, an incredible bed and an amazing breakfast to go with my french press coffee. I watched three movies and still had enough time for reading and sleeping as it was such a long flight. It was the first flight I've had where I didn't want it to end. I could have flown around the world in that cabin. Quite a contrast to what I will be seeing in the IDP camps in Gulu in just a few days... Blessings to each of you who are praying for this trip.
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