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In 2009, I was researching the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army), Joseph Kony ...]]>
In 2009, I was researching the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army), Joseph Kony and the topical issue of children in armed conflict. I spent most of my time with former child soldiers in Northern Uganda and also made a promise to a group of child soldiers that I had become close to. The promise was to send 2 bicycles, to help them in their lives and in their rehabilitation and re-integration into society.

In 2012, I returned with a container of 400 bicycles, a mission I had been on since my trip there in 2009. I also set up a bike workshop and vocational training centre at Friends of Orphans in Pader, to help victims of the conflict.

As as far as my research on the war in Northern Uganda goes, I had learnt a lot more in the three years since my first visit. During that period I also traveled to the United States, where I interviewed people at the United Nations, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Black Star News, UNICEF, Resolve Uganda and many other organizations.

My knowledge of the conflict grew day by day, and when I returned to Uganda earlier this year, I had many new contacts to meet and learn from. These included notable and die-hard pro-democracy activists such as Barbara Allimadi, Shawn Mubiru, Anne Mugisha, opposition leaders Kizza Besigye, Nandala Mafabi and the honorable UPC President and former UN Under Secretary General for Children in Armed Conflict, Dr. Olara Otunnu. The experts and scholars I met with included Adam Branch from Makerere University, Leander Komakech, Okello Okello John Livingstone and Major General Pecas Kutesa - who all offered interesting and informative insights into the war and the state of democracy in Uganda. This really put a new spin on my take of the conflict, which had gradually been happening since the U.S trip in 2011. There were things that didn’t add up and it has taken a long time to work out the truth, as the media portrayal of the conflict is far from the facts I had uncovered. Uganda, I also discovered, was a democracy in disguise. On two occasions I was almost arrested, for no reason other than having a camera and having friends who are with the opposition. On my last day in Uganda, the day I was grabbed by the Police and threatened to be tear gassed, my friend Doreen was actually arrested and put into maximum security prison (Luzira), for voicing her opinion about the government and Museveni’s corrupt regime. I can tell you first hand, Uganda is not as free and democratic as it appears to be…

I still spend countless hours researching the conflict and the human rights situation in the country, as what has occurred in Northern Uganda has been so well concealed by the powers that be, and the international community at large, making it very difficult for the truth to be made visually transparent. The ‘Kony War‘, as it is often called, is not what it seems. That is not to say that Kony does not exist, nor that he has not committed the atrocities that are now well-known to the world, thanks to the viral video campaign from Invisible Children, Kony 2012. The perpetrator of this conflict is not Kony, as most would believe due to media and government deception and misinformation. Joseph Kony is sadly a product of the war, and should still however be made to face justice for his crimes. But, will that bring justice to the Acholi people of Northern Uganda, particularly if the other perpetrators are not also made to stand trial for their involvement in this human tragedy? How can justice prevail when impunity reigns?

This year I also spent much time in Uganda looking into how the conflict can be resolved and what is the best way forward. Is military intervention (which is what is currently happening) the correct road, or could truth and reconciliation through national dialogue and peace talks be a better and more effective option? There are many differing views on this subject, but on the ground, there seems to be only one. Invisible Children have called out loud and clear for U.S military intervention in the region, but where has that got them in the past, and for what reasons would they really be intervening? The fact of the matter is, why intervene now, when they really needed to intervene 10 years ago, when there was a serious humanitarian crisis going on. That’s when everyone was silent on what was going on. That’s when help was needed and voices needed to be heard. Now there is relative peace and the people in Uganda want to know, “WHY NOW?”.


‘Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.’
Albert Einstein

See: www.childtroopers.com for more information about my documentary film, 'Child Troopers'.]]> http://www.acholiweb.com/blog/46/my-new-perspective-on-the-war-in-northern-uganda/ Mon, 18 Jun 2012 10:03:50 +0000 Ebony Butler http://www.acholiweb.com/blog/9/forced-into-prostitution/
Until I found myself in a total mess, I never really had any Idea what premarital s*x was all about. I never knew it was so useless and killing. Before I got into it, I use to think it was some fun and I dreamt of it more often than not.

I wished with all my heart to have a boyfriend whom we would explore it together, little did I know that I was being nasty to myself. Because of things I see on TV and magazine, I thought having s*x was so much fun, I fantasized about it each time I felt lonely.

I was just a little girl but I had big wishes and huge fantasies. Only if I had known that everything I see in movies and soap operas were just acting and make belief; only if I had known that there is nothing in s*x after all, the only thing in it is self destruction; I think my life wouldn’t be this miserable.

It’s a pity i really had to learn the hard way and I really wish I had never been born, I wish I had not come out into this deceitful world where nobody cares about young people, all the so called adults do is how they would play on the intelligence of young people in a bid to exploit and use them to satisfy their insatiable s*xual passion. I really feel bad about this wicked world.

My plight started when I was sixteen, then I was still a virgin and in secondary school, I was ignorant of many things but because I see it every day on the TV and internet.

More so, a couple of so called Anti AIDS people visited us in school a couple of times for lectures, but all they did was introduce s*x to us even more because they really had nothing but condoms to show. Fine, they told us about AIDS, but at the same time, they also told us about condoms, they never really said anything real about s*x, they said we could contact AIDS not through s*x, but unprotected sex, which means there was nothing wrong with s*x as long as you could use condoms, but all of that I now know very well are lies, and I wonder why men and women would enjoy telling teenagers deadly lies like that.
Man Kills Girlfriend Over Abortion Money

Even though I can’t blame those people totally for my plight because they weren’t really the ones that said I should go into s*x, I still never forgive them for encouraging me and other young people like me into s*x with their preaching of protected sex or condom. Even though I wanted to see what s*x was really like and I fantasized about it, some were within me, I was still very scared of what may happen to me afterwards if l tried it, and it was that fear that actually kept me away from it until I was sixteen.

By the time I was sixteen, my fantasy had gotten enough boost to express itself with reliance to said to myself one day, “free yourself baby girl, there is nothing terrible in sex, can’t you see everyone is doing it, by the way, you can always use condoms nothing will happen”. So, I finally decided to let go of my fears and embrace in totality my silly fantasies, and that was how I took the very first step into this miserable life of illicit s*x. I had absolutely no idea of what I was going into.

I finally agreed to date this guy who had been disturbing me for more than a year, his name was Andrew. Andrew was five years older than me. Both of us began enjoying s*x, we did it every seconds, every minute; I became addicted that I do not love doing it with condom anymore. Within the period, I had 14 abortions for Andrew, and not only that, I cheated on him in several occasions, I felt doing it with other guys will give me better sensation but all were the same.

My school teacher got me and at the end of the day I had 6 abortions for him. And worst among was my sexual affairs with my close relations, which resulted to 5 abortions. Then I felt I was at the top of the world. I will never forgive my friends who introduced me into partying and sleeping with old men with potbelly and rough skin only in the name of s*x. Right now, all those men have gone, and then shadow of my past sexual life still follows me around. All this pills and tablets I took are now telling on my blood stream.
My Uncle Violated me as a Teen, I Feel like Committing Suicide

At times I felt like committing suicide each time I remember what the doctor told me, “Tessy, I am sorry, your womb is automatically damaged on account of the several abortion you had”, “I’m sorry, you will never conceive again in your life, but just thank God, you don’t have HIV or AIDS”.

I therefore, advise every young girl reading this piece today, to over look every fantasy towards s*x. S*x is good but it has time. And that is in marriage. Keep yourself away from men. Make friends with those who mean good for your future.WE decided to share the story of this lady identified as Tessy because we believe many people can learn a thing or two from it.]]> http://www.acholiweb.com/blog/9/forced-into-prostitution/ Fri, 01 Jun 2012 14:55:52 +0000 Ocaya James TonTik http://www.acholiweb.com/blog/7/enemies/ Never leave your enemies behind, otherwise they will rise to slit your throat Never leave your enemies behind, otherwise they will rise to slit your throat http://www.acholiweb.com/blog/7/enemies/ Wed, 09 May 2012 14:08:07 +0000 Ocaya James TonTik http://www.acholiweb.com/blog/4/sex-according-to-pastor-khathide-ugandan/ No where in the Bible does it say that the missionary position is the only sexual style. Not discussing sex in a relationship leads to divorce!!!!!.

Pastor Khathide has counseled women who've complained: my husband treats me as if I were his sister. There was one who told him: I am tired of getting sex fortnightly, like a salary. Khathide told her she was lucky to be
getting sex fortnightly, since some wives only get it on big days, like elections.

Many husbands leave their wives to seek sexual pleasures in Hillbrow.
Have you ever asked yourself what those wives have that you don't. Wives have become very frigid and even sleep with their panties. If you're a married woman, you should sleep naked and let your bum touch your husband. Today you find men going out of their way to get a glimpse of a vagina. They page through magazines and even go to lingerie departments in stores hoping to see what's hidden under panties, because their wives hide
it from them.

Marriage is about being free with your body in front of your partner. A woman should parade naked and do some modeling to tempt her husband. There are many married women who don't know what their husbands' penises look like. They only feel it when he enters her. They've never touched it, let alone seen it, because the husband switches off the lights before undressing. A penis is a wife's toy - she is supposed to play with it.

He blames couples for not making time for sex and complaining about
being tired after a day's work. You find many couples who've been sexually starved for years. God created sex for procreation and also for pleasure.
You can't marry and not have a good time in bed.

WHO SAID YOU CAN ONLY HAVE SEX AT NIGHT?
Why can't you drive home during lunch and have a quickie with your wife?
We're all equal in sex - it's not just about a woman satisfying a man. You have to satisfy each other. Have you ever seen a woman who has been satisfied? Have u noticed how she glows and becomes energetic? May the Lord Bless you. This is the 'Whole Truth, Nothing But The Truth' so God ! Help Us From The Beginning.

Once you read this letter you have to keep it going.
This game has been played since 1996.
You must send this letter to 7 people.
On the 5th day someone will ask you out or say 'I love you.'
This is! not a joke.
It has worked for many years.
If you break the chain,
you will have bad luck with guys/girls forever.
This is just for future readers.
This began in 1996,not much of a past, but it works.

So here are the rules:
If you read this on a Sunday, wish for a good week

If you read this on a Monday, wish for money

If you read this on a Tuesday, wish for love

If you read this on a Wednesday, wish for success

If you read this on a Thursday, wish for anything you want

If you read this on a Friday, wish for a really hot date

If you read this on a Saturday, wish for an important phone call

Send this to seven people (after you make a wish).

Make sure it is sent as soon as you read it or your wish won't come true.]]> http://www.acholiweb.com/blog/4/sex-according-to-pastor-khathide-ugandan/ Sat, 28 Apr 2012 09:12:47 +0000 Ocaya James TonTik