Early morning the following day we ate breakfast at the hotel which would be the only meal we could get during the day. The meal was bread, one boiled egg, a few pineapple slices and a banana. We had filled the cars with water bottles, juice and crackers since we would not be able to eat anything else during the day. We picked up the soldiers from the military camp in Karamoja and headed into the remote areas. Some of the soldiers accompanying us were fairly young and others not. They wore camouflaged clothing and had big riffles. The commander of the soldiers had been a soldier in Ida Amins army so regardless of age the soldiers were apparently trained very well. The military and police in Uganda strictly refuse to let you take pictures of them, but I managed to get one with the younger soldiers whilst the others got angry just seeing the camera. I engaged in a conversation with the younger soldiers asking them a few questions. They said they had killed several warriors but had also lost a few colleagues. They let me hold their rifle which was my first time to hold a weapon. When we drove up to the dam area where the construction was taking place it was just so dry, and nothing to be seen for miles. There were a few tents set up for the engineers and constructors and of course for the military staff. After a two hour discussion out in the burning sun and me getting sun struck we headed to meet the village people who would be relocated to the dam area when it would be finished. We could not take the soldiers with us to the village but left them behind in the dam camp. In every tribe there are men who are warriors and arriving to the village with soldiers is coming with the enemy. The soldier’s protection is only needed when travelling in case there would be fierce warriors ambushing the ADRA cars. However we were heading to a village which knew ADRA and liked the fact that ADRA was building a dam for them. So we did not need to fear that the warriors of that village would use their rifles on us. When arriving to the village which was a small area with a few huts, I was overwhelmed with all the children that came running towards us. They were happy to see us but most of all they were intrigued by the camera. I took pictures of the children and they were posing and laughing and were amazed by the fact that they could see themselves. I had to pretty much take pictures of them constantly to keep them entertained and if I didn’t I would feel bad since it was such a joy for them. I was truly swamped with children around me. They were so dirty and some of them just had a sheet wrapped around there bodies. Like one ADRA worker said, even if they would have liked to take a wash they can not since they have no water. I wanted to hug them all, but could not since they have so much of germs. My heart sank of the fact that they go through so much of suffering, but yet they have a smile on their face when seeing us. When meeting Kayobi, who is an ADRA fieldworker who has lived with them for three months, I was amazed. He has lived under extreme conditions for the welfare of others. Hats off for people like that. Kayobi lives in a dangerous area not knowing when a tribe war might break out, sharing a small hut with four other people. At night he is covered with rat spilling. He said it is tuff but he has got used to it. Thore told me that very few people wish to be in these conditions of extreme poverty and tribe wars but ADRA field workers do so in order to help the beneficiaries to help themselves. To reach sustainable development and change you can not just give them food and leave, but give them the knowledge and self worth to reach it themselves. Kayobi is teaching the children ABC and training the adults in agriculture, so that when they dam is built and they have received seeds and the knowledge to plant, they can keep it running by themselves. Even though I saw Kayobis hut I was not able to see any of the others, since in some of them rifles are being hidden. As said previously, the young men amongst the tribe are or have been warriors killing for cattle. However now they are given a possibility of a different lifestyle than killing for cow milk and blood.
We had a long drive ahead of us to get back home. Approximately 7 hours. Even though it was advised against driving home late at night, we all wanted to sleep in our own beds. The reason for not driving home late at night is that there are no lights on the side of the roads so it is pitch black. In Uganda they drive like crazy without any rules or regulations which also do not add to the safety factors. We drove pass a terrible car crash there a truck had smashed a car, and we saw blood on the side of the door, but the truck driver had just driven away and left the scene. Sad.
On the way home there were several security check points. We were stopped about ten times. The police at the checkpoints made a quick look in our cars and let us continue. There has been a political tension in Uganda ever since the presidential election was held a few weeks ago, and Moseveni came to power once again. However the opposition said that he had come to power through cheating and bribing. The opposition has said that they will not give in without a fight. Even though Musoveni is admired for toppling Idi Amins regime, he has been in power since 1986 which some think is too long. After what has happened in Egypt and Libya the concerns are greater. There are some speculations that the cell phones of people are tapped, and the security checkups have increased. Once my phone rang and an automatic voice mail was being played. It was the president holding a speech where he thanks for the election outcome and speaks of peace and unity.More measurements are set in to avoid riots. Nobody really knows if a revolution or a civil war will break out or not in Uganda but the concerns are there and the tension is getting higher. Just a day ago when Thore, Robin and I went to do some groceries, Siri called us. She had been informed there were severe riots and military force and for us not to head into town.
Despite all its conflicts, poverty, corruption, but also beauty, joy, and kindness I can only conclude that there is just something about Africa that touches the heart.
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