Raped at 6 years old by a 26 years old man: Denied justice

Akello (Not real name) was 6 years old when she was raped by a 26 years old man. Akello who lives with her 79 years old grandmother lost her father when the rebels attacked her village in Oyam District – Uganda in 2001. The little girl`s father was abducted by the Lord Resistance Army, he has never returned and the family does not know whether he is alive or dead. Akello`s mother was also abducted by the rebels, a week after her husband was abducted and Akello who was being looked after by her grandmother at the time, was left at eight (8) months old. One Sunday morning, on her way to collect water; the little girl was stopped by a man who asked her the whereabouts of the grandmother. Akello told this man her grandmother had gone to the market and will not be back until late. The man, the evil man then led Akello home to her grandmother`s house, raped her and left her unconscious. The man who was believed to be on drugs at the time went to his house, which was just about 50 metres away from Akello`s grandmother and he comfortably felt asleep.

When the grandmother later got home and discovered her little granddaughter in a pull of blood, she rushed her to the nearby health centre for medical attention. You will not want to know what happened from here onward, but I will tell you anyway. This poor little girl was refused medical attention by the health workers until her extremely poor grandmother pays 50,000 Uganda Shillings. The poor old woman did not have a coin, and she had no choice except to take the kid home. She later went to a nearby shop, and the shop-keeper was able to give her a few panadol to give to the little girl to relieve her of pain. That same afternoon, the old woman reported the matter to the nearby Police Post but she faced the same dilemma; the Police officers wanted her to pay 50,000 Uganda Shillings (for the ink and paper) because it is a raped case before they could take her statement. Again, she was blocked from Justice just like from serving her little grand daughter`s life at the health centre; how ugly!!
I was in church one Sunday morning when my hotline phone beeped (I was coordinating an SGBV project in Northern Uganda at the time); and I quietly walked out of church and called back. It was a call from The Local Councillor one (LC1 Chairperson) reporting a case of a little girl who was raped three (3) days ago and the situation is life threatening. I took the details of the girl, the location and immediately left with my driver plus one other social worker. After a few stops here and there to ask for direction to the home where the little girl was dying from pain; we finally got there. The first person we met was her grandmother who was standing outside in tears, and when I asked for the little girl; she silently pointed into a hut. What my eyes saw and the smell that filled the air is something that will remain with me forever. This little girl already got lots of other infections by this time and she was vomiting pus, yes pus. I still remember how I rushed out and sat behind the hut in tears, and in shock. My other colleague quietly rushed inside after me and immediately rushed out like she was being chased by a ghost from inside. We later put on protective gears and cleaned the little girl before taking her in my work car to Aber Health Centre where she was rushed into the emergency ward and surgery done. We later went to Aber Police Station and reported the case, but it was too late because this little girl`s infections had already caused lots of damages in her body. This sweet little angel survived but she has lost her womb and will never be able to have kids when she grows up. Meanwhile, the perpetrator who was loitering in the community and reluctant to run knowing nothing will happen to him considering the victim`s family is poor to afford anything; was later advised to disappear (we were informed he was warned by a police officer who he had bribed to ignore the case – the first police post the girl`s grandmother went). Until this moment, this little girl never received justice and the perpetrator is back in the community, a free man.

Unfortunately, there are many cases just like little Akello’s out there, and we need to rise up and stop it. We need to be that guardian angel, and stand up to protect vulnerable group of people like this little girl who are vulnerable to abuses. This Life Foundation is here to stand with these groups of people, to conduct education through schools, to document cases that has never known justice, and to be a voice. We need you on board, we need your voice, we need your support and we need your time to work towards stopping this unfairness among the poor. LET`S STOP THEM, STOP THEM!!

My first submission at the UN: The Misconception about the Karimojong of Uganda

TO: THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS Sub-Commission on the promotion and Protection of Human Rights Fifty-fifth session Working Group on Minorities Ninth session, 12-16 May 2003 The misconceptions about the Karimojong-Uganda Mr. Chairman, Thank you for giving me this opportunity to state my intervention. My name is, Miss Margaret Mercy Akongo, and I come from Karamoja region, in the northeastern part of Uganda. I am here to represent Tedwii Indigenous Women Development Organisation (TIDO). TIDO is a local non-government community based organisation that works with the indigenous people especially the women, youth and the elderly. We believe in youths, women and the elderly as active partners in conflict resolution and sustainable development. TIDO, which comprised of indigenous women, is to address everyday issues affecting women, children, elderly, and the disabled who are the vulnerable groups in Karamoja. I want to talk about internal and external aggressions in the region of karamoja. The Karamojong are a friendly, proud, and at times, fierce people. The Karimojong's lives had been very difficult for centuries---eking out an existence by raising cattle in such an hospitable region. Yet, amidst such a harsh environment, they were able to build a fairly stable and equitable society. However, this century brought the entrance of external forces that could not understand the world of the karimojong. They tried to squeeze the karimojong into the foreign and ill-fitting mould of their own cultures, and in the process, they disrupted the very fabric of karimojong society. Because of these foreign pressures, the Karimojong plunged headlong into cattle-raiding and even outright banditry. The outside world now views them as a backward and even violent people, not understanding that, what they now see is merely a caricature of the Karimojong culture, with all of its foibles exaggerated. Outsiders should stop trying to change the karimojong culture. For instance an incident that happened last year during the disarmament process where a group of the Karimojong women were forced to remove their traditional dressing in Moroto town by the Uganda People Defence Force (UPDF), and forcing them to abandon their traditional dressing which was so demoralising. The same groups of women were forced to swallow beads, which they always wear for decoration on their waist and around the neck. For instance the mother of David Pulkol, the Director of External Security Organisation, was one of those forced to swallow beads, and suffered medical problems. She had to be taken for medical attention she was put under intensive medical care. And yet, no one stands up to say something about this. This is a violation of the UN Declaration on Minorities, Article 1.1 on the right to cultural identity. Bad things that others do to the Karimojong - no one talk about it, but any slight thing that a Karimojong does is spread all over the world. Many times the lootings take place along karamoja routes and the karimojong are blamed for it when culprits are not caught. However, in many situations where the culprits are caught, they find out that they are not karimojong. This shows that many things that take place within Karamoja region are not all committed by the karimojong but since they are stereotyped as violent people, all the blame is on them. Why can’t this kind of injustice stop and the government instead establish innovative activities in Karamoja to develop the region? For instance, the disarmament process in karamoja, the government agreed on peaceful disarmament and the karimojong agreed to the process, but when the exercise begun, the process changed to brutality. People were treated brutality as they handed in the guns. When the warriors gave in the guns, they were still beaten and asked to give in another gun and sometimes the soldiers even destroyed the documents showing that they had already handed in the weapons, and they start demanding for another weapon. There was an Italian priest who was around one of the scene where the karimojong were being treated brutally and when he tried to intervene, the commander in charge ordered him to be taken away. The soldiers equally beat him and three days later, the soldiers murdered him on his way to Kampala because the government wished to hide the brutality inflicted on the Karimojong. The priest would have exposed the kind of torture the Karimojong community were facing in the hands of the merciless soldiers, and so what the soldiers did was to murder him. The Karimojong live in dry and infertile areas where farming is not possible. The only fertile land in the region has been turned into forest, game reserves and national parks. How then do they expect the Karimojong to survive? Where is justice in this situation? The Karimojong are even restricted from moving into other districts to graze their animals. It is their traditional culture to move seasonally to other areas where they can get water and pasture for their animals. The government promised to build Dams but up to now, it has failed to do this. The Karimojong are forbidden to go to other areas with their animals yet this restriction does not apply to all ethnic tribes in the country, violating Article 1 & 2, of UN Declaration on minorities and Article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ICCPR. Recommendations 1. The UN Working Group on Minorities should put pressure on the government of Uganda to protect the Karamoja people’s rights at all levels. 2. The Ugandan government should create jobs for the Karimojong for the development of Karamoja in order to reduce conflicts in the region. 3. The Government should remove the discriminative rules that have been given to the Karimojong not to enter other districts to graze their animals. The state should also get specialists to train the Karimojong on how to make hay for their animals so that their animals are able to survive within their territory. 4. The state should fulfil its promise to build dams for the karimojong so that they have adequate water resources. 5. The Government should implement all the provisions of the UN Declaration on Minorities and other UN human rights treaties for all minority groups in Uganda. Thank you. Intervention by: Margaret Mercy Akongo, Coordinator, Tedwii Indigenous Women Development Organisation (TIDO), Kotido District, Karamoja Region, Tel: 256 (0) 77 860529 E-mail : tido@tido.or.ug

Irene Gleeson ~ Lord Take Me Home

Death, many people fear the sound of it, many people would give anything to postpone it, others kill trying to avoid it, and those who lost loved ones are left with a load of pain that pierce so fiercely, a gap that can never be filled. When I lost my father last year, I asked the why question, the load of pain was bigger than me, and up to this moment that gap stands out. Why are we afraid of death? Is it because we are not sure of how we lived our life on earth? Have we served enough while we lived? Have we used the gifts given to us appropriately and for the good? Irene Gleeson, a woman who understood her position and responsibilities while she lived, a woman who decided to live her life fully, and left nothing for regrets on her final day wanted nothing, BUT TO GO HOME. Irene was a faithful servant; she did her job well and was ready to go home to her Father in heaven. She was not afraid of death because she knew who she was and where she was going. The question every single person should be asking is, how well am I living my life? Do I know who I am? Do I know where I will go after this life? How am I using the gifts given to me by God? Will i be able to say, “Lord Take me Home”? Irene Gleeson was ready, she lived her life well and left with no regrets, she wanted to go home.

Irene Gleeson and his Ugandan son, George Lubega (Exodus)

“I am on medication for pain, which makes me say, “Take me Home Lord”. But in my heart I know God`s word never lies so I choose to live and proclaim God`s good works” ~Irene Gleeson

Death should be a reminder to us, a time to reflect on our individual journeys and our responsibilities in the world that we live in. I wish I could say I am able to say right now, “Lord Take me Home” but I am not, except I know there is still a chance for me and any other individual out there, a U-Turn is allowed and will be celebrated above. We all have the opportunity to start all over again, to use our gifts appropriately and to bless those around us with our lives. http://www.irenegleesonfoundation.com/index.php

I have been inspired by this beautiful woman and I want to be able to say when the time comes; “Lord Take me Home”. Rest in eternal Peace Irene Gleeson xx

Goon Too Soon

It is exactly one (1) year since you passed on Dad, and we all miss you very much. We miss your counsel, love, joy, strength, courage and generally sitting under that favorite family tree playing games. We miss you reminding us to make an effort to get to know and connect with all our relatives…we admire your love for your family, friends and relatives. We miss your passion for your political party (UPC) under which, you served your country diligently to your last breath. I have learnt many things from you as your daughter (Mercy); and I will try my best to carry on your legend of love, service to others, unity, and friendship. You; a friend, a hero and the greatest father of all is missed by your children, relatives, the extended family you created and friends. Your departure left a big hole in our hearts; we all see and feel it and Dad; it will never be filled until we meet again. We are believing, hoping and are looking forward to that day; when we will see you again in glory. We miss our Dad and our friend. REST IN ETERNAL PEACE DAD xxx….X With much Love X **..From your children**.