Uganda is comprised of many tribes, the dominant ones are the Luo and Bantu.The Luo (Acholi) are the people in northern Uganda who were disturb by the LRA (Lords Resistance Army) for more than 25 years. Many people were killed, displaced and forced to go and stay in camps. Here is Abalo sharing her story.
It was not by dream that I live up to now. My husband died innocently at a time of the LRA war. He was slaughtered like a chicken in front of me by the LRA soldiers in 1996. As a women, I couldn’t do anything. I begged them to have mercy but it didn’t work. I watch him dying silently without saying a word of good-bye.
I was traumatized, his face kept appearing in my eyes. Shortly after, I ran mad where I was detained in mental unit for month. Doctors of different levels attended to help recovering my memory and thanks to God, their treatment was successful. My children suffered during that period because there was nobody who could support or provide food to eat. My daughter Mercy would work tirelessly to make sure the younger brother’s could at least eat. She would weed people gardens in order to get money to buy food.
A month later after my discharge from the hospital, the situation became worse in the village. There were too many massive killings and people could not live in their homes without fear of being killed. We moved and settled in Alera camp in Anaka Amuru district. For the year we were in the camp, we struggled to live. But all the same there was nothing we can do by then so in July 2000 we left camp and came to town with my Aunt Akello Jacky. We lived together with her for two years. She was a good women but her husband used to complain a lot about our presence at his home. In 2003 I was able to start renting alone.
Finally, early last year one of my best friends came and called me to go to training organized by THRIVEGulu in their group (Larem Ber Womens Group). I told her that I’m not a member of the group but she insisted and we went. The training was about how to be in the group which is the main theme I mastered. It was so encouraging, I found myself joining the group. Now one year has passed by. I have saved money, started a small restaurant business, and I love it. My plan with time I will also drive like my fellow women who had gone to school. My vision is to let my children excel in their education.
