Sunday morning was another early rise! We got up and drove to Gulu, a town in a neighboring district to Apac, where we will spend the next five days. This portion of the program is designed to give participants an accurate and balanced perspective on the situation today in Northern Uganda, as well as to examine health issues that face an area that is rebuilding itself in a post-conflict era.

We arrived and had a guest speak, Jimmy Otiem, a formerly abducted child soldier and also the current Northern Uganda representative to the International Crimes Court of the United Nations. Jimmy spoke to us about his experience being forced to fight with the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army; the rebel group that incited the conflict in the North) and his goals today in working towards peace and reconciliation. Jimmy was an inspirational speaker and a wonderful introduction to our time in the North!



The afternoon was spent exploring Gulu town, going to the market and seeing what is around in the town. Later, we were joined by our second group of Ugandan participants, who are all Northerners; some are students at Gulu University, and some are working towards peace and reconciliation in various NGOs in Gulu. The afternoon was spent getting to know each other and preparing for the rest of the week, and we are all looking forward to what is coming up!


Coming up…

Monday, August 13, 2007
Presentation/discussion: background of the conflict by Fabius Okumu, Gulu University Center for Conflict Management and Peace Studies
Presentation: Rebecca Lipman and Greg Hartman, The Lasting Psychological Effects of the Conflict on Northern Uganda
Presentation/discussion by The AIDS Support Organization

Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Panel addressing the health challenges particular to youth an women: Gulu Women’s Economic Development and Globalization, Information for Youth Empowerment Program
Gulu Regional Hospital visit with ReNUH

Wendesday, August 15, 2007
Mentorship program with various local NGOs