William Bionx Akena, Uganda-CAN news correspondent in Gulu town, reports -

Barely half a year from the time they returned from the "bush," many ex-combatants are eager to catch up with the rest of the community on developmental issues of the region.

Emma [name changed for confidentiality], who was abducted in 1999 and returned two weeks ago with one child, claims that she was sent back by her husband, who is a leader in the LRA. Emma told Uganda-CAN that she is very concerned about the lives of those still back in the bush.

Emma further told Uganda-CAN that she is surprised with the level of development in the district despite the raging war in the outskirts between the rebels and army. "I see a safe home and a great degree of peace both within my self and on the faces of many people that I have met while back home. They have treated me nicely and I am calling on those still in the bush to surrender their arms. They cannot topple this government with the use of the gun, but rather should work through dialogue and negotiation."

Asked about the strength of the LRA, she simply said they have lost a lot of loved ones and that it is evident that the LRA is weak.

Stephen Okello, Uganda-CAN director of operations in Uganda, reports -

The past few days I spent in northern Uganda hit me with fresh realities of the war.

I was humbled by an Italian photographer, Giovenallo, who has decided to adopt Oneka, a formerly abducted child combatant who has spent the past seven years with the rebel Lord's Resistance Army. For all this time, Oneka has been a combatant. He now appears happy, and as I spoke to him we smiled at each other.

Before I met Oneka and his new mother, I walked past a shop and overheard a female voice trying to express how painful her chest had been for the last year. Unaware of my presence, she continued explaining that she had turned to prostitution in order to supplement the food her family receives from the UN World Food Program.

I turned to listen further, and asked her to tell me more about what was happening.

"This is my fate," she said. "I was starving and that turned me into a prostitute. Men should have some compassion; some clients have forced us to do unnatural acts. They some times beat us if we refuse to accept their demands. Most our clients are armed soldiers and gamblers. But there are good people among them too."

"Why did you resort to prostitution?" I asked again.

"My brother went into the military and has never come back, I last saw him in 2000. He joined as a home guard to protect civilians against the LRA, then one time they were taken away for training. But his friend has said that he was killed in the Congo. So being the big girl after him I took responsibility over the family of 20 children, some as young as 3 years. It turned out that the food we got from WFP was not enough for us. The soldiers around the camps have a lot of money, and they started giving out some to other big girls for sex. That is how I also started selling my body to the soldiers. Two of the men I have sleep with have since died, and I already have AIDS. But what worries me most is who will take care of my young children, brothers and sisters."

Thinking about Jennifer’s experiences as well as those of other innocent people going through untold suffering only confines my heart to more pain. It is a bleak future for my brothers and sisters in northern Uganda. Money meant to fight AIDS has already been mismanaged with massive corruption, people have been denied access to cultivate their God-given land, and a whole generation of children has lost out on the oppotunity to receive an education. The people are living a hopeless life. Who will restore their hope?

William Bionx Akena, Uganda-CAN news correspondent in Gulu town, reports -

Gulu district has recorded over seven thousand people with mental disorders in the past year.

Gulu psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Okello Oyok has confirmed this to Uganda-CAN, noting that data collected between June and July demonstrates that seven thousand, three hundred and forty-one men, women and children in the district are afflicted by mental illness.

He revealed that most of these patients have become sick because of consistent use of drugs, tobacco, or alcohol, though retardation and disorders developed at a young age have also caused many of the cases of mental illness in Gulu. Substance abuse is more prevalent in Uganda's northern region than elsewhere in the country; the effects of war have left much of the population without livelihood and with psychological trauma to confront.

William Bionx Akena, Uganda-CAN news correspondent in Gulu town, reports -

The army has reported to have killed nine Lord's Resistance Army rebels in its general operations in southern Sudan and northern Uganda this week.

This was revealed Saturday during a press conference by the army spokesman Captain Paddy Ankunda. Captain Ankunda said five rebels were killed in Bin Rwot in southern Sudan, while the four others were killed in Atanga in Pader district and Padibe West in Kitgum district.

He further told Uganda-CAN that the Uganda People's Defense Forces had intensified its operations to arrest and kill the rebels both in southern Sudan and northern Uganda.

From Maggie Alerotek, Uganda-CAN correspondent on the ground--

Situated about three miles northeast of Gulu lie the imposing and grey Laroo Rocks, now a source of livelihood for hundreds of Gulu dwellers. For many, children in particular, the life of rock-breaking is difficult. Yet it is here that they work their hands to the bone every weekend under the scorching sun to make ends meet.

As the dawn breaks on Saturday mornings, the children find their way to the quarry works from various sleeping centers for night commuters. By 8AM the workplace becomes a beehive of activity for men, women and little children alike. With emptiness in their stomachs, they toil restlessly. (Continued)

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From William Bionx Akena, Uganda-CAN correspondent--

4000 people die of diseases in Acholi sub-region every week, reports the Gulu District chairman. Conflict in the region prevents the delivery of effective health mechanisms.

The chairman, Colonel Walter Ochora Odoch, was yesterday closing a one day biannual meeting for sub-county leaders at the district council hall.

He said reports from the World Health Organization indicated that malaria was the major killer in the region, followed by HIV/AIDS, and diarrhea.

Malarial cases are rampant especially amongst infants and pregnant mothers, whose level of immunity is low. The primary means of combatting malaria, by utilizing treated mosquito nets, remains out of reach for many of the rural poor, even at subsidized rates.

Uganda-CAN is excited to announce, in conjunction with GuluWalk and many other committed groups, that October 22 has been set as the date for solidarity walks throughout the world to highlight the plight of child "night commuters" and call for more aggressive, sustained international attention and action to end the war in northern Uganda. Walks are already being planned for Toronto, Washington D.C., Boston, London, Berlin, Kampala, Gulu and more. More details about the Global Gulu Walk and how to start a walk in your community will come over the course of this week.

Special Tags: Gulu Walk (What's this?)

William Bionx Akena, Uganda-CAN correspondent on the ground in Gulu, reports -

Rebels of the Lords Resistance Army have again lost several fighters in fierce battle at the border of Uganda and Sudan.

The army said ten rebel fighters were killed in the battle which was backed by helicopter gunships in the area called Waligo in Palabek Sub County west of Kitgum.

Public Relations Officer for northern Captain Paddy Ankunda said one of the rebels is suspected to be a top LRA commander yet to be identified. Ankunda said a team of former LRA fighters have been driven to the scene of the battle to identify him. He added that the army captured five SMGs and several rounds of ammunitions.

This is the third rebel commander to be killed in the past few months if the report is confirmed.

William Bionx Akena, Uganda-CAN news correspondent in Gulu town, reports -

The Ugandan army reports that it has killed one of Joseph Kony's right-hand commanders in a battle today at Okinga in Laguti sub-country in Pader district. The coordinator of Operation Iron Fist, Colonel Charles Otema Awany confirmed this to Uganda-CAN today, identifying the LRA commander as Major Odong Murefu. He was shot dead by UDPF soldiers yesterday afternoon. Colonel Otema further said that five LRA fighters surrendered earlier yesterday afternoon in Ongako.

William Bionx Akena, Uganda-CAN news correspondent in Gulu town, reports -

The army today reported that they had killed a notorious LRA Lieutenant-Colonel, identified only as Ogur, in Kitgum District. Army spokesman Captain Paddy Ankunda told Uganda-CAN this morning that Lt. Col. Ogur was moving with escorts who managed to escape when Ogur was killed.

The incident happened six kilometers outside Kitgum town at Okidi. Two rifles were recovered in the incident and Lt. Col. Ogur's body is now laying in Kitgum government hospital.

William Bionx Akena, Uganda-CAN news correspondent in Gulu town, reports -

A community assessment, conducted from May 23-25 of this year in Gulu municipality, revealed that there were 524 children in Gulu who have tested positive for HIV. This assessment was compiled into a report by Dr. George Openytho of Gulu regional referral hospital. The report further states that only 65 of these children are on ARV medicine.

The report was presented yesterday at Sunset Hotel in Gulu town by Health Alert-Uganda, a local community-based NGO supporting children living with HIV/AIDS in Gulu district. Health Alert-Uganda coordinator, Mr. Ochora Michael, told Uganda-CAN that they had secured funding from Save the Children in Uganda that will help them to begin addressing these serious health problems facing children in war-torn northern Uganda.

William Bionx Akena, Uganda-CAN news correspondent in Gulu town, reports -

Three LRA fighters surrendered to UPDF soldiers yesterday morning including one Second Lieutenant at Ongako sub-county in Omoro county, Gulu district. The Second Lieutenant was identified as Patrick Okema, who has been fighting in the bush since 1995 when he abducted from his home in Goma sub-country in Gulu district.

Speaking to Uganda-CAN, Okema said he was in the group of the late Brigadier Opiro Anaka who was killed on 22 July 2005 during a mission to look for food.

Northern region army spokesman Captain Paddy Ankunda called on rebels still in the bush to come out so that they are not killed by the UPDF. Ankunda said that UPDF soldiers have intensified their operations and he called on the population to work closely with the army.

William Bionx Akena, Uganda-CAN news correspondent in Gulu town, reports -

A UPDF soldier identified as Otile Godfrey was shot Monday in Ania Village, Oyam South, Apac District. Reports say the soldier entered an ambush staged by UPDF soldiers after a group of LRA rebels attacked the village a few hours earlier.

It is reported that the rebels abducted six people, yet three were rescued.

William Bionx Akena, Uganda-CAN news correspondent in Gulu town, reports -

After nearly two decades of the Lord's Resistance Army's invasion of northern Uganda, many escaped abductees of the LRA still have mixed feelings on whom to blame: the rebels or the government.

Emma [name changed for confidentiality], a 25-year-old mother of three, was captured by the LRA in 1991 and just returned from the "bush" one week ago. She spoke about her ordeal and experience to Uganda-CAN.

Over all these years, Emma never participated in frontline fights, however she constantly felt the heat after losing loved ones on the battle fields. Emma said that she was treated with respect and dignity as a child and then as a mother in the LRA. "I never had intentions of coming back from the bush because I was being treated nicely."

Yet, when further asked why she would not want to leave the rebel group, Emma said that she was told that everyone who comes back is killed by government troops. Emma's perceptions highlight the mistrust that makes peace so elusive in northern Uganda. Emma further spoke with anger that government troops had shot one of her friends in the bush.

When asked about the issue of rebel collaborators, Emma claimed such talk to be military propaganda. She said she never witnessed any collaborator apart from certain people who would deliver food to them occassionally.

Finally, Emma said she was sorry for all the atrocities committed by the LRA against innocent civilians, though she had no powers to stop it.

Emma's account highlights the wide range of perceptions and stories that make communication, trust and objectivity so difficult in the war zone of northern Uganda.

William Bionx Akena, Uganda-CAN news correspondent in Gulu town, reports -

One of the LRA commanders yesterday surrendered to UPDF soldiers at Pajimo Bridge headquarters in Kitgum district.

Northern region army spokesman Captain Paddy Ankunda confirmed this to Uganda-CAN today, reporting the officer gave himself to the UDPF because he found no further cause for the war. Ankunda further reported that a second lieutenant of the LRA was killed last night at Kinene in Gulu District.

William Bionx Akena, Uganda-CAN news correspondent in Gulu town, reports -

A shoe cobbler was shot dead by security forces on Tuesday night at Palenga internally-displaced peoples' camp along the Gulu-Kampala road. The incident happened at about 11:00 pm at Palenga camp.

According to the Gulu district police commander, the man was shot dead near his house/hut in the camp. He was showered by several bullets and died instantly. The district police commander said inquiries are being carried out into the death.

When Uganda-CAN contacted the Captain Paddy Ankunda on the phone, he said that the man was shot while trying to enter the camp much later than the times when IDPs are expected to be inside the confines. The captain said the family of the deceased would be facilitated with the necessary arrangements for burial.

However, controversy looms over the death. Many locals claim the man was picked out of his hut by the army and killed in cold blood. The man was a vocal critic of army human rights abuses against the vulnerable peoples within the camp.

The case highlights the mistrust between the UPDF forces and the people they are responsible for protecting in the IDP camps of northern Uganda.

William Bionx Akena, Uganda-CAN news correspondent in Gulu town, reports -

The UPDF reported that 4 LRA fighters were killed Tuesday when mobile troops were combing for rebels in Lacic Village in Kitgum District.

The northern army spokesman Captain Paddy Ankunda told Uganda-CAN that the incident happened yesterday and during the battle, at least one LRA lieutenant was killed.

The captain added that one abductee was rescued during the battle and a number of weapons were recovered.

In a related incident, three abductees were rescued in Laliya Parish, Bugatira sub-country some three kilometers outside of Gulu town during a night UPDF operation.

The mass abduction of children in northern Uganda severely complicates operations in northern Uganda, clouding the line between victims and fighters.

William Bionx Akena, Uganda-CAN news correspondent in Gulu town, reports -

On Monday, UPDF soldiers from the 5th Division rescued a woman and her child shortly after they were abducted by the LRA rebels from their gardens.

According to the 5th divison public relations officer Lt. Deo Akiki, the incident happened in Apala about twenty kilometers east of Lira town.

Lt Akiki told Uganda-CAN yesterday in a telephone interview that the woman and her daughter were abducted and ordered by the rebels to take them where they could get food.

Instead, the woman led the rebels to an army detach and started shouting for help, prompting the rebels to flee.

The will and courage to survive among people in northern Uganda is inspiring, if not hopeful.

From Uganda-CAN correspondent, William Bionx Akena, reporting from Gulu -

The death of the Sudanese Vice President HE John Garang in a crash yesterday in a Ugandan helicopter north of Kidepo Valley and the announcement of the news by the BBC took Gulu by shock.

The Sudanese community in Gulu are in shock and full of anger about the death of the man they saw as their hero in liberating southern Sudan from the despotic northern Sudanese Arab rule.

Peter Adeng, a Sudanese national and resident of Gulu town, told Uganda-CAN: "Our efforts for the last 21 years has all gone to waste now and we don't know if there will ever be peace in southern Sudan again."

The general situational mood in Gulu town is quite gloomy. When asked about the situation, Charles Akena, a journalist in Gulu, said, "I think the peace processes in northern Uganda and southern Sudan are already a failure because of the death of this powerful man."

Most of the people interviewed expressed sadness in their eyes for the death of one of Africa's most powerful leaders. Many fear that the death of Garang will halt the peace agreement in Sudan, and potentially create a new quagmire in southern Sudan that will definitely affect prospects for peace in northern Uganda.