the Nile River flowing NW... |
out of Lake Victoria separates... |
LRA from government territory. |
crossing the Nile |
National park, just north |
of river is gorilla territory |
large male |
showing authority |
mother... |
with child |
Hotel, Gulu |
Meeting World Vision staff |
entering Gulu market |
shows signs of productive people |
and farm crops. |
|
But not all is well: |
Inhabitants of the countryside |
have been herded into |
crowded compounds... |
too crowded to make a living |
receiving less than needed food |
Not shown: the thousands of children who nightly walk from outlying homes to secure, walled compounds inside Gulu to avoid being kidnapped by the LRA and forced into roles as brutal soldiers, porters, or sex slaves. |
Figuring any blinding flash would only make their walk a bit harder, I took no photographs when we accompanied hundreds of 8-15 yr. olds as they walked a moonless evening along rutted roads to one of several such compounds where they sleep on plastic tarps. |
clothes drying at public hospital |
while inside the X-ray and |
dental equipment have been unusable for years |
Not shown: the private hospital we visited where, among many other tasks, they are attempting to save malnourished children. Out back are memorials for their health workers killed in the world's largest known Ebola virus outbreak, 2000-2001. |
Despite threat of execution if ever re-caught by the LRA, some children and their babies have escaped, or were freed when their particular marauding rebel band was captured by government forces. |
rehabilitation center for war children |
sponsored by World Vision |
We were welcomed by dance |
|
|
They told of brutal experiences, ...of having watched or been forced to beat, stomp, or hack others to death. We saw some deformed by, yet surviving, similar but failed attempts. One can only imagine how difficult rehabilitation is for them. |
Ben |
Group members tried to convey our support for their struggle... |
Scott |
Therese |
Ralph |
at refugee camp just south of Nile |
efforts abound |
to subsist by selling |
cooked food to travelers, |
phone service, |
and Coca Cola™. |
...awaiting a bus |
Links: back to Africa journey overview read more at World Vision view images of Kampala. |
Recent photos sent from Gulu by Frederick Ocaya Bese ocayafbese@yahoo.co.uk the talented Rotaract we met there who is seeking 1 or more sponsors towards Undergraduate study in Civil Engineering at the U of Missouri, Kansas City. Photos taken by Rotaractors Frederick, James and Harriet |
This PWD carries on |
his special tricycle his wife and their baby on her back |
going to St.Mary's Hospital at Lacor over 5 km from Gulu Town. |