On a different note, the ceasefire in Northern Uganda is in the middle of collapsing. There has been a ceasefire since July of 2006 with a concerted effort at peace negotiations, but that is changing.
When I was there over Christmas time, it was a relief to see people finally returning to their land after years of being holed up in Internal Displacement Camps. In 2006, there were 1.8 million people living in these camps without access to life’s basic necessities. There are still over 1 million stuck in the camps- that is what my project this summer is about- But now, with the potential of renewed conflict, I just think of the newly returned and wonder if they will be forced once again into the camps. Camp life and a 22 year conflict has taken a serious toll, not only in costing lives (in 2006, over 1000 people were dying in the camps every week), but also on the Acholi culture as a whole.
