Uganda Rising: Beating the Odds of Survival
The film, Uganda Rising gave a historical overview of the beginnings of the civil war between Uganda’s Museveni (President) and the Lords Resistance Army (LRA), headed by Joseph Kony. The LRA, formed in 1987, is a rebel paramilitary group operating in northern Uganda. The group has waged civil war in Uganda since 1987. The civil war has its beginnings in in the division of Uganda by the British with the Berlin Conference of 1884-5. The Banta in the South were designated to be civil servants and the Acholi and Langa in the North who were designated to serve as the military. During the early years of Uganda’s independence the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank loaned Uganda money. Structural Adjustment Programs were instituted as a way for Uganda to pay the loans back. The film reviewed the problems of fighting the LRA, maintaining Uganda citizen’s civil rights while living in “protective custody” camps and child soldiers. The nightly abduction of children was also addressed. Some of the outcomes of the civil war: 25,000 child soldiers, and thousands who are in need of rehabilitation (mental, and physical) were graphically presented.
AFSC staff, Debra Calhoun and committee members, D.J. Atchison and Frances Perkins, and several AFSC volunteers were available to answer questions about the Red Hot Embers exhibit and greet the attendees. Collaborating with the Independent Film Festival was a wonderful opportunity to help widen AFSC’s network.
