Northern Uganda: Sustainable Peace Requires Broader Support From Key International Players

Concerned U.S. citizens join a global campaign, stepping out for peace for northern Uganda’s children.

September 2007

In response to the prayers of millions, peace may finally be on the horizon for the people of northern Uganda. Ongoing negotiations between the Ugandan government and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebel group present the best opportunity yet to end the 21-year conflict — a conflict that has displaced an estimated 1.3 million people and turned more than 25,000 children into soldiers, sex slaves, or both.

U.S. Citizens to Show Support Through GuluWalk

On Oct. 20, thousands of American advocates will demonstrate their commitment to northern Uganda's children by participating in the third annual GuluWalk. World Vision is a supporting organization of the Guluwalk.

Last year, an estimated 16,000 U.S. citizens from 45 cities participated in the Walk. Worldwide, some 30,000 people in 82 cities and 15 different countries took to the streets to raise awareness about the crisis.

The format of the event varies from city to city. Most GuluWalks incorporate a rally where participants hear from a speaker or view a multimedia presentation before or after the march. Some of the Walks also include a prayer vigil for the children and families affected by the crisis.

An Expression of Solidarity

Named after the Gulu district in northern Uganda, the Walk is intended to be an expression of solidarity with the "night commuters" — the 40,000 children who traveled or "commuted" as far as 10 miles every night to avoid abduction by the LRA during the height of the conflict. The children would stream into city centers and gather on the streets, storefront porches, school and hospital yards, or in rough shelters, with no food and little sleep — all to keep from being kidnapped and forced to fight by the LRA. Thankfully, the need for this practice has been greatly reduced as a result of the ongoing negotiations and relative peace in the area.

Once known as the breadbasket of Uganda, Gulu was the region where much of the fighting took place. It is now one of the poorest regions of the country.

The annual event was inspired by the actions of two Canadians, Adrian Bradbury and Kieran Hayward, who walked nightly in Toronto for 31 days in July 2005, imitating the lifestyle of the night commuters to raise awareness about the conflict.

"With increased security in the region and peace talks that are making progress, there is real reason for optimism in northern Uganda," explains Bradbury. "That being said, this is no time to relax. Now, more than ever, our voices need to be heard and our attention must not waver from the impact this conflict continues to have on a generation of children who have never known peace."

International Support Needed at the Negotiating Table

The talks have already led to increased humanitarian access and expanded freedom of movement for displaced people. However, World Vision and other organizations engaged in advocacy maintain that the negotiating parties are unlikely to achieve a durable agreement without strong international support, especially from the U.S. government.

Although there is an emerging peace process that is supported by the United Nations and the European Union, statements made by the United States in support of the talks are considered lukewarm by nongovernmental organizations, and the U.S. government has only engaged in discussion with one of the two negotiating parties.

The negotiations have remained fragile due to lingering mistrust and lack of diplomatic priority. Given this unprecedented opportunity for peace, the international community has a critical role to play in building confidence and bringing leverage to the negotiations, say nongovernmental organizations that are following the peace process.

"The U.S. government has the capacity to expedite modest diplomatic and humanitarian resources, which could impact millions of innocent children and families," says Rory E. Anderson, World Vision's senior policy advisor for Africa.

Thousands Say 'No Child Soldiers'

Some 37,000 citizens also have expressed outrage at the blithe acceptance of this tragedy by the international community by adding their names to World Vision's "No Child Soldiers" Declaration.

The declaration states: "As parents, people of faith, students, and youth, we urge all parties involved in this conflict to find a peaceful resolution. We implore the United States government, the United Nations, and the international community to work diligently to bring peace and protection to the children of northern Uganda."

World Vision's goal is to acquire 100,000 signatures. The declaration will then be presented to Congress and the president to press for more effective action to protect Uganda's children from this kind of abuse and to help bring peace to the broader region.