UGANDA: Lucy Lakot, "I can't believe I'm finally home"
GULU, 16 March 2009 (IRIN) - After 20 years in a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Gulu, northern Uganda, Lucy Lakot is back home, determined to succeed as a farmer. The mother of four has started rearing animals and cultivating land to plant crops for a new life. She spoke to IRIN on 13 March:
"The 20 years were so difficult. When I look back, I can't believe I am finally home with all my family.
"For me, 1998 was one of the bad years I will never forget; the rebels could attack Palaro IDP camp any moment and abduct children. We couldn't get out of the camp and we had to wait for food from the World Food Programme. My husband was abducted that year by the rebels but he managed to escape after a few days.
"I left Palaro IDP camp at the beginning of 2007. It was difficult to begin life at home but now we are fine. Life at home is sweet, thanks to the prevailing peace. We are free and have enough land to rear cows and goats and plant crops.
"My husband has 30 cows and 10 goats. We milk the cows early every day and we sell some milk to people coming from a nearby trading centre. Every day, we get at least 5,000 shillings [US$2.50]. We use part of the money to buy paraffin, salt, soap and medicine when a member of the family falls sick. We also use the money to buy books for the children.
"My husband has cultivated three hectares of land and I also cultivated one hectare in order to plant crops. We are waiting for the rains to start so we can plant maize, millet, groundnuts, cassava, sweet potatoes and beans.
"Everyone in the village is working hard to plant enough crops for food.
"After work, we sit around the fire till midnight. We tell our children stories of camp life and life before the displacement.
"We also teach them Acholi culture, traditional dances, riddles, stories and about the dangers of early marriage.
"I am happy that my children will have a good life at home; they will learn the Acholi culture of working hard and respecting people.
"Camp life had been so bad for children, they were so vulnerable to all forms of abuse.
"I pray that people will never go back to a camp.
"The LRA [Lord's Resistance Army] war should also be the last war in northern Uganda so that people can rebuild their lives.
"The problem in the villages is that we don't have good roads for children to reach their schools. During the rainy season, the valley gets filled up with water, making it risky for young children to cross while going to school.
"The government should help fix roads, build a bridge across the valley and construct a health centre so that we can live a better life."
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