The War in Uganda Essays

The War in Uganda Essays The War in Uganda Essay The War in Uganda Essay The War in Uganda â€Å"We make war that we may live in peace. † This is a quote that the famous Aristotle said but is this always true? The civil war that is currently going on in Uganda is a case that the war being made is not so the people can live in peace, but rather live in a country that is completely divided. The war in Uganda is driving the people of this country to vast extremes and far away from peace. Throughout this war, it has always been the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) against the government which causes more heart breaks and separation. But who is the LRA consisting of? How are the people of Uganda being affected? Can a country like this ever live in a state of peace? Is there anything that we, as Americans, can do? Are you wondering what happen in Uganda that started this ever-lasting war? Well it can be traced back to a woman named Alice Lakwena. (Invisible Children) Lakwena claims that the â€Å"holy spirit† came to her one night and told her to over throw the Ugandan government. After saying such an outrageous thing like this, the Ugandan government exiled her, and this is when things started to take a turn for the worse. A man by the name of Joseph Kony would become Lakwena’s understudy and would now pick up where she had left off, only this time the Ugandan government would not be strong enough to exile him. Kony claims that he was possessed by spirits, the same spirits that had â€Å"talked† to Lakwena soon before this. War would officially be on the horizon. Kony soon became hated by many, even by Lakwena. But if he was Lakwena’s understudy then why would she hate him? This is because the vision that Lakwena had was to over throw the government, not to kill the citizens of Uganda. Kony had officially made his own plan and nothing was going to stop him or get in his way. Imagine one day you and your sister are running around your village, your mom is making dinner in your hut, and your dad has been working all day to support the family. Things seem fine until the LRA come rampaging into your village; they kill your mother and father, rape your sister, and kidnap and force you to be a part of their army. This is what has been going on for almost thirty years, that’s Africa’s longest running war. But who is the LRA and how do they have so much power? The LRA is an army that Kony himself created. Their values were based on those that came from many sources, Christianity, Mysticism, various African faiths, and witchcraft. Kony took it upon himself to do everything in his power to make sure that the Ugandan government would be overruled. (Invisible Children) But wait, a man that was hated by many has an army that has caused a thirty-plus year war? How is this possible? Remember the fact I said about how they â€Å"kidnapped you and made you fight for them† well it turns out the 90% of the LRA are abducted children; this is how Kony supplies his army. This has brought nothing but devastation to Uganda as a whole. What is this doing to the country as a whole? Well the government forced the citizens of Uganda to evacuate their villages and homes and move to displacement camps where they would be safe. (Global Security) Although this was a step in the right direction, the children of Uganda have to walk over 3 miles to shelters just so they do not become yet another number added to the LRA. Another issue that has caused a serious state of depression and desperation is that these camps were, and still are, in horrible conditions where everyone is packed in like sardines. World Vision) How are the people of Uganda being affected? Just imagine your child being abducted and then coming back to your village and being told that he/she will be killed if they don’t kill you. After a while this would take a beating on one’s health and well being. Again one has to ask, can a country that seems to be centralized by war ever have p eace? Peace? Does Uganda even know what this word means anymore? Can and will there ever be peace again? As time goes by, year by year, Uganda is slowly inching closer to total peace. Since 2008, there have been many peace attempts, but full peace has not yet been achieved. The United States is finally taking action and realizing that this war must stop, not just for the sake of humanity but for the sake of the world’s peace. (Global Security) With the help of the United States and support from thousands and thousands of people who are involved in an organization called ‘Invisible Children’ (which does nothing but work with the Ugandan government to advance peace talks and treaties), the peace treaties are becoming more and more realistic. One has to be realistic and think can the LRA and the Ugandan government exist in the same proximity? Considering there have already been so many attempts at peace treaties, I think that sooner or later they will be able to live in harmony together again. Kony is realizing that he is vastly losing support and members of his army. One can clearly see that the war in Uganda can be ended and stopped for good, but it will take time and patients. The citizens of Uganda, excluding those involved in the LRA mean well and want what is best for their country as a whole. We, as Americans, can show our support for this country in need and show them that we will not walk away and act like this is not happening. Just think if you were in their shoes, no family, no clean water, packed in so tightly into a hut, and being forced to live in fear; wouldn’t you want someone to come and help you! This is a picture of a young boy who is in the LRA This is a picture of one of the displacement camps†¦. notice all the small cramped huts! These are members of the LRA planning where they will invade next.