Norah Fuathom had a choice to make. She could succumb to her impossible circumstances or she could try to rise above them. Norah is one of thousands of people whose relatives went missing during the course of conflicts that ravaged Uganda over the last 30 years. In Norah’s case, it was her son. After he was taken, she nearly lost her will to survive. Yet, through the dedicated efforts of AYINET, as well as others, she was able to find her strength and use that strength to help others in similar circumstances.
According to the Feinstein International Center, in a study done of Acholi and Lango groups in Uganda, 13% of households on average had a missing relative, amounting to between 64,000 and 99,000 people missing. As reported by AYINET, victims face many issues, including:
- Uncertainty whether relatives are living or dead;
- Stigmatization in the community by those who believe the missing are rebels;
- Lack of opportunity to give those thought dead a proper burial; and
- Mass graves with no means to identify bodies.
For the first time, the National War Victims’ Conference provided an opportunity for victims from all over the country to share their experiences and define ways to work together with the government to address some of their most critical issues.
To learn more about Norah Fuathom’s story, click here.