Uganda: The ambiguity of disappearance

28-08-2013 Photo gallery

Between 1986 and 2006, some 75,000 people were abducted in northern Uganda. The fate of several thousand remains unknown, with the ICRC estimating that more than 12,000 may still be missing. Their families live in uncertainty, unable to truly mourn, hoping they may return. An ICRC programme has been helping them cope with their pain and move forward. On 21 August, 500 people attended a remembrance ceremony in the village of Kamama.

- Kamama, Palabek Gem Subcounty, northern Uganda. 21 August 2013.
  Families react to hearing the names of their missing relatives during a remembrance ceremony for abductees. Distress has left many families isolated, unable to talk about their situation and suffering discrimination from those who believe they are involved with the abductors.
  © ICRC / P. Moore / v-p-ug-e-00382
- Kamama, Palabek Gem Subcounty, northern Uganda. 20 August 2013.
  Ator Cecilia (62) in her kitchen. Her three sons were abducted in 1996 as they were working in the family's field. In 2013, the ICRC launched a programme to help people cope with this kind of ambiguous loss. "The project helped me to change my life emotionally," says Mrs Cecilia. "In the groups I was strengthened, I learnt a lot of coping mechanisms, we shared things."
  © ICRC / P. Moore / v-p-ug-e-00392
- Kamama, Palabek Gem Subcounty, northern Uganda. 20 August 2013.
  Schoolgirls cut grass outside Kamama Church. In the 1990s, many children were abducted from this area as they walked to school, worked in the fields or simply while they were at home.
  © ICRC / P. Moore / v-p-ug-e-00372
- Kamama, Palabek Gem Subcounty, northern Uganda. 20 August 2013.
  Sabina Aling (72) sits with other families of missing persons outside Kamama Church. In 1997, two of her teenage sons, Ochaya Charles and Richard Loum, were abducted as they returned from the fields. She has heard nothing of them since that day. Mrs Aling now participates in group sessions where people learn to come to terms with this ambiguous loss of family members.
  © ICRC / P. Moore / v-p-ug-e-00394
- Kamama, Palabek Gem Subcounty, northern Uganda. 20 August 2013.
  A child runs through the village. Many children were abducted from this area during the 1990s.
  © ICRC / P. Moore / v-p-ug-e-00395
- Kamama, Palabek Gem Subcounty, northern Uganda. 20 August 2013.
  Karamela Olaka (53) (left) and Sabina Aling (72) (left) had children abducted in 1993 and 1997 respectively. They have had no news of their sons since then. Earlier this year, the ICRC launched a programme to help people cope with the distress of this ambiguous loss.
  © ICRC / P. Moore / v-p-ug-e-00396
- Kamama Church, Palabek Gem Subcounty, northern Uganda. 21 August 2013.
  Doreen Aol (30) is an "accompanier" for an ICRC programme helping people deal with the ambiguous loss of not knowing what has happened to an abducted relative. "My brothers were abducted, but they came back," she recalls. This experience was part of the reason for her wanting to help families with missing relatives. Not all families recognised that they had problems dealing with the distress. "They had developed negative coping mechanisms," explains Mrs Aol. "Some were spending all day in the fields to avoid contact, while others turned to alcohol."
  © ICRC / P. Moore / v-p-ug-e-00397
- Kamama, Palabek Gem Subcounty, northern Uganda. 21 August 2013.
  Women prepare food for a ceremony to remember abductees. The ceremony helped create unity between affected families and the wider community.
  © ICRC / P. Moore / v-p-ug-e-00398
- Kamama, Palabek Gem Subcounty, northern Uganda. 21 August 2013.
  A woman who had a family member abducted repeats their name to the community during a remembrance ceremony. Many of those who spoke repeated the phrase "If they are alive, God shall return them; if they are dead, then may God let them rest in eternal peace."
  © ICRC / P. Moore / v-p-ug-e-00381
- Kamama, Palabek Gem Subcounty, northern Uganda. 21 August 2013.
  Mike Atube, the Protection Field Officer for the ICRC in Kitgum, wears a badge representing "missing persons" during a remembrance ceremony for abductees. Mr Atube runs the ICRC's accompaniment programme in Palabek Gem Subcounty.
  © ICRC / P. Moore / v-p-ug-e-00402
- Kamama, Palabek Gem Subcounty, northern Uganda. 21 August 2013.
  Camilla Matteucci, protection coordinator for the ICRC in Uganda, speaks to Omal Christopher, the chairman of the organizing committee for four groups participating in the ICRC's "Helping the Families of Missing Persons" programme, following a remembrance ceremony for abductees.
  © ICRC / P. Moore / v-p-ug-e-00383
- Kamama, Palabek Gem Subcounty, northern Uganda. 20 August 2013.
  Atoya Vincent (50) with two of his sons, Akena Kenneth (13) (left) and Kilama Colin (10) (centre). In 1999, an armed group abducted Mr Vincent along with his four brothers, but he escaped. The group killed three of his brothers in reprisal for his escape, and also killed his parents. His sister blamed him for their deaths and his remaining brother is still missing. He feels that the ICRC counselling sessions have made the community "more receptive to us, as families of missing persons." At today's prayer ceremony, he saw his sister. "She put forward her hand and we greeted each other. This never happened before," he said. "From the expressions I read on her face today, there are positive changes ahead. It is the prayers that give hope."
  © ICRC / P. Moore / v-p-ug-e-00384
- Kamama, Palabek Gem Subcounty, northern Uganda. 21 August 2013.
  People queue for a meal at a remembrance ceremony for abductees.
  © ICRC / P. Moore / v-p-ug-e-00404
- Kamama, Palabek Gem Subcounty, northern Uganda. 21 August 2013.
  Members of the community talk after a remembrance ceremony for abductees.
  © ICRC / P. Moore / v-p-ug-e-00405
- Kamama, Palabek Gem Subcounty, northern Uganda. 20 August 2013
  Schoolchildren lean on the bonnet of an ICRC vehicle. In the 1990s, many children from this area were abducted. In 2013, the ICRC launched a programme aimed at helping people cope with the pain of not knowing whether a missing relative is dead or alive.
  © ICRC / P. Moore / v-p-ug-e-00371