[Ugnet] Blaming Spirits for IDP Burning Huts

The 19-year-old insurgency in northern Uganda, which continues to inflict unbearable pain on the people. Indeed as many say, it is the most forgotten human tragedy, and the world needs to pay more attention before the whole Acholi generation is wiped off planet earth.

As though the poverty, displacements, diseases, rape, murder and torture that haunt the people aren't problems enough, their congested makeshift grass thatched 'homes' are being consumed by fire caused by the high humidity in the dry seasons. Thousands have been left 'homeless' and now take refuge on the dirty compounds of the IDP camps.

The wet seasons threatening to take control will yet be another thorn in the IDPs' flesh!

The dwellers of Parabongo and Pabbo IDP camps both on Atyiak-Nimuli 32km and 45 km respectively are examples of IDPs whose lives are being hardened by a fire that doesn't give a damn to their heart-rending sufferings.

CAMP ABLAZE: Fires break out spontaneously with no known cause (Photo by Maggie A. Aloyo).

We headed to Pabbo IDP camp, and arrived at Parabongo IDP camp, only to be welcomed by smoking, roofless makeshift shelters! Children, women and men were all over the place, with hands over their heads in anguish. A group of young men were standing nearby, waiting to rescue any property of a hut befallen of a fire.

Already 10 huts had been burnt down in the early hours of the day, and we were to witness the burning of a few more. Reasoning with them that natural forces like too much heat could be the cause of the fire was fruitless. They assured us that they have always made sure nothing that could cause a fire, like hot ash or matches, were left unattended to before leaving the huts, but in the end fire just ate up the huts.

"We have every reason to believe that evil spirits cause the fire. Three huts burn in less than a minute from different parts of the camp. And they start burning from inside and they happen to belong to those whose owners are not around. Just wait a few more minutes and decide whether we are making up these stories or not", says Vincent Komakech, a local leader.

Though it sounded crazy, the pleasure was all ours to wait, and like an answer to a prayer, a hut just next to us that was locked up, began to burn! First there was smoke inside the hut and then fire. Everyone just stood and watched, afraid to do anything due to the belief that it was the spirits of the dead at work, and they feared upsetting them. Since the owners of the huts themselves were not around, all their property went up in smoke.

"This is really incredible," was all the News Corps journalists could say!

Christine Oroma and Mark Okumu, occupants of one of the huts that got burnt in our presence, have four children. Christine was looking for food while Mark was in the trading center waiting for any opportunity to lift luggage for travellers to earn some money. When they arrived at the scene, only sadness and bitterness greeted them.

Christine broke down in tears and Mark, being a man, fought in vain to hide his emotions. The children stood beside their parents crying helplessly probably imagining how they will cope in the cold with no blanket to cover their bodies that barely have clothes.

"This war has to end because we can't go on suffering as though we are on a foreign land. With my hut burnt down, where will my children sleep? In the cold outside where we may get killed? Please someone must help us," lamented Mark tearfully.

According to the vice chairman of the camp, Vincent Okumu, 7,000 huts have been mysteriously burnt since January 2005. The inhabitants believe that it's the spirits of their fellow men who died in the cruel war punishing them. The people now sleep outside in the cold. They say even outside they are fearful of being burnt in their sleep.

"Bringing us here in the camps has brought us too many problems. This war is a curse on us. We are paying for the sins we never committed. We have to go back to our homes with or without permission. We can't take anymore of these problems," says Ladit Philipo.

When one comes face to face with the sufferings of the people, that is when things come into perspective. Fire is just one of their problems. Recently the camp was hit by a cholera epidemic. Wilson Kilara, the camp leader said that many people lost their lives due to the epidemic - besides the hunger and continued abductions and murders in and around the camp.

We left the camp for Pabbo as the Norwegian Refugees Council (NRC) was registering the people who would receive blankets and saucepans.

The situation at Pabbo presented no better consolation either! The sorrowful look in the eyes of the people was enough to tell that they were under no better condition. Eujenio Odoki, the camp leader narrated to us how fire destroyed four huts in thirty minutes. They too believed some kind of evil spirits were doing that to them.

"People keep saying that this is due to the excessive heat, but it also happens in the night when it's cool. We just don't understand this fire." comments Eujenio.

The fire has so far destroyed more than 10,000 huts at Pabbo. Since many people believe that the cause was due to the congestion, the district leaders decided to decongest the camp into two more. But even with the decongestion, fire still breaks out.

Pabbo, being the largest camp with an estimated population of 67, 000 people, is probably the worst hit. 10 to 12 people share one hut. An elderly woman with nine children sat next to their burnt hut in grief. All their property had gone up into the flames.

"We all want to go back to our homes. We are tired of the continuous sufferings and being beggars," says Jackorino Labeja.

By the time we left Pabbo for Gulu town, the News Corps journalists admitted having one memorable experience in the IDP camps.

"It beats one's understanding why the international community can't do something to end this war. Maybe there are no economic interests to attract them?" the News Corps journalists wonder aloud.

The suffering of the IDPs is too sad. Although some of their needs like clothes, food and many others are being met; their most crucial need is PEACE so they can all go back to their homes. All efforts geared towards reaping peace must be supported, for these fragile and broken lives to also enjoy life while it lasts.

"There are loyal hearts, there are spirits brave, there are souls that are pure and true; then give the world the best you have, and the best will come back to you."

Let this inspiring quote from Madeline Bridges touch you to help the people of northern Uganda whose pain is often ignored or silenced.

The writer is a Communications Officer with World Vision Uganda

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[Ugnet] Blaming Spirits for IDP Burning Huts

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