Conflict still exists where northern Uganda borders southern Sudan and eastern Congo. The Lord’s Resistance Army continues to attempt to regain the control lost in 2006. The LRA claims to be a Christian group, but is influenced by mysticism, Islam, and Acholi tradition. Their purpose is a rebellion against the Ugandan government but its ideology is difficult to understand – do they seek political power or to brutalize civilians and loot their homes? The U.S. views the LRA as a terrorist group.
The movie Invisible Children was the short story of a boy named Innocent who described his many mile hike each morning and evening to sleep in safe camps with thousands of other children for fear of being abducted and forced to join the LRA.
According to the U.S. Department of State, U.S. citizens traveling to the area commonly known as Karamoja in northeastern Uganda should be aware of ongoing conflict and armed banditry. The site didn’t identify whether this conflict was related to the LRA but given the proximity I would expect so. Karamoja is one of the locations we’re slated to visit but I understand that our contacts there help to ensure our safe travel.
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