• About
  • Advertise
  • Donate
  • Contact
Friday, December 6, 2019
Watchdog Uganda News
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Africa News
    • Community News
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
      • Netball
      • Rugby
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Kampala Chics
    • Let’s Talk about Gospel
    • Politics
    • Relationships
    • The Arts
    • The Law
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
    • Showbiz
  • Salon Mag
  • Luganda
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Motoring
    • People
    • Voices
  • Travel
  • Video
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Africa News
    • Community News
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
      • Netball
      • Rugby
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Kampala Chics
    • Let’s Talk about Gospel
    • Politics
    • Relationships
    • The Arts
    • The Law
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
    • Showbiz
  • Salon Mag
  • Luganda
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Motoring
    • People
    • Voices
  • Travel
  • Video
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Watchdog Uganda News
No Result
View All Result

A little child explains war

by Mulema Najib
26th November 2017 at 11:54
in Voices
0 0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Email

By Fr. Lazar Arasu

“When elephants fight grass suffers”, is a well-known African proverb. It describes well the untold sufferings of young children caught up in war. In war situations children live in violent and terrorized environments and they witness destruction of their homes, death of parents and dear ones in violent ways. They cause trauma and they live with scars of horrors for many years to come.

Children often suffer the war crimes created by adults. But they are unable to express the trauma they undergo and the effects of war remains forever. Still their sufferings go unnoticed and overlooked.

Hill Water

I am engaged in social and educational work in the Palabek Refugee Settlement in northern Uganda since the inception of this settlement which houses about 36,000 refugees from South Sudan. A few days ago, after my Sunday Church Service I was taking a walk around the settlement.

Just around the little huts I saw little children busy making toys with clay. Their little game was rather pensive; they looked unusually serious. Out of curiosity I went to watch their childish play. But it was not childish as I imagined. In a simple and thought-provoking way they were letting out their memories of war.

A little boy of five years was making an image of me—the Abuna (the priest) he knows. Any member of our community who happen to see the clay image will surely say that it is me. The priest-image had a cross hanging on its neck and holding a book in hand. I was even seated on a chair. Indeed that is the way I exactly appear to the people who come to pray on Sundays.

The boy’s father was moved to tears when he saw the creative image made by his little son. He was happy that he made an image of a priest. He quickly made a pensive reflection. “Soon after the arrival in the camp my son was making guns and weapons; little later he made caterpillars, earth-movers and heavy vehicles of UNHCR and now he makes Abuna…. I am happy he is getting over his trauma; he is becoming normal.”

Children quickly imitate adult activities often without processing the act itself. But in their own little language and actions manifest what is going on in their mind and their immediate life. The little boy probably saw killings, people running for life and terror everywhere. Guns were in common sight. Soon he found himself in a refugee settlement and he saw settlement preparing to host refugees. Now he is getting used to life in the settlement. He is also able to witness better activities such as prayer and gatherings.

Events such as these calls for increased protection of children in our societies. We need to work on their socio-psychological wellbeing. According to the demographic data of South Sudan at least 46% of the population is below the age of 14; now most of them are refugees. They need education and other basic needs for their wellbeing. When they are well brought up they will become agents of peace.



Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com

RelatedPosts

Go and stay with your relatives- Government tells landslides victims in Bugisu sub-region

Salon Magazine: Do you want to look like a superstar? Here are things celebrities do to appear very beautiful

Museveni donates Shs100m to Ebonies as he cautions Ugandans to use prevailing peace to develop talents 


ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Meet Zimbabwe's new First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa

Next Post

Zimbabwe: Ousted Mugabe, wife to receive 'golden Handshake' worth $10m as part of resignation deal

Mulema Najib

Mulema Najib

Najib is a prolific writer with a solid track record in generating well articulated content especially in the current affairs, tourism and business fields. I must say writing is a kind of passion to me more than a profession. I love to write and aim to improve myself everyday that goes by. You can reach me via email : najibmule@gmail.com or telephone : +256700537838

Related Posts

25 years ago: Mayiga was dragged out of Kikuubo to start a journey that saw him rise to Katikkiro of Buganda

by watchdog
2nd December 2019 at 09:01
0

By Denis Jjuuko Mr Francis Buwule was working as a lawyer at Katende and Ssempebwa when his boss, John W....

OPED: Can the media stand up to police brutality?

by Mike Ssegawa
4th November 2019 at 13:08
0

Last week, Uganda Journalists Association boss Kazibwe Bashir called for a boycott against police brutality meted on members of the...

SK Mbuga and wife Vivienne

OPINION: Dubious businessmen like SK Mbuga don’t deserve to be called tycoons

by watchdog
7th October 2019 at 10:34
0

By Dr Ian Clarke SK Mbuga was welcomed back to Uganda like a returning hero, or as Pastor Martin Sempa...

Coffee in Uganda

Coffee growing creating a new generation of millionaires

by watchdog
30th September 2019 at 09:27
0

By Denis Jjuuko Twaha Musoke used to be a bodaboda rider in Wankuluku in Kampala near former MP John Ken...

Nigeria actor turned politician is among delegates at the 64th CPC

Kinigeria actor turned politician Desmond Elliot in Kampala for Commonwealth MPs conference

by Mike Ssegawa
23rd September 2019 at 19:54
0

Nigerian actor turned politician Desmond Eliot is in Kampala as one of the delegates for attending the 64th Commonwealth parliamentary...

President Yoweri Museveni

OPINION: How opposition promotes the myth of Museveni demigodism 

by watchdog
23rd September 2019 at 11:24
0

By Ssentongo A Kyamundu I have been in opposition politics for long and tried to observe the trends. My honest...

Next Post

Zimbabwe: Ousted Mugabe, wife to receive 'golden Handshake' worth $10m as part of resignation deal

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Our news in your inbox. Subscribe to receive Watchdog Uganda news in your email at no cost.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Recommended

WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

WHO applauds Rwanda’s Ebola preparedness efforts

25th July 2019 at 15:37
Charles Mbire is yet to make a comment

Barclays Bank employee arrested for stealing Charles Mbire’s Shs190million

12th April 2019 at 11:27

Popular News

    Connect with us

    Facebook Twitter Youtube LinkedIn RSS

    About Watchdog Uganda

    Watchdog Uganda

    Media

    Watchdog Uganda is a news portal for trending news and commentaries in the areas of politics, security, business, tourism, technology, education, et al.

    Contact Information

    Plot 23, Yusuf Lule Road
    PO Box 7661 Kampala, Uganda
    Office Line: +256-0777-286815
    Email: editorial@watchdoguganda.com
    To Advertise:Click here

    Category

    • #Out2Lunch
    • Agriculture
    • Business
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Community News
    • Companies
    • Conversations with
    • Education
    • Entertainment
    • Finance
    • Football
    • Health
    • Let's Talk about Gospel
    • Lifestyle
    • Luganda
    • Motorsport
    • National
    • Netball
    • News
    • Op-Ed
    • Other Sport
    • People
    • Photos
    • Politics
    • Politics
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Relationships
    • religion
    • Rugby
    • Salon Magazine
    • Serugo's Sink
    • Showbiz
    • Special Report
    • Sports
    • Technology
    • The Arts
    • The Law
    • Tourism
    • Travel
    • Video
    • Voices
    • World News

    Recent Updates

    Landslides in Bugisu sub-region

    Go and stay with your relatives- Government tells landslides victims in Bugisu sub-region

    6th December 2019 at 18:09
    Zari Hassan

    Salon Magazine: Do you want to look like a superstar? Here are things celebrities do to appear very beautiful

    6th December 2019 at 18:02
    President Museveni with Ebonies Group members on Thursday

    Museveni donates Shs100m to Ebonies as he cautions Ugandans to use prevailing peace to develop talents 

    6th December 2019 at 16:14

    Copyright © 2019. Watchdog Uganda

    No Result
    View All Result
    • Home
    • Politics
    • Business
    • National
    • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
    • Salon Magazine
    • Sports
    • About Us
    • Donate
    • Advertise

    Copyright © 2019. Watchdog Uganda

    Login to your account below

    Forgotten Password?

    Fill the forms bellow to register

    All fields are required. Log In

    Retrieve your password

    Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

    Log In