Journalist sells photos to pay for war victims’ education

A photojournalist from Uganda's war-torn northern region is using proceeds from international exhibitions of his photographs to pay for the education of child victims of the war. James Akena, 31, from the main northern town of Gulu, set up a small project from money obtained in widely publicised exhibitions in Europe of his photographs of northern Uganda. The project is named "Ki Ni Kono", meaning "What if it were you?" in Acholi, one of the main languages in the war-affected area. It is financing vocational courses for 15 former abductees of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Most of the money came from pictures sold at exhibitions. Half the proceeds going towards paying for school fees and the rest to other aid for the children. The most recent exhibition lasted from 30 September 2003 to 27 January this year. "I took the exhibition to a number of towns in Germany and Belgium, where we got a good reception," Akena said. "We did presentations to young people and got some collections after viewings." The photojournalist told IRIN that the beneficiaries comprise escapees from the LRA who were rescued and taken to rehabilitation centres in Gulu, 290 km north of the capital, Kampala. They include 14 girls enrolled at a tailoring college and a boy who is training in basic electronics. "The boy lost three fingers when he got caught in the crossfire between UPDF [government forces] and LRA while he was in captivity," Akena explained. "But he can still do tasks, in spite of the disability. We got him a bicycle so he could ride to the technical college and we got his fees." Akena said his aim was to give the former child victims the "start in life that the LRA tried to deny them". He is planning to hold more exhibitions later this year in Australia and the United Kingdom. "The courses are all one year," he told IRIN. "When they are finished, they will have skills which will enable them to make a living. The next stage is then to give them capital so they can start a trade." The project pays the US $100-a-year annual fee for each of the 14 girls enrolled at the St Monica School of Tailoring in Gulu. Many of the girls escaped from the LRA after several years in captivity, and some after bearing children for LRA commanders. Sister Teresa Ayoo, who runs the school, told IRIN: "The girls in this centre learn how to cut all kinds of garments for men and women. They also learn home-keeping skills and self-expression. We try to restore their self-confidence more than anything." The LRA have waged war in northern Uganda for 18 years. The obscure, cult-like rebel movement is led by reclusive mystic Joseph Kony, who has said that he wants to topple the government of President Yoweri Museveni and rule Uganda according to the Biblical Ten Commandments. But the LRA’s attacks have been largely against civilians, often from the areas it claims to be fighting to liberate. Nearly all LRA recruits are abducted children who are brainwashed by fear and forced to commit violent acts. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) estimates that 8,500 children were abducted by the rebels in 2003. Many of them have not been seen since. Some of those who escape LRA captivity are rejected by their home communities and families because of their association with the rebels.