Kochogoma camp is 15 miles outside Gulu town situated in the wild and beautiful countryside typical of the north. Travelling to the camp we pass many people on the road walking and some carrying firewood on their heads, and most are heading to one of the two camps on the road.

On arrival at the camp it is evident that life for people living there is very hard.

Walking around the huts everyone's very welcoming and friendly. There are many people and lots of children. I get invited into one hut where they are distilling the local brew on the stove. I was offered a cup which I believed to be water, but after taking a mouthful realised by the sudden heat hitting the back of my throat was spirits. This caused much amusement to the other people I was with.

Making a sufficient living is impossible

Many of the people living in the camp distill and sell the local brew to try and make some money,employment is scarce. Elizabeth a mother of 8 children says life is very difficult because of the war. She used to be a farmer before but now cannot farm, as she has to live in the camp and has no money for school fees. “The diet is poor and we cannot sell livestock, which used to pay for school fees".

Mathew has lived in the camp since 1997 he too used to be a farmer. He had to move to the camp as the rebels came several times to his home and it was too dangerous to continue residing there. He now makes money by distilling the local brew, burning charcoal and selling firewood. He says getting food is a big problem as the World Food Programme provides food every 2 months but it is limited and does not last long enough. When the war is over he wants to return to his land and continue farming.

A common problem in the camp is that many small children roam around with no one taking care of them, as their parents are away collecting firewood.

People don't feel safe but imprisoned

Kochgoma camp has a population of 17,896 and has 4,320 homes. These homes are all mud huts tightly packed together. The residents of the camp are people from the surrounding area, who can no longer live in their homes and villages and are now living in this military patrolled camp. The general feeling is that living in the camp does not make them feel safe but imprisoned.

Eight pm curfew

They have a curfew of 8 pm and if caught outside after this time will be detained by the army. They could be held under suspicion for collaborating with the rebels.

Rebels frequently pass by the camp looting, they also abducted 4 people in June 2004 killing 3 of them and in January 2005 killed further people farming in surrounding fields.

There are over one million people living in camps such as this in the North of Uganda, and will not be able to return to their homes until there is an end to the civil war with the Lord’s Resistance Army and security in the land.

by Lesley Stephens

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