Meeting a Man from UN OCHA

Today I spent about an hour meeting with Chris H. the desk officer for Uganda within the UN, Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. It was nice to get his insights, but his main point (or what I took away from the conversation) seemed to be that I would need to really go myself to see and understand the security situation.

A few 'take-aways': contact the UN Office of Safety and Security if I want access and safe passage to the areas of the north where internally displaced (IDP) camps are located. He also indicated that I should contact a few individuals: Betty Bigombe, who has worked and negotiated with the LRA and government officials for peace deals in the past; CSOPNU - an NGO based in Uganda; and Greg Puley at Oxfam.
He argued that it would be difficult to cull any findings if my research in Uganda focused only on refugee camps since much of the systematic violence has occurred within and around IDP settlements in three Acholi districts in the North: Kitgum, Gulu and Pader.

Second, he advised that I stick with official channels and main roads and cities. It sounds like I would not gain access to that much more information if I were to try to travel 'off the beaten path' and the risks and dangers would be very high.

I received a few internal documents written by UNOCHA on background and security regarding Uganda - one with a very helpful map which shows the demographic makeup of the northern region, with the main ethnic groups: Acholi, Karamoja, Lango and Teso in the North and Central regions.

It was an interesting and useful discussion. I did learn a bit; but then also realized the limits of talking to people who are not directly 'of' Uganda as well.
I think I will just need to go and see to experience it for myself. Professor Fred Ssewamala reiterated this a few times during our brief conversation a few weeks prior, but it is echoing in my head now - because I think I finally understand what he meant. It is the difference between talking about riding a bike and riding a bike (for lack of a better metaphor).

Ah, now it is coming to mind a few other questions I meant to ask during out conversation: where to get records of LRA activities and attacks, either from government or other sources and whether it would be possible to speak with former LRA fighters. Will have to follow-up with this question later.