A happy ending

In this line of work, it can be hard to believe in happy endings, but our hearts will always ache for them whether we believe them to be possible or not.

A small restaurant and a piece of land that provides food and shelter for her 161 dependents is a happy ending for Helen in Northern Uganda.

Helen’s father died prior to the war in Northern Uganda.  When her family returned to the land after the war, the perpetrators made every attempt to throw them off.  In 2013, the perpetrators organized the community to join them in their fight.  They beat up the children in Helen’s family and threatened to rape the women.

Helen reported the matter but nothing was done.  She didn’t believe that she could survive this.

This is when IJM took up the case.

The largest obstacle in this case was conflict with the lead witness wanting compensation for his efforts.  He also is suspected of burning the hut of Helen’s brother, destroying his food for the year.

In 2015, the case took a turn. The perpetrators and Helen mediated and agreed on land boundary marks.  The perpetrators pled guilty and were given community service.  They worked at Amuru Court for six months.  Pleading guilty in Northern Uganda is almost unheard of and receiving any form of punishment for land grabbing is almost nonexistent. 

After the case, the land was demarcated with the help of the community leaders. Helen’s income generating activity became selling fish in the local market until she was able to open up her own small restaurant.  She is doing much better psychologically and is in a healthy mental state.

“She is a strong, strong woman,” said IJM Gulu’s Aftercare Specialist, Ajok Cathy.

IJM has now restored a well within Helen’s community that has provided hundreds with clean drinking water and has saved them from walking miles every day.  This has brought both IJM and Helen closer to the community.

On November 15, 2016, IJM Gulu will celebrated Helen’s complete restoration. That is at least 162, including Helen’s, lives changed.