During my recent visit to the city of Kampala, Uganda, I learned about the living conditions of refugees in the endless IDF camps. The sight was as horrifying as the stories behind the destinies of the inhabitants. It seems no man, woman or child is neither sacred nor spared when it comes to drafting to the ongoing civil war and the subsequent suffering.

            I met with a 14-year-old boy who had become an unwilling participant in the dispute between rebel leader, Joseph Kony, and the Ugandan government troops. During the few years he served as a child soldier for the rebel insurgents, LRA (the Lords Resistance Army), he became a ruthless killer with total disregard for human values and decency. As a result of his change of personality and abilities as a leader he quickly advanced in the hierarchy and became captain with an entire division of child soldier under his command.

            Tormented by guild he eventually decided to to go AWOL and fled to the Gulu Children's Reception Centre where he's living now trying to create a life as a bicycle repairman. This decision however is not without consequences. Throughout the rest of his life he will live in fear of retribution from the LRA he left and have to accept the rejection from the people arround him -his former victims. The government army is also a threat to his chances of obtaining a normal life, as he's constantly in their searchlight as a potential informer. These are a few of the problems this young man is forced to tackle but even if circumstances were to change he would still have endure the nightmares of his hideous deeds.

In the end of my hectic journey I was able to an interview with Joseph Kony himself. Although he seemed willing to restore negotiations with the government, I deem the possibility of peace -or even a cease fire- in the nearby future as very poor. Too much blood has been shed throughout the past 20 years to end this conflict in one swift move.