Getting Paranoid About Safety

Signs of war:
A bullet ridden wall in Kitgum

Back in November '06 I headed up to Kitgum in Northern Uganda.

At the time, the war between the LRA and the government was under ceasefire conditions as the opposing factions attempted peace talks (they failed).  It felt like I was almost sneaking in before hostilities broke out again.

Kitgum was messed up.  Death and violence seemed to be everywhere:

• Bullet holes surrounded the walls World Food Program headquarters
  
• So many funerals due to malaria and HIV were happening at the internally displaced people (IDP) camps
  
• Bullet wounds and mutilations were not hard to spot

I could go on, but I won't.

I was there to set up Grassroots Uganda: a non-profit organisation that empowers Ugandan women via jewellery made from paper beads.  Grassroots Uganda has proved to be quite successful making over $45,000 in 2010.

As I look back on Kitgum, I can't help but think what a bloody stupid thing it was to do!

The arrogance of it was amazing.  I was entering into a very dangerous area almost looking for trouble.  Heck, there were even government troops lining the roads into Kitgum armed with RPGs!

Stupid.  Stupid.  Stupid.  

As I write this, I am about eight hours away from boarding a flight to Uganda.  

There is some unrest in Uganda at the moment. The government is cracking down on peaceful protests with tear gas and rubber bullets.  At last count, nine people have died.

I am going to go out of my way to avoid these hotspots.  No protest photography. No pictures of tear gas, tear gas canisters, riot police, or shotgun shells.  I am just gonna stay the hell away.

Why the change of heart?  

When I first went to Kitgum, I only had myself to worry about.  If something bad happened, it would have been my own stupid fault.

There are two reasons why I will be more careful this time.  

Firstly, I am fan of martyrdom.  The trick is to do it sacrifice your life for a cause one day at time, and not go out in a single blaze of glory.

Secondly, there are some very important people in my life.  It wouldn't be fair on them if I disappeared in a puff of smoke.