‘Mia baibuli!’: refugees in war-torn Uganda cry out for Bibles

Based on a report by Simon Peter Mukhama, Church Relations and Fundraising Officer of the Bible Society of Uganda

School children in the troubled town of Lira, northern Uganda, received New Reader Portions from the Bible Society in Uganda. Photo: BS Uganda (UGA04DJ-7.JPG)

UGANDA — Uganda is one of Africa’s relative success stories. Since 1986, the government has been rebuilding the economy, bringing a measure of prosperity, and the country has enjoyed relative peace and stability. However, in the north of Uganda, the situation is entirely different.

Nearly two decades of a brutal civil war have been waged here, between government forces and the rebel militia group, the Lord’s Resistance Army. Tens of thousands have been mutilated, burned and murdered, and it is estimated that more than 1.6 million people – about 75 per cent of the region’s population – have been displaced. Many of them are living in camps and shelters and rely on aid.

Children in particular have suffered enormously in the war – about 30,000 of them have been abducted by the rebels since the mid 1990s, the boys forced into committing atrocities as child soldiers and the girls being used as sex slaves. A few have escaped their captors, fleeing to the camps with horrific descriptions of their ordeals.

Another predator in northern Uganda is the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, which is estimated to be killing three times more people there than the ongoing hostilities.

In the district of Lira, there are about 18 camps, sheltering an estimated 150,000 refugees. It was to this area that representatives of the Bible Society of Uganda travelled last November, bringing with them clothing and Scriptures* to distribute to children and adults in two of the smaller refugee camps – Ambalal and Boke.

Travelling to this region can be dangerous, explains Simon Peter Mukhama, who is responsible for the Bible Society’s church relations and fundraising. “How could we be sure of the security situation? Our church contacts in Lira had assured us that there had been no major attack in the area in the last two months, but they could not guarantee our safety. This was in God’s hands only.”

And so the team set off on the 400km (280 miles) journey from Kampala to Lira. Their first stop was a local primary school, where children and teachers from several schools in the area were gathered. There, the Bible Society distributed New Reader Portions to the children and provided Bibles for the school libraries. While many of these children come from happy homes with loving parents, their world is a frightening one, with the constant threat of a rebel attack. They were very excited to receive the Scriptures.

But perhaps the most emotional response to the Scriptures was among the people in the two refugee camps.

“Ambalal camp has 84 families living in tents and we first handed out clothes, and then visited each individual tent, giving a Bible to each household,” says Mr Mukhama. “We realised then that there are three or four families in each tent. There were a number of children there who looked very malnourished.

Simon Peter Mukhama (right), Church Relations and Fundraising Officer of the Bible Society of Uganda, talking to children in Ambalal refugee camp. Northern Uganda. Photo: BS Uganda (UGA04DJ-8.JPG)

“What struck us most about this camp was the fact that when we’d handed out clothing, people had just said, ‘thank you’. But when we gave them Bibles, the ladies started singing praises to God and dancing with joy. We were extremely humbled by this. Nobody should underestimate the incredible power of God’s Word, even in the most difficult situations.”

When the team arrived at Boke camp, there were cries of “Mia baibuli” (“Give me a Bible”) as clothes and Bibles were handed out. People there were so desperate to receive a copy that the scene erupted into chaos as they pushed forward. The Bibles soon ran out and the team had to shout out, “Baibuli pe tye!” (“There are no more Bibles!”). Many people returned to their tents empty-handed and despondent.

“It was a sad note on which to end our visit,” says Mr Mukhama. “We left many thirsting for God’s Word that day. Although we started our distribution trip to the north with Scriptures worth seven million Uganda shillings (about US$ 4,000), which we had collected over a period of two years through our Bible-A-Month Club (BAMC), it was a drop in the ocean.

“But, during our trip, at least 400 displaced families received Bibles and more than 5,000 children in primary schools and refugee camps received New Reader Portions. We also promised to bring more Scriptures to those who did not receive any, so we pray that God will help us to encourage more people to give generously to the BAMC so that we can fulfil this promise.”

But many people in the refugee camps cannot read or write. While some literacy work is being undertaken in some of the camps through NGOs, it is limited and the Bible Society is looking into the possibility of initiating Scripture-based literacy programs there.

“We are already running literacy programs in other parts of the country and we plan to start them in the refugee camps, but it all depends on the resources we have,” explains Mr Mukhama.

The Bible Society team also visited local churches, preaching and talking about the work of the Bible Society. Very few people had their own Bibles as there is much poverty in the region. (WR 391/23 - 03.05) [4 photos]

* The clothing was donated by the teachers and students of Merryland High School in Entebbe, by the congregation of Bugolobi Church of Uganda and by Bible Society staff. The Scriptures were funded through the Bible-A-Month-Club, to which the teachers and students of Merryland High School also donated money.