About Uganda

The Republic of Uganda (pronounced /juːˈɡændə/ or /juːˈɡɑːndə/) is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by Tanzania. The southern part of the country includes a substantial portion of Lake Victoria, which is also bordered by Kenya and Tanzania.

Uganda takes its name from the Buganda kingdom, which encompassed a portion of the south of the country including the capital Kampala. 76% of the population of the country lives slightly below the international poverty line of US $2.00 a day. It currently is subject to a severe food crisis. Read more on Wikipedia.

GDP - per capita: $1,900 (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 82%, industry 5%, services 13% (1999 est.)
Industries: sugar, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles; cement, steel production
Exports - commodities: coffee, fish and fish products, tea, cotton, flowers, horticultural products; gold

Pader - Where I will be stationed. 

Pader District is a district in northern Uganda. It is named after Pader, the chief political, administrative and commercial town in the district. 

Pader District is bordered by Kitgum District to the north, Kotido District to the northeast, Abim District to the east, Lira District to the south, Oyam District to the southwest and Gulu District to the west. The district headquarters at Pader are located approximately 132 kilometres (82 mi), by road, northeast of Gulu, the largest city in the sub-region. The coordinates of the district are:02 50N, 33 05E.

The district is relatively new, having been part of Kitgum District. In December 2001, Aruu County and Agago County were carved out of Kitgum District to form Pader District. The seat of district government, Pader, is located in the center of the district. The district, along with Amuru District, Gulu District, Lamwo District and Kitgum District, constitutes Acholiland, considered to be the historical homeland of the Acholi ethnic group.

The 2002 national census estimated the population of the district at approximately 325,900 people. For the greater part of the first decade of the 2000s, the majority of the population within the districts have been living in camps for internally displaced people as the result of the Lord's Resistance War. With the cessation of hostilities between the LRA and the UPDF in 2006, the majority of the people in the IDP camps have moved back to their homes.

Emmanuel International in Uganda

Emmanuel International has been working in Uganda since 1983 and currently operates 9 active projects with 6 local Ugandan partner organizations.

Emmanuel Relief & Rehabilitation International (Emmanuel International for short) is an international, interdenominational, evangelical agency which assists communities worldwide through the agency of their local churches to meet the needs of the poor. Learn More.

My Work in Uganda

I have been informed of a great need in Northern Uganda in a village called Pader. The people of northern Uganda have endured a tragic, long-running insurgency for over 20 years of war by a rebel group called the Lords Resistance Army (LRA). Peace is only 2 years old in the region. However, a lot has happened throughout these nonviolent years and today's Northern Uganda is dramatically different than it was back in 2006. The majority of internally-displaced people have returned to or near their homes due to the improved security situation. Now that the conflict has subsided there are a number of sizeable needs that have arisen. A recent drought has resulted in crop failure across the region leaving the people dependent on the distribution of food aid. Another issue is that the previously abducted children are also too old to go back to school and are desperate to get on with their lives and to become self-sufficient. A lot of their parents were killed in the war or by the AIDS epidemic and the children have been left behind with a definite lack of direction, instruction and resources. I look forward to working with and empowering local peoples to be able to help themselves.

There isn’t one specific task that I will be assigned to, rather a diverse description of duties that will entail, working as a psychosocial worker with the HIV/AIDS population, youth worker – teaching life skills and implementing a “why wait” program in 12 of the local schools, counseling child soldiers in hopes to reintegrate them back into their families/community and ultimately sharing the message of Jesus Christ through different platforms such as sports and music. 

Lordwilling, soccer will be a substantial part of my ministry in Pader. Throughout the process of fundraising I have also been asking people to partner with me in supplying soccer gear including; jerseys, shorts, cleats, socks and soccer balls. I have been overwhelmed by the support and cannot thank those enough that have stood beside me in this campaign in more ways than one. Alcoholism has been a large issue among the men and former child soldiers in the area and is leading to domestic abuse and other related issues. My vision for this population is to create an organized soccer league that will take place in the evenings or on weekends. I will use soccer as a platform for ministry.