Abitimo’s Story

INTRODUCTION
Upper Nile Institute for Appropriate Technology (UNIFAT) is a non-profit organization established to improve the lives of children in Uganda. Civil wars and AIDS have brought misery to all the families of Uganda. Suffering and poverty have been the experience of our people for thirty years. UNIFAT began from the inspiration I had while in exile, to create an institution where children can be taught with love and caring.

UNIFAT Primary School, in Gulu district in Northern Uganda, is a place where children are nurtured and guided to be loving, kind and responsible as they grow up. People need to appreciate the fact that we are all in this world as brothers and sisters. We should be happy to share and help each other understand the purpose of creation. UNIFAT is a place where teachers and students can teach and learn and interact with respect, love and understanding for one another.

THE SEEDS
My decision to take on this project came after agonizing with an idea of revenge against Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, from whom our family had fled in 1974. Many people were killed during his time as President, and I wanted to pay back for the loss of relatives and friends who died through no fault of their own. I was angry and frustrated most of the time, and thought fighting Idi Amin was a good idea. The idea of revenge was so strong that I wondered why I was not happy about the plan.

It was at that moment that I remembered the words in the Bible, “Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord.” I understood then that it was not my duty to avenge. It became clear that there would be no difference between my own actions and Idi Amin’s, if I carried out my plan of revenge.

As I prayed to be shown what to do, I was led to the parable about the sower who went sowing seeds. Some seeds fell by the roadside and birds ate them; some fell on stony places and sprang up but were scorched by the sun and withered away because they had no roots; some fell among thorns which choked them; others fell on good ground and yielded a crop–some a hundred fold, some sixty, some thirty.

This was the story that led me to understand and convinced me that my work had been revealed. I began to put into place the meaning of the different areas where seeds fell, and what happened to them. I knew then that the good ground could represent children and the sower could be I; the seeds could be the good information, or teaching, imparted to the children. I knew that the time had come. In the spring of 1983 I returned home to start a school among my people.

BACK IN UGANDA
Tension was high between civilians and government soldiers during this time, and rebels disturbed the peace. My tribe was suspected to be supporting the rebels, yet we were victimized by both the rebels and the government soldiers. Many people deserted their homes and fled to a safer place in the town of Gulu, or further away in another district altogether. Families, and anyone who wanted to escape death, shared a shelter with others. There were many children who came and sheltered with us.

Sometimes, when no gunfire was ringing, the children would go out and play. They mostly imitated the fighting they saw. One day I saw them play this game and my heart cried as I remembered that it was because of war that I once left my country. I decided to persuade these children to learn a different kind of game. They were eager to listen and I introduced some learning games. The small number of children who had been playing war games soon increased as we learned new ways to play, and quickly I visited other shelters looking for teachers to help me start a preschool.

UNIFAT school started under a big tree in the compound. It was interesting to note how children became so much involved in learning numbers, letters and songs that they forgot all about the war game.

I was criticized for having a school in an inappropriate facility and was ordered by the Municipal Education Officer to close it. But I continued teaching, knowing that it was the best thing I could do to help these children. They were happy and growing. We all spent our time doing something useful instead of watching and waiting for rebel attacks. In any case the district was in turmoil, with no proper running of the offices in town. I was almost certain that I could get away with my stubbornness.

When I was called to the office of the town clerk to explain why I did not close the school, I said I did not mean to disrespect them, but I was concerned about the future of our children. I thought that people would see the need for teaching our children, even if it had to be under a tree because of the circumstances of the war. My reasoning with them was effective. They encouraged me to look for a piece of land within the town and apply for it. This brought understanding between us, and gave me time to organize a proper school.

UNIFAT GROWS
It was pleasing to see how the children enjoyed learning even though in the middle of crisis. The next idea that came to my mind was to think of a way to occupy the women. I contacted some women and discussed with them the possibility of getting together to make handcrafts. With the assistance of a church group we bought material to make bags and sashes, which were then sold. This project helped the women to earn much-needed funds, and brought us together for discussion about the war situation and its effect on women and children.

This was during the peak of civil war, when people left their homes and families were wandering up and down the streets of Gulu looking for shelter. One afternoon as we sat under a tree working on our project, we saw five children coming toward us. Their parents had been killed by rebels. They had walked 20 miles, and were dehydrated, sick, and hungry. It was heart-breaking just to look at them. At first, I just wanted to help them temporarily until they were recovered from their journey. However, after some weeks and months I became accustomed to them and decided to keep them with me to ease their burdens. They have since become part of my family. Two of them have graduated from UNIFAT and are currently in the University and Teacher Training College.

Our first preschool students were between six and seven years old. They learned quickly and within six months they were ready to be promoted. Just as our program was progressing well, the rebels gained strength. They fought government troops in the villages, killing anyone they found. More people left their homes and came into town. Village schools were deserted and those students lucky enough to escape poured into Gulu town.

This influx caused overcrowded classrooms and some shelters had to be constructed in order to ease the situation. Now the Municipal Education Officer was more than ready to receive us, forgetting his previous criticism about what he considered the inappropriate physical environment of our school. Excitedly, he asked us to please open not just one class of primary one, but another of primary two also.

We were very surprised at how easy it was. More children joined our program. The following year primary three and primary four classes were added. At that time the civil situation improved and people were told to return to their homes. We vacated our shelters and everyone dispersed, going wherever they felt safe. I had to look for another place for our school.

We found a Railway Club building that was vacant because of the war, and were allowed to rent the building. We continued with our children, teaching classes one through four. The following year we added primary five.

Within two years, we built more classrooms and added primary six and seven. In 1993 our students took the high school entrance exam and astonished the district when all passed and were admitted into good high schools. Our preschool was also doing well and there was a waiting list of parents trying to get their children admitted to UNIFAT school. But now, the Railway Authorities wanted to reclaim their premises.

LOVE FINDS A WAY
I continued praying and working cheerfully. Our teachers were happily involved in teaching children with love in the best way they knew. Students were so interested in learning that parents and all visiting our school noticed and commented on the model behavior and discipline of our children.

There was a piece of land I had applied for on the advice of both the Town Clerk and Municipal Education Officer. We had been waiting, hoping that it would be given to us. Before this could occur, however, the Town Clerk fled Uganda and the Municipal Education Officer died. Two people who had become our good supporters were now no longer in Gulu.

But the school continued. At the end of 1994 many more of our students passed the high school entrance exams, doing so well that we received notice not only in Gulu district, but in the whole country. UNIFAT school was recognized as one of the best primary schools in Uganda.

By then a new Town Clerk had been appointed. He was a man favoring development and was pleased with our school’s program. At our annual parents’ day, we invited government officials to attend and gave progress reports. As people talked, it became clear that there was much good news. Everyone present was happy. At this time, the Town Clerk addressed the audience and officially donated a piece of land to UNIFAT, one even bigger than the piece I had previously applied for. Now UNIFAT had its own home.

UNDERSTANDING MY CALL
I came to know my assignment in life only after realizing that vengeance belongs to God. Looking back, I understand that my call was to create this school and to care for orphans. I had not intended to open my home to needy children. I didn’t plan for this. Yet after doing all these things–the school is going on, the orphans are with me–I felt that this was what I had been called to do. There is no doubt in my mind and no interest or need to do something else. We are all given different calls. Sometimes you will have to wait until it is given to you–but then you will know.