Fourteen years after the massacre, the community is yet to heal. “When we were here, this place was called a protected camp. But first of all the government failed to protect us.” Said, BalintonPaogwechy – Community Leader.

“The recovery progress so far is low because each and every time we do the memory service you find that it is the community members and a few of the NGOs that come in, the government has given us a very big gap.” The feeling of animosity between the victims and the tormentors still exist.

The survivors said the government had not done enough to fuse tensions. “You find that a victim’s family has not been given something like reparation support, financial or moral support by the government. And then the people who committed those atrocities; some of them are walking free.”

Forty-six-year-old Akol Florence lost her entire family and the son burnt by the gang. The mother is still in a battle to save his remaining soul. “My son was burnt during the massacre but he survived, he can hardly work or play and I need help.” Community Leader BalintonPaogwechy said the government must take a rehabilitation process.

“We really want the government to come and compensate although they cannot compensate our lives, they could give us something which we could start up life again with.” Said, BalintonPaogwechy – Community Leader.

As part of reconstructing the lives of the community, this year’s celebration plan to establish a rehabilitation center. “This memory center is like just to dignify them; to tell them we remember you, what happened to you was not your wish, it was not our wish and you will live forever in our memories.

It is also to educate the public about the conflict in Northern Uganda. The memory center is also meant to teach the future generation about the negative impacts of conflict. And to teach them to know that conflict should never happen again.”

Fourteen years ago, it was on this date that over 45 people were killed and burnt brutally in this specific place. But the biggest questions that remained for the families that were left behind is the government commitment in reconciling the families and the culprits who did this and they also argue the government for reconstruction of this very place to help the families that were left behind with different projects which have not been done.