Daly City: Displace Me, The Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda

The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has abducted thousands of children, subjected them to torture or sexual violence and forced them to fight in a violent guerilla army for 21 years—making it the longest running war in Africa. In hopes of providing protection from this rebel militia, the Ugandan government forcibly evicted its Northern citizens from their homes—giving them 48 hours to relocate into camps. Today, more than 1.5 million Northern Ugandans remain far from secure, suffering nearly 1,000 deaths per week due to inhumane living conditions in the camps.
Alcoholism, sexual abuse, HIV/AIDS, inadequate sanitation and lack of education have caused immeasurable damage to two generations and the near-total destruction of Acholi culture. Water is scarce and people are reliant on food to be delivered by foreign aid. If the food isn’t delivered, the people starve. This April, the already meager rations delivered by the World Food Program to the camps will be cut in half due to lack of funding—with school feeding programs and support for HIV/aids victims soon to follow. This will indisputably increase the number of deaths among those already suffering from severe malnutrition—mostly among women, children and the elderly. That is why the timing of this event, and your participation are so crucial.


To experience this event at its full potential, you will be asked to give up your food and water upon entry. Both will be redistributed later in the evening. Displace Me's simulation aspects, such as the redistribution of food, exist to enhance the overall event experience, as well as your understanding of what life is like for those living in the IDP camps. We encourage you not to bring other food or drink besides the saltine crackers and water bottles if possible.

During the evening you will hear the testimonials of some of those living in the camps, as well as other speakers chosen specifically for their personal connection to Northern Uganda. You will be asked to write letters to your senators and policy makers to encourage American involvement in ending the war and sending the people in the camps home.

The intent of the night is to encourage genuine compassion in the hearts of the participants towards the 1.5 million displaced and to positively impact US foreign policy in relation to Northern Uganda's peace process.

Everyone who comes to “Displace Me” will be asked to bring the following:

Enough cardboard to build something the size a small tent.
A sleeping bag.
A 1.5-liter bottle of water (with airtight seal-to be collected upon entry).
A box of saltine crackers (yes, they need to be saltines, with sealed packaging- to be collected upon entry).
A current photo of yourself wearing a white t-shirt with a red X.