Lost in transition
Arua - Kampala, Uganda - 2018, April
I traveled from Bidibidi center to Kampala with Francis, a friend from South Sudan. He has been living in Bidibidi refugee settlement, in Yumbe discrict since he arrived in Uganda in 2017, fleeing from his home country civil war and famine. As he did, a lot of refugees decide after some time living in the settlement, to try to reach the capital, usually by coach. In Bidibidi many young men do occasional and small repair jobs, other than that they can’t find a work to make ends meet. According to the rules of the settlement, residents can look for a job but they should not move out of a defined area around the district of Yumbe: reaching Kampala represents a high risk of getting reported or broke, but the only hope to change their living conditions and try to help their family. In the flow of vicissitudes and impressions of the journey through the country, we receive messages and photos from another friend, Otto, who chose to stay in Bidibidi sharing with us the news from the center. Looking at the present on going life that he just left, while approaching the city, Francis is confronted by his choice, between staying in the center fighting to survive with no proper salary, or trying to get out there and hope for a future that seems more and more illusory and scary.
The coach stops in the night in a complete dark place. Blackouts happen all the time in Uganda. Except in Kampala, where the system is more stable, electricity can stop anytime anywhere in the country. Even with the dark, people are used to do everything as if the light is still on: this woman braids her friend's hair with the help of a flashlight.
“they are arresting some of the protesters”
How are you Francis?
What is going on at the center is the reason you have to leave for, to find a better future for you and your family. But then you cannot live well if you are worried for the people you love when something like this happens. Our home is South Sudan, but I miss also the center because if i were there i would be there to fight for a job for the water for everything.
“not so many people arrived at the protest but is the one i remember as biggest so far, people are tired and in difficulties”