Jacob Acaye was only 11 years old when he was abducted from his home and forced to join the ranks of the Lord’s Resistance Army, a Ugandan rebel force.
Acaye is part of Invisible Children Legacy Tour, which travels the Pacific Northwest speaking at schools, colleges, and churches about the war in Uganda. The program, hosted by the Washington State U. student organization GIVE, presented background information to the audience about the situation in Uganda.
In 2003 three young filmmakers traveled to Africa to make a documentary about the Invisible Children. What they found impacted their lives and inspired them to make a change.
Uganda is currently in the midst of a 23-year war. The LRA, led by Joseph Kony, has organized a resistance against the Ugandan government, killing thousands of innocent people.
When Kony’s support started to dwindle, he began using children as soldiers for his rebel army. The rebels resorted to abducting children and forcing them into military service.
Acaye recounted his time with with the LRA during the tour.
“It was very hard because we traveled constantly,” he said.
After being a soldier for three weeks, Acaye was assigned to another group, where he saw a small opportunity.
“The leader asked me how long I had been there, and I lied and told him I had been a soldier for three months,” he said. “As a result, the commander gave me much more freedom.” Acaye narrowly planned his escape with two other child soldiers late at night when everyone was sleeping.
“I thank God we were able to do it,” he said. Acaye’s struggle didn’t end there. When he returned home to his family, they immediately moved for fear the LRA would abduct him again. He began traveling to the city center to sleep with thousands of other children, because the LRA couldn’t reach them there. This is where the filmmakers were inspired to make “Invisible Children: The Rough Cut.” In the documentary, Acaye is featured living in fear for his life. With the help of the young men, he was able to come to America, receive an education and be a part of the legacy tour.
Acaye and other volunteers called “roadies” travel around the Pacific Northwest for 10 weeks telling the stories of the child soldiers.
“When I came to America, I realized that people were making a difference,” he said. Taylor Murdoch, a roadie for the tour said getting involved with the cause was easy, and he encouraged every student to do what they could.
“When I saw this movie, I was right where you guys were – in college,” he said. “I knew I had an obligation to get involved.” Murdoch explained more about the Legacy Scholarship Fund. Schooling isn’t free in Uganda, and many parents can’t afford to send children to school. The scholarship fund provides people in the United States the opportunity to sponsor a child in Uganda for $35 a month.
Acaye said education is the key to bringing peace to the longest war in Africa. “We want to give you guys the tools to help end this war,” Murdoch said.
Bethany Bylsma, roadie for the Legacy Tour, told students how they could help if they didn’t have money for the scholarship program. “The best way to get involved is to share the story,” she said.
The tour will be on the road for three more weeks, traveling to different areas in the Pacific Northwest telling Acaye’s story.
Acaye’s parting words to the audience reinforced the impact that students were making on the conflict in Uganda.
“I want you all to know that you have been helping right,” he said.