Lilly Apiyo is a tall slim woman with a silky smooth complexion, with an attractive face and personality. These qualities are matched in her twin brother Oscar Ochen, who bears a scar just below his right eye – a result of being assaulted by rebels while in captivity.
Apiyo and Ochen, who turned 20 this year, were abducted in 1996 when they were only 12 years old. The young woman vividly remembers the day when Lords Resistance Army rebels attacked her home in Northern Uganda. Apiyo’s mother Alice Akoko was shot dead by the rebels as she shielded her children from them.
After nine months of carrying heavy luggage for the rebels, Ochen managed to escape. “I was happy for Ochen and prayed he would not be caught because if they did, the rebels would kill him” Apiyo recalls. “I also feared I would never see him again. We used to comfort each other and I missed him a lot”.
During her time in captivity, Apiyo was ‘married’ against her will to a rebel commander called Lagira who had a harem of six wives and many children whom she had to babysit. At 14, she had her own child. She named him Kilama, which means, ‘I am cursed’. Apiyo is one of many mothers to give their child this name of misfortune. “I wanted the name I gave Sam to reflect how I had been treated and maybe somebody would feel sorry and let me go; but no one cared.” Apiyo explains.
On 9 July 2005, Apiyo escaped during a Ugandan army attack, with her son and six other children whose mothers died in the crossfire.
She and her child spent two days at a child protection unit in Gulu, and then were taken to the World Vision Uganda Children of War Rehabilitation Centre. Shortly after being rescued Apiyo gave birth to another child.
It was at the centre, after what seemed like an eternity, that Apiyo found love, forgiveness and the courage to move on.
“ I thank God I was taken to World Vision because I don’t know how I would have managed on my own. I wish my brother Ochen had the chance to be advised and loved the way I was”.
Apiyo’s hope was reignited and she named her second child Joel
Rwot-Omara – God loves me.
After his escape Ochen went straight home. Apiyo is helping him and telling him about the good things I learnt from World Vision: how to forgive and forget the wrongs done against us and focus on rebuilding our future…and to pray every day to God to help end the war. I know God cares for him more than anyone else and I pray every day for him.”
Story supplied by World Vision UK. The article, written by World Vision’s Margaret Alerotek, originally appeared in their publication, Because - Summer 2006.
