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| Letter from Uganda: funeral debt | Letter from Uganda: funeral debt |
| (8 days later) | |
| Nelson is one of those characters who, with feet firmly on the ground in his everyday activities, nevertheless exudes a mythical heroism. He's the leader of a community development programme with whom our group of volunteers has been building a school for over 600 teenage orphans in a rural part of Uganda on the border of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. | Nelson is one of those characters who, with feet firmly on the ground in his everyday activities, nevertheless exudes a mythical heroism. He's the leader of a community development programme with whom our group of volunteers has been building a school for over 600 teenage orphans in a rural part of Uganda on the border of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. |
| He appears and disappears constantly, to work as head ranger in the nearby national park, to cut timbers for our buildings, returning to pay a short visit to his new family. Whenever we meet an obstacle, Nelson's there to find a way around. As time goes by, story after story unfolds. Nothing, though, beats the one about his funeral. | He appears and disappears constantly, to work as head ranger in the nearby national park, to cut timbers for our buildings, returning to pay a short visit to his new family. Whenever we meet an obstacle, Nelson's there to find a way around. As time goes by, story after story unfolds. Nothing, though, beats the one about his funeral. |
| As an army recruit he'd been sent with his battalion to fight the Lord's Resistance Army rebels. Their officers led them into an ambush and Nelson was the only survivor from his unit. For two weeks he hunkered down, masquerading as a guerrilla, avoiding conversations that could expose his lack of local language and keeping his face in shadow. Moving from campfire to campfire, Nelson survived until the Ugandan army recaptured the area and took him prisoner until he persuaded his captors of his real identity. Back in the Ugandan army, he was sent straight back into bush warfare and had no chance to contact his family back home. | As an army recruit he'd been sent with his battalion to fight the Lord's Resistance Army rebels. Their officers led them into an ambush and Nelson was the only survivor from his unit. For two weeks he hunkered down, masquerading as a guerrilla, avoiding conversations that could expose his lack of local language and keeping his face in shadow. Moving from campfire to campfire, Nelson survived until the Ugandan army recaptured the area and took him prisoner until he persuaded his captors of his real identity. Back in the Ugandan army, he was sent straight back into bush warfare and had no chance to contact his family back home. |
| Presuming him dead, the community began the traditional mourning process and his family dug deep into their pockets to hold an elaborate wake for the village. Imagine, then, the surprise when the prodigal son returned home. Instead of joy, his mother felt disgust at the turn of events that had cost the family so much. What to do? | Presuming him dead, the community began the traditional mourning process and his family dug deep into their pockets to hold an elaborate wake for the village. Imagine, then, the surprise when the prodigal son returned home. Instead of joy, his mother felt disgust at the turn of events that had cost the family so much. What to do? |
| Nelson was prevented from returning to duty until he had repaid the debt. With some manoeuvring, he was found a job supervising the care of hippos, elephants and voracious lions. Now he jumps from pillar to post – caring for the family of a ranger eaten by a lion, organising care for orphaned children. | Nelson was prevented from returning to duty until he had repaid the debt. With some manoeuvring, he was found a job supervising the care of hippos, elephants and voracious lions. Now he jumps from pillar to post – caring for the family of a ranger eaten by a lion, organising care for orphaned children. |
| He's an admirable example of the person most needed in rural Africa in its drive to escape the poverty trap. He's also the only person I know who's survived his own funeral. | He's an admirable example of the person most needed in rural Africa in its drive to escape the poverty trap. He's also the only person I know who's survived his own funeral. |
| • Every week Guardian Weekly publishes a Letter from one of its readers from around the world. We welcome submissions – they should focus on giving a clear sense of a place and its people. Please send them to weekly.letter.from@guardian.co.uk | • Every week Guardian Weekly publishes a Letter from one of its readers from around the world. We welcome submissions – they should focus on giving a clear sense of a place and its people. Please send them to weekly.letter.from@guardian.co.uk |
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