Film Synopsis
As a result of 30 years of tribal conflict and famine, the women of Karamojaland have started to traffic children to the city for begging in order to survive. Described by the City Council of Kampala as the ‘Karamoja Phenomenon’, the Government of Uganda and UNICEF estimates up to 2500 Karamojong are on the streets of Kampala - of which 90% are women with small children.
This documentary film follows the story of Lucia with her children in Kampala, and their return to Karamojaland. We talk to the City Council in Kampala, the MP for central Karamojaland, elders from the village and let the women who are trafficking the children justify themselves.
The children have their say in the form of an animated story, which runs parallel to the real film. Animated pictures and story boards are created by Karamojong children from Kisenyi Ghetto, Kampala.
Festival screenings:
The online Film Festival 'HUMANITY EXPLORED' at culture unplugged, Jan 2013.
cultureunplugged.com
'Amakula Caravan Film Festival', Uganda, Nov 2012
amakula.com/
Amakula International Caravan Film Festival 2012
'Dokubazaar Independent Documentary Film Festival', Ljubljana, Slovenia, Sept 2011.
lidff.blogspot.com
'Lola Kenya Screen International Childrens Film Festival' Nairobe, Kenya, Aug 2011, (animated sections, called 'Karamoja Faces')
lolakenyascreen.org
'Bukedde TV' Uganda & East Africa, July 2010. Docubazaar 2011
“A quirky film about a real situation that the public in Kampala see on the street everyday."
'Baby International Film Festival', Kampala, Uganda, May 2010.
“Admirable and beautiful - I love the use of animation”.
Development use:
Salamander Trust has included in an educational publication for schools across Uganda: salamandertrust.net/
IOM (International Organisation for Migration) has shown the film on large outdoor blow-up screens across Karamojaland.
UNICEF are utilising the film for its specific target of helping the street children in Kampala.
Other NGO's using the film include OXFAM, Save the Children, C&D, DED, and a number of local Ugandan NGO's.
Download the film in three easy steps 1 / 2 / 3 - then unzip.
Or, for a DVD copy of the film (free for educational purposes) please contact me: simoncbird@hotmail.com
In Uganda please contact KDF (Karamoja Development forum): karamojadf@gmail.com
