7 January 2011
After many days of waiting, the doors at Watoto Church, Kampala (Uganda) opened to the public for the opening live event of Watoto's Restore Tour: Child Soldier No More. For many Ugandans, this was the opportunity to experience the depth of the tragedy of their own people in the North, who had experienced a senseless civil war for more than 20 years.
It was also the first time they were exposed to the real-life stories from the real former child soldiers and the greater community of this region. These were portrayed to the backdrop of a captivating production of song, dance, drama and multimedia with a strong message of resilience, forgiveness, hope and restoration.
Here are some comments from the audiences after the production.
“The question of former child soldiers has always been a puzzle. For instance, how are we going to deal with these children who only know the experience of 'terror' from their time in captivity? But hearing the children’s testimonies and seeing what Watoto is doing on the ground, I’m confident that there is a solution and I’m looking forward to supporting Watoto in this journey of restoration.” Daniel Nsibambi, a communications manager at one of the leading banks in Uganda
“It was a great show. In fact, I had to remove my handkerchief too. May God bless you.” Moses, Rubaga Hospital.
“As usual, you (Watoto Church) never let down and you are always on top of things. God richly bless you. I have enjoyed the production and was touched by the message.” Eddie Okila, a showbiz guru in East Africa.
“This is a story well-executed and worth telling.” Moses Serugo, an accomplished arts and entertainment journalist.
“I’m from northern Uganda. Our leaders have done more harm to us and we find it hard to forgive.” onald.
Well, if like Ronald, you are wondering where to start from, then Watoto's Restore Tour: Child Soldier No More is the place for a new beginning. There are eight more live events to go in Kampala. This is your opportunity to experience the power of forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration. To be a part of this journey, click here to find the full schedule of production at Watoto Church this weekend (6th to 9th January '11). Spread the word and invite all your family and friends.
