Little Miss Dreamer Helping IC

A 10-year-old from east London is warming hearts by adding her voice to those working to help former child soldiers in northern Uganda.

Shaianne Murray recently won the Little Miss Dreamer Competition, which was created to show young girls and teenagers that beauty is not just on the outside and to promote a strong sense of confidence, a strong moral and spiritual foundation, integrity and fulfillment in pre-teen and teenaged girls.

She is splitting half of her prize money with Invisible Children.

To read the story, go to the Voice.

Flood Affects 100,000 Students In Uganda

Recent flooding in the Northern and Eastern parts of Uganda have prevented 174 schools to be reopened, affecting more than 100,000 students.

Floods that began in July have killed 18 people to date and cut off 25 districts from the rest of the country. Many teachers have been displaced, some finding refuge in classrooms. Some schools buildings have collapsed or been submerged.

The government is currently evaluating the costs associated with damage to these schools, considering waiving school fees for secondary students in the affected areas for both this term and the next. Special exams have also been canceled.

To read the full article, go to the Monitor.

Corruption in Uganda Increases

In a recent report, Uganda’s level of corruption has increased and is stifling the nation’s struggle to eradicate poverty.

Transparency International, a Berlin-based global anti-corruption body, ranked Uganda 117th among 178 countries, dropping 12 positions within one year. The World Bank ranked Uganda as 118. The WB rankings consider 10 aspects globally considered crucial in a business’s life: ease of starting a business, dealing with licenses, employing workers, property registration, tax payment, getting credit, contracts enforcement, investor protection, trading across borders and closing a business.

Notably, the sharp decline in accountability appears to mock efforts both of the government and its donors who have devoted ever-increasing amounts of scarce resources purportedly to fight corruption in public offices. President Museveni has spoken about his broader strategy to sweeten up the business environment and turn the country into a favourable destination for investors, though these reports reveal that the current economic climate is far from the President’s vision.

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LRA Threats Scare Returnees in the North

Threats by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels that they will launch attacks in northern Uganda if their bases in DR Congo are attacked are causing tension in the North.

During a special summit between Uganda and the DR Congo held early this month in Arusha, Tanzania, the Congolese authorities promised to start fighting Ugandan rebels on Congolese territory. But Rugunda, the Government’s chief negotiator, said a new force comprising of the police, local administration law enforcement officers, militia and the UPDF would be on ground to ensure that peace prevails.

“The peace process in the northern region is now irreversible,” said Rugunda. “The Government is committed to peace and I am aware the LRA and its leadership is committed to peace.”

To read the full article, go to AllAfrica.

Govt. to Woo Kony with Help of Gen. Bamuze

Working to bolster the Juba peace talks, the Ugandan government has asked Gen. Bamuze to meet Kony and other top LRA commanders to build confidence and woo them out.

Former leader of the National Rescue Front II and currently serving as a senior army officer in the UPDF, Maj. Gen. Ali Bamuze has gone through a similar experience and will be able to build the necessary trust needed for Kony to become more involved in the peace talks. The meeting will take place in Southern Sudan.

Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, the Government’s chief negotiator, cited that Bamuze, Gen. Moses Ali and Taban Amin include some of the people who have led rebellions in the past but have resolved them peacefully.

To read the full article, please go to New Vision.

Aching Heart Turns to Love Through IC

After a tragic car accident, Grant Small is looking to the invisible children to make a difference by saving lives.

The staff of Invisible Children are continually inspired by how people are responding to the documentary film. Grant, a 17-year old in Oregon, was moved by the documentary so much that it’s helping him cope with a tragedy that scarred him forever.

To read the article on Grant, go to the Oregonian.

Schools for Schools: Take Your Money, Give it Away

If you don’t TRI, who will?

The Tri Campaign:

Give Peace a Tri – Pledge $3 per week. $3 a week (that’s one cup of coffee) sustains Invisible Children and the programs that are changing lives in America and Uganda.

Your simple, consistent donation can change:
1. Culture – IC changes culture by creating fresh, eye-opening media.
2. Policy – IC brings you unique events, garnering political attention and policy change.
3. Lives – IC changes lives here and abroad through education.

If you don’t TRI, who will? Sign up now.

New Invisible Children Clothing Line

Check out the new shirts we have available at our store…

Schools for Schools Tour

IC’s Fall ‘07 Tour to jumpstart your S4S club, here’s how: