Shropshire Star feature writer Tracey O’Sullivan has been to war-torn Uganda to see how the Catholic development aid charity Cafod is helping former soldiers re-integrate into village life.

Here, former soldiers tell of their life in the warzone. Video footage by Richard Wainwright.

A lesson in grace

It was one of the more usual lunches I have ever shared with anyone – but possibly one of the most welcoming and certainly the most generous. It summed up a poignant and memorable trip to Uganda.

Just after finishing interviewing a grandmother who had seen two of her sons abducted by rebel forces, and who had suffering the devastating loss of another who died while trying to escape, we were left humbled as she invited us to stay for lunch. I say humbled because of the little she had, which she was willing to share. It’s not unusual for her family to eat only once a day because of a shortage of food.

Now 72 years old and settled in a village after years spent hiding from brutal conflict in the harsh and cruel environment of a refugee camp, this was a matter of pride to show how far her family had come.

We watched as her grandchildren chased a chicken, throwing boulders to kill it, and then observed fascinated as the chicken was chopped up and thrown in the pot and cooked for us.

Together with a thick chocolate-coloured bread and a green stewed vegetable it was served in her hut – but without Mama, as she is known, present. In Northern Uganda the custom is to feed visitors first with the remains given to members of the household. Simple generosity and pure grace.

It was a privilege to be invited to share such a meal by someone who has every right to begrudge trusting anyone – least of all strangers from thousands of miles away. But it is part of the reason Uganda now has hope of recovering from 20 years of war during which the most innocent were caught up in the clashes between the Lord’s Resistance Army and Government forces.

Thousands of children were abducted to fight and be given as slaves to the LRA and now, with a fragile peace in place, are steps being taken to replace what they lost – and that includes a means of supporting themselves financially.

I was invited to Uganda by Cafod, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, to see their projects at work in the area.- projects aimed at rebuilding communities as well as lives and providing a sustainable future with new sources of livelihood.

During my stay I was also invited to attend a village meeting to find out more about their own savings and loans scheme called SILC.

Partners to Cafod Caritas had loaned this village around £130 to get it back on its feet. The money was used by villagers to help people buy equipment for new businesses, tools for farming or essentials for school.

Each amount has to be agreed by the villagers and paid back with extra contributions from each new business going back into the central funds. A year after it was started it had soared to more than £150 available. When you consider £4 can probably feed the village for a week that’s a significant achievement and one David Cameron can only dream about as he tries to kick-start his own big society.

The immense pride every single member of this village had in being self-sufficient and being able to feed their families – and guests- was all too evident to see and certainly helped to raise a smile in faces still desperately haunted by what they have been through.

And understanding that this collective works despite the fact that we had during our interviews talked to a former abducted soldier who had been forced to take part in an attack on a nearby town during which another member of the village had been shot and killed brings home all the more how important this work is.

Caritas and Cafod are giving these people back a sense of belonging and an acceptance to once again be among their families and neighbours. Forgiveness is a major part of that process but so is independence and standing on their own two feet. It was a honour to be invited to tell their stories and a delight to join them for a lunch I will never forget.