Lokiru Lotee was a healthy young herds boy, tending his father's cattle.  The Jie people to whom he belongs, from the Kotido area in the north of Uganda, are pastoral people, keeping herds of cattle, sheep and goats, which are very precious to them. They live off them, drinking their blood, which they tap from a vein in the neck of the cow, mixing it with the cow's milk. They also use them for paying marriage dowry, and very occasionally they sell an animal if a major problem arises. On the whole they do not perceive their cattle as an economic asset, although this is slowly changing with some of the few educated people. Because the area is prone to drought, the cattle have to be moved around to wherever there is grass and water, sometimes many miles away from home.   The task of herding the cattle is given to small boys. It is a common sight to see these boys, like Lokiru Lotee, running after the cattle.

Neighbouring the Jie are the Bokora and Dodoth peoples, who also keep cattle. From time immemorial they have been raiding each other's cattle.   In the past they came armed with spears, and bows and arrows. Now they come with AK47 sub machine guns, bought from traders who bring them from the Sudan. One day about 15 years ago Lokiru Lotee was herding the cattle in the middle of the day, when warriors from the neighbouring Bokora tribe struck. They started firing at random. Unfortunately, Lokiru Lotee was shot in the leg.It took quite some time before his family could get him to the local Health Centre where he was referred to Matany Hospital, run by the Comboni Sisters. It was too late to save his leg and so it had to be amputated.   Since then, for the last fifteen years, Lotee has been hobbling around with a stick, very difficult in an area where there is practically no transport except shank's pony!

For as little as £75 Lokiru Lotee, together with many others like him, can now be fitted with a prosthesis in Ongino Hospital in the neighbouring District of Kumi, enabling him to move around more easily once he has learnt to walk with it. Please help Lokiru Lotee and the many young and older people like him whose difficult lives can change for the better with your generosity. 

Featured Below  Is Beatrice Ajeleik Nakiru Who Has Already Benefited From Your Help

Beatrice is about 20 years old and has just finished Primary School. In 2003 she had cancer of the bone and lost her left leg above the knee. Her mother is dead and her father is elderly. She and her sister look after the family.

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