The tragic reality of the Lugot of Sudan

High in the mountains of southern Sudan, among lush forests and fertile soil, live a group of people descending from the Acholi tribe known as the Lugot...People of the Mountain.

At the end of February, a team of YWAMers from the Arua and Yei bases journeyed to the Lugot villages to visit these people we have been praying for. What they saw broke their hearts.






In the foothills of Upper Talanga, there are 7 villages that make up Isore Pyam. The total population is approximately 4,700 people, but there’s not one pit latrine to be found. Nor are there any shops, clinics, or hospitals. The nearest place to buy salt is a 12-hour mountainous walk away.



















"This is a people group on the verge of extinction," Bosco reported. "They are merely survivors. There are no pit latrines, and the place is hilly, so all the feces gets washed down into the rivers...the same water that they cook with, drink, and occasionally bathe in."









Our team drove as far as they could to a place called Lobone, and then shouldered their bags for the 5 hour hike to Isore Pyam. There are no roads to the villages, no NGO work or development of any kind, not even a church presence. In Lobone, a couple of pastors joined our team for the trip to Isore...it was their first time to ever reach the place. Most people just don't bother...it's too far and too isolated.

Our team crossed rivers on precarious bridges (above),

and climbed up steep hills (left) ,

and more steep hills (below).

A few dedicated teachers run one school outside under a tree, which serves all 7 villages. They teach students from P1-P4 all together...about 40 kids in total. Many others can't come because it's just too far away from their homes.











The students do their best to learn in this makeshift classroom










The Lugot men spend most of their time hunting for bush meat. If they have a very successful hunting trip, any excess meat can be carried to Agoro in northern Uganda and sold. The proceeds then go to buy salt, sugar, etc. Again, Agoro is a 12-hour walk over hilly terrain! Not something you do very often.










A successful day for this hunter.















Our team was astonished at how fertile the land was, but the Lugot were growing very few crops.















A healthy bunch of bananas

"Look at what we are eating," this woman said to Bosco.
"Wild greens from the swamp."

A close up of the wild greens














The Lugot people have no tools for digging and no seeds for sowing...the few crops they grow are sorghum and cassava (used for brewing the local beer), maize and bananas. The rest of their diet consists of bush meat...


Paul (red shirt) studies his piece of bush meat

and honey.

Pastor Sam shares a bowl of honey still on the comb









Here the team shares a plate of cassava bread and greens...




















Pastor Sam prays for the lady who cooked the meal...













...and Bosco washes it down with the only available water for drinking...taken from the polluted river. (Yes, they all took various medicines for deworming and other diseases when they got back!!!)



"One of the big problems in that place is that everyone drinks the local beer and smokes marijuana. In the evenings we heard some co-wives fighting and screaming, but nobody comes to help them. No one cares...it's just normal."

Historically, the Lugot have been victims of circumstance. Some years back, the notorious Ugandan rebel group...the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA)...hid in the hills of Upper Talanga and terrorized the Lugot people. The Ugandan army and the southern Sudan army teamed up to flush out the LRA from that area, and the Lugot were caught in the crossfire. They were blamed for aiding and supporting the LRA, even though the LRA were in fact killing the Lugot. When the LRA attacked the Langi tribe in southern Sudan, the Langis retaliated against the Lugot. The Lugot people had nowhere to turn, with enemies on every side. It’s not surprising they turned to drugs and alcohol...their lives looked hopeless to them.


This hopelessness pervades the area...it's as if the Lugot people have resigned themselves to their fate. Our team members found this little boy sitting off by himself, looking miserable, and they asked him what was wrong. He just pointed to his belly with a haunted look in his eyes, and our YWAMers couldn't stop their tears. "He looked so sick, without any hope in his eyes," said Paul. "Even his parents seemed to have no hope of seeing life in him. He had isolated himself away from the other kids, like he was just waiting to die. It was horrible."






Witchcraft and animism are practiced in Isore, and our team came across several altars used by the local 'priests' (ie. witchdoctors).






This is the house of a known witch doctor...notice the small stone altar to the left of the door




A close up of the stone altar











A hilltop altar used by the witchdoctors for sacrifices












In spite of all the hardships and challenges, the Lugot people were very welcoming and hospitable. Our team sensed openness and a desire for change in the place. They held several meetings and explained to the Lugot that we had heard about them, had been praying for them, and wanted to visit them so we could learn first-hand about their situation and pray with greater understanding.








In typical African fashion, the men sit together on one side of the clearing (above), and the women and children sit on the other (right).











The Lugot women and children












We didn't promise roads or schools or clinics, but wanted to make the initial contact with the Lugot and let them know they are not forgotten. One Lugot man said, "If you come to help us build a road, we are ready to join hands with you. Even if it means cutting the stones or the logs, we are ready for it."

Our YWAM team is still seeking God about the next step, but in the meantime, please pray with us for the Lugot people...

• For their health and safety.
• For that little sick boy, and the children in general.
• That God will make a way to bring His people into that place and transform the hearts and lives of the Lugot.
• That a physical road will be built to help the people of Isore access the simple staples of live easier, like salt and sugar.
• That they will come to know Jesus, and become the salt themselves.
• For wisdom for our team as we seek the Lord.
  

Thank you, and God bless.