Kampala — It may not just be a few rebel remnants believed to be scattered in Acholi land that are in the way of the Internally Displaced People's return to their villages, but deadly explosives.

In March, a man was digging in his garden, in Jenggani village, in Pabbo Sub- County, when he saw a metal, which he discarded and went on with his digging.

A child later picked up the attractive object and played with it. He was in a moment joined by six others. Minutes later, the landmine exploded, severely injuring all the seven children.

In January, in Paicho, Acwa sub-country, three children were injured by a landmine.

Fear of landmines

Besides the fear of rebels, there is also the fear of explosives, bombs and landmines that are still lying in the countryside.

According to the Mine Risk Coordinator at the Canadian Physician for Aid and Relief, (CPAR), Mr Douglas Kilama, the LRA mainly set these on pathways to forests and wells, targeting people looking for firewood and water.

Sometimes, the rebels plant the landmines along their routes as they retreat to stop the government forces from following them. CPAR, educates communities on mine risks through music and drama.

"It is still unsafe and people must be cautious especially in the counties of Aromo, Okwang and Ogur in Lira district," Kilama said.

Ms Monica Piloya, 31, the chairperson of Gulu Landmine Survivors Association is certain there are many explosives scattered in the north, because people are still being hit.

"Before people are resettled, the government should ensure that landmines are picked, there are many out there, people will die and there will be many victims," she told Daily Monitor in her office last week.

"This should be a priority".

A landmine hit Piloya in 1996 on her way to the market in Unyama village. Her baby, whom she was carrying on her back when she got hit never made it.

She was amputated and walks with an artificial limb.

The association has over 400 members (from Gulu district), all of whom are survivors of landmines.

Kilama said the dead outnumber the survivors.

"Most of the dead are children since they are very close to the ground," said Kilama. Ms Christine Adong, another landmine survivor, said children are the biggest victims because explosives are "bright and colourful."

When an explosive is spotted in Gulu, UPDF engineer Capt. Wilson Kabera is called in to remove or destroy the explosive. "But the area is big and he is very busy, he takes too long to go to the place, at times he takes months," Adong said.

Adong said there is an urgent need for awareness before people go back to the villages.

"Radio is good, but it is not effective, people need to see how we have been affected to understand the danger,"she said.

"We need support and we will educate the people."

The survivors have spent a week touring Gulu district on a landmine awareness campaign.

Where is home?

Mr Joseph Asutai, the manager of Echo Bravo, a Gulu-based NGO, said some people don't know where their villages are.

"Some were only eight years old or younger when they moved to the camps, their parents are dead and they don't remember the road home," he said.

"At best, they know the wide geographical area."

Asutai said land would be a problem, as there were never clearly marked boundaries between people's land before the war. People relied on features like trees and stones, which may no longer be in place. There are no shelters in the villages, it is raining and there is no grass for roofing.

No food in villages

"Food will be problematic," Asutai said.

"Having been living on handouts for years, it will be a challenge when people have to start producing the food themselves. There are young men whose bread-winner is the World Food Programme, teaching such young men to dig is going to be a challenge."

Then there are "urban IDPs" who don't want to relocate to villages.

Asutai said in Teso, some people, who moved to the IDP camps in June, have refused to go back to their villages.

Asutai said the biggest question is, whether the UPDF will still provide security?

"As long as there are even two rebels, someone with a gun to abduct people, there will be a lot of fear," he said.