China Keitetsi
Encyclopedia
China Keitetsi is a Uganda
n activist who has won international renown as a campaigner for the plight of child soldiers. The memoirs of Keitetsi, a former child-soldier herself, have been translated into French, German, Japanese, Chinese and other languages.
. Without her mother she spent her first years with her father and his new girlfriend. In 1984, at the age of nine, China ran off with her sister and tried to find her mother but she fell into the hands of the National Resistance Army
.
Kampala
fell on 26 January 1986. and Museveni was proclaimed as president, but Uganda remained haunted by civil war. Several armed groups fought against the new government. China, like many other children recruited by the NRA to fight in the battle against the Obote
government, remained in the ranks of the new government's army, the Ugandan People's Defence Forces (UPDF).
Berween 1986 and 1995 she made some short returns to civilian life but spent most of her time in the new governmental army. She lost many of her friends in battle and, like many other girls, was raped several times by her superior officers.
After spending ten years in the army of Museveni, China escaped from the army in 1995. She fled with a friend through Kenya
, Tanzania
, Zambia
and Zimbabwe
to South Africa
where she applied for refugee status. Four years later, China continued to fear for her safety and sought help from the Department of Home Affairs. She was referred to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and was offered reelocation in Denmark
.
She now lives in Denmark and has published her memoirs in a book entitled Child Soldier: Fighting for my life. She has become an international spokeswoman for the plight of child soldiers worldwide. China's book has been published in Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, South Africa, England, France, Spain, the Czech Republic, Japan and China.
She recorded an intro to the song "Blood" of the Kelly Family (sang by Jimmy Kelly on album Homerun, 2003).
Amnesty International
http://news.amnesty.org/pages/SVAW_biog_China_keitetsi
China Keitetsi homepage http://www.chinakeitetsi.info/
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n activist who has won international renown as a campaigner for the plight of child soldiers. The memoirs of Keitetsi, a former child-soldier herself, have been translated into French, German, Japanese, Chinese and other languages.
Biography
China Keitetsi was born in 1976 in the west of UgandaUganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
. Without her mother she spent her first years with her father and his new girlfriend. In 1984, at the age of nine, China ran off with her sister and tried to find her mother but she fell into the hands of the National Resistance Army
National Resistance Army
The National Resistance Army , the military wing of the National Resistance Movement , was a rebel army that waged a guerrilla war, commonly referred to as the Luwero War or "the war in the bush", against the government of Milton Obote, and later that of Tito Okello.NRA was supported by Muammar...
.
Kampala
Kampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
fell on 26 January 1986. and Museveni was proclaimed as president, but Uganda remained haunted by civil war. Several armed groups fought against the new government. China, like many other children recruited by the NRA to fight in the battle against the Obote
Obote
Obote may refer to:*Milton Obote, former president of Uganda*Miria Obote, Ugandan politician and widow of Milton Obote...
government, remained in the ranks of the new government's army, the Ugandan People's Defence Forces (UPDF).
Berween 1986 and 1995 she made some short returns to civilian life but spent most of her time in the new governmental army. She lost many of her friends in battle and, like many other girls, was raped several times by her superior officers.
After spending ten years in the army of Museveni, China escaped from the army in 1995. She fled with a friend through Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
, Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
and Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
where she applied for refugee status. Four years later, China continued to fear for her safety and sought help from the Department of Home Affairs. She was referred to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and was offered reelocation in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
.
She now lives in Denmark and has published her memoirs in a book entitled Child Soldier: Fighting for my life. She has become an international spokeswoman for the plight of child soldiers worldwide. China's book has been published in Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, South Africa, England, France, Spain, the Czech Republic, Japan and China.
She recorded an intro to the song "Blood" of the Kelly Family (sang by Jimmy Kelly on album Homerun, 2003).
External references
Interview with China Keitetsi in the Harvard Gazette http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2002/11.14/13-uganda.htmlAmnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
http://news.amnesty.org/pages/SVAW_biog_China_keitetsi
China Keitetsi homepage http://www.chinakeitetsi.info/