Bloodshed and panic filled the streets of Kampala Uganda when two bombs killed 76 civilians including one American while they watched the televised World Cup final. As smoke and terror filled the streets of Kampala Pepperdine Law students remained safe on the other side of the city.
This is the fourth year that students from Pepperdine’s School of Law have gone to Uganda through the Global Justice Program. Ten law students are living and working in Kampala clerking for the local justices and working closely with the Ugandan Supreme Court. The students also pursue a large amount of non-profit and charity work with Ugandan street children.
2009 graduate John Napier and Sean Coone a second-year law student gathered this past Sunday to celebrate the closing of the first African World Cup. Fortunately they were in a different part of Kampala when the first bomb detonated.
“We have been working with a CBO that takes in street children they wrote in an e-mail, so we wanted to treat them to the game. It was right as the game ended we started getting text messages from the embassy notifying us of the attack. We made sure to get the kids home but didn’t fully comprehend the severity of what was going on. We actually walked across the city to get home. It was eerily quiet and we passed the empty police station on our way back— all those on duty had gone to the scene of the attacks.”
Al Shabab a terrorist group with links to Al Qaeda that works mostly within Somalia has claimed responsibility for the attacks. Members of the organization publicly rejoiced in the success of the bombings and threatened the release of future bombs in the city.
Coone said despite the recent bombings students should continue to pursue a global education and global experiences. He called the bombings a “wake-up call” to both the Pepperdine Students and the city of Kampala.
“People want to believe that this was a single attack and that there won’t be another one for quite some time but I think everyone realizes how vulnerable they are Coone said. I don’t know of any terrorist attack like this in Uganda so it was a wake-up call to most of Kampala. Uganda is no stranger to violence.”
Napier who has lived in Uganda for almost a year working through a Pepperdine School of Law fellowship said he has no qualms about continuing his work.
“I don’t think this should dissuade students from coming to Kampala. Anywhere you go in the world will have some kind of danger level and I don’t think that should dissuade people from going out and serving. I feel safe because of the people here in Uganda: the judges and the members of the Pepperdine program. I am fully confident of their ability to keep you safe and if needed advise us on the wisest course of action.”
Although no Pepperdine students were hurt in the attacks the bombings resulted in the tragic death of American Nate Henn a relief worker for Invsible Children from Delaware.
“It’s an absolute tragedy Coone said. This was a man who came to Uganda to help other victims and he became one himself. It’s absolutely senseless and I hope that doesn’t discourage others from continuing his important work. It’s so sad to say but in a way it has kind of become a reality of living in a post 9-11 world. Terrorism isn’t a Ugandan or even an American issue…it has become a global one.”
Invisible Children is a San Diego-based non-profit organization seeking to end conflict in Northern Uganda rebuild schools educate future leaders and provide jobs. They have raised awareness and affected change in Uganda through their documentary “Invisible Children and fundraising campaigns.
Both Napier and Coone expressed enthusiasm for the Pepperdine Law Global Action program, as well as the people and country of Uganda.
Timothy Perrin, vice dean and law professor at the School of Law, recently returned from Kampala and gave his sympathies to the victims.
Perrin wrote in an e-mail: We extend our concern to the victims and their families and hope that the wrongdoers are brought to justice. I have been in contact with our students and they are doing fine. I was fortunate to be in Kampala with them last week and they have each thoroughly enjoyed their experience in Uganda. “
Coone and Napier emphasized the need for continued work even in the face of imminent danger. They plan to remain in Uganda for the remainder of the program.
“When there is important work to be done Coone said, we can’t abandon our purpose with every threat.”