The First Gathering of Survivors-Birth of TONIMO Foundation

When we first came together as Survivors in Northern Uganda, the memories of war still weighed heavily on our hearts. We remembered not only our own pain but also that of our brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, relatives, neighbors, and friends, many of whom we saw being shot, or even forced to harm one another. These experiences scarred our communities and left wounds that words alone can never heal.

In those early conversations, we shared our stories openly and honestly, because we knew that our survival came with a responsibility, to ensure that the mistakes and horrors of the past would never be repeated. Just as Survivors of other historical injustices have guided truth and reconciliation processes elsewhere, we too turned inward, seeking guidance from each other on what not to do as a community,nation and on how to chart a better path forward.From those discussions was born the seed of what we first called Tomorrow Uganda, a vision that later grew into the TONIMO Foundation.

We realized that healing could not come only from outside, or from agreements written far away; it had to be rooted in our own lived experiences. We saw clearly that many of the processes meant to bring peace and justice instead deepened frustration, because they focused more on technical agreements than on the real healing of survivors and families.

We resolved, therefore, that TONIMO must be Survivor-centered, a home where the voices of those most affected would guide every step, where redress would be more than words, and where healing would be collective. Our commitment is to address not only the war’s direct violence but also the patterns of harm that continue to flow from systems of neglect and injustice.

As Survivors, we believe that any true redress must center people’s dignity and lived experience. This applies to the horrors of abduction, the loss of family, and the destruction of community, just as it does to other injustices, whether in Northern Uganda or beyond.
It is our hope that the world will not only listen to these testimonies but act on them. For these stories to gather dust, ignored or forgotten, would be to repeat the very patterns of abandonment that we endured. TONIMO Foundation exists to break that cycle, building a future where healing, resilience, and restoration lead the way.