The village of Ngenengene, located in the commune of Lubunga, has tragically fallen into oblivion and desolation. Once lively and vibrant, it has been transformed into a ghost town, haunted by memories of a history of violence and intercommunity conflict between the Mbole and the Lengola. The imprint of the forest is now omnipresent, reclaiming its territory on the ruins of burned houses and scattered human bones, silent witnesses to past tragedies.
The civil society Sauti ya Lubunga bears witness to this heartbreaking reality, highlighting the striking contrast between the abandoned village of Ngenengene and the gradual resumption of life in Opela. However, on the Ubundu side, fear and mistrust persist, fueling a diffuse psychosis among residents and travelers. Traffic remains timid, the shadow of the conflict still hovering over the horizon of this place marked by tragedy.
The poignant story of the President of Sauti ya Lubunga, Crown Prince Isomela, reveals the extent of the pain and distress that persist in these wounded lands. The discovered bones, the abandoned bodies, all recall the chaos and tragedy that ravaged this once prosperous village. The displaced, fleeing the violence, find refuge in precarious sites, far from their homes and their history.
In this context of desolation, the vibrant appeal of Crown Prince Isomela resonates like a universal plea for peace and reconciliation. He implores the return of the displaced to their lands of origin, the reconstruction of a social fabric torn apart by hatred and violence. He embodies the fragile hope of a better future, of collective resilience in the face of hardship and trauma.
Ngenengene, a ghost village in Lubunga, is much more than a simple desolate land. It is the mirror of a wounded humanity, in search of redemption and justice. In its ruins, in its silences, echoes of deep suffering and a burning desire for healing resonate. May these words bear witness to this suffering, but also to this resilience, to this fierce will to rise from its ashes and build a brighter future.
In the shadow of the forest, the ghost village of Ngenengene awaits, mute and fragile, the breath of life and hope. May we, through our actions and words, rekindle this flickering flame, so that this place of desolation becomes a symbol of rebirth and reconciliation.