Not talking about traumatic experiences: harmful or healing? Coping with war memories in southwest Uganda

Although there has been peace in most parts of Uganda since 1986, in Mbarara district in southwest Uganda nobody talks about their war experience; there is one big conspiracy of silence. According to the people who live there, it is not good to talk, it can be dangerous and can make you ill. This article deals with the question why these people keep silent about their horrifying war experiences. It appears that the community and the social and cultural institutions have been destroyed. People have no public space to share their memories of the war. Together with the economic, political and psychological aspects, this all contributes to a situation in which keeping silent might be the best thing to do.

Geachte bezoeker,

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Met vriendelijke groet,
Het psychotraumanet-team.


Reference: 
Marian Tankink | 2004
In: Intervention: the international journal of mental health, psychosocial work and counselling in areas of armed conflict, ISSN 1571-8883 | 2 | 1 | 03-17
http://www.interventionjournal.com/sites/default/files/03-17%20Marian%20Tankink_0.pdf