For the moment, Evelyn is still receiving some financial assistance from the lra (“not much”) and maintaining a connection with a relationship that was forced on her. “It hurts me to know what Kony has done and that he has so many other women,” she says. “It makes me angry. So I’ve always wanted to distance myself from him.”

She stops.

“The first person who called me when my mother died in February, though, was Kony. He found out from a local leader. He called, and we talked for two hours.” Evelyn drags the toe of her sandal from side to side under the wooden chair. “He was counselling me, letting me know everything would be all right and that he was going to find a way to help me out and take care of the girls.”Evelyn hugs Mercy and sets her on the floor, then reaches out and brushes Bakita’s cheek with the back of her hand.

“I learned that he is a good man. He’s not bad. That’s all I know.”