Title: Ending the War on Uganda’s Children
Author: Barbara Gibby
Publisher: URLink Print & Media, LLC
ISBN: 1647534720
Genre: Non-Fiction
Pages: 308
Reviewed by: Arthur Thares
Hollywood Book Review
With a title like this, you know that the book’s content isn’t going to be light and fluffy. The contents are often sad, scary, and unimaginable. I had many mixed emotions while reading Barbra Gibby’s memoir, but I’m happy I did, and I’ll tell you why. If you take one thing away from reading this book, it should be to count your blessings. It is easy to forget how easy developed nations have it and that places in the world still live a manner that we would find inconceivable. For many of us, a day without power would be a nightmare, but in some places that Barbara Gibby visited, a day without power is just a day.
This book covers so many of Uganda’s naturally occurring atrocities that Barbara Gibby saw with her own eyes. She describes heartbreaking things like rampant sickness caused by bugs, dangerous animal attacks, and an ongoing AIDS epidemic. A significant portion of the book is about Mrs. Gibby’s time in Uganda and her mission to deliver clean water to the people for drinking and sanitization. Some of the illnesses she described from their unclean water make you shudder just thinking that some human beings still live in those conditions.
Whether intentional or not, Mrs. Gibby also terrifies with humanity’s state in Uganda and the surrounding area. Stories she tells about the rebel armies in the area and the atrocities they have committed will keep you up at night. Mrs. Gibby’s own close encounters with dangerous people and situations will give you respect for the author. Knowing that she went through what she went through and returned to Uganda multiple times gives you some insight into her strength and heart.
Another thing that impressed me while reading this memoir is how detailed it was, down to conversations and the beverages they were drinking while having them. Mrs. Gibby must be a dedicated diary keeper to be able to write in such detail. Her writing style is clear and concise, and every sentence had its place in this book. There was no fluff, just information. Along with her experiences, she has also documented others’ stories, including her longtime traveling partner, those living in Uganda, and the area’s tragic war-torn history.
I wasn’t expecting a transformative experience when I started reading this book, but it really opened my privileged eyes. I think it is brave and commendable what Mrs. Gibby has done for so many years, and I think everyone should read this book to gain a better understanding of what is going on in the world. I learned a lot about the plight of the Ugandan people, their history, and a hopefully better future thanks to the help of their people and caring humans from around the world. This book isn’t fun; it’s not exciting, but it is captivating, and in my opinion, a must-read.