These weeks I spent every day in the villages of one parish in Kitgum district. Already a routine evolved; in the mornings my two research assistants Joyce and George meet me at the gate. George comes by boda boda, his motorcycle. Soon Michal joins us with his boda boda. And off we go, the gentlemen ride the boda and the ladies sit at the back. The road is dusty, the air is dry – the soil is eagerly waiting for rainy season. It takes about an hour to reach the villages where we carry out the field research. We move over tiny sandy roads, frequently trough some thorny bushes.
When we reach the village, we first meet the village head; the Local Council 1 chair person (LC1) to introduce ourselves. We then talk to individuals or organise groups of 5 men or women for focus groups.
We stay around all day, interviewing or hanging around a bit talking to youth. (I wish ‘hanging around’ was an official research method, because it really helps to get a lot of information). We make sure we are back before dark. I wash the red dust from my face and then I start typing my notes till late, preparing new questions for the next day. Intense, but wonderful work.
During the day, it can be quite a challenge to filter the truth out of many truths. Sometimes I feel more like a detective than a researcher. When people give various accounts of the same event my days ends with more confusion and questions than when it started. For example; in one village we met a most interesting LC1, who told has he has been the LC 1 ever since the RC/LC system was introduced in 1986. He could be Museveni’s brother. In detail he told how insecurity affected his work in the early 1980s, how he was nearly abducted by rebels and would sleep in the bush. In other villages I have to trace back the former LCs as much as I can. But in this village I can interview this one man over and over.
Until the next day, when talking to a different community member I find out the LC1 was first elected in 2001 and had at least two predecessors. I can hardly believe the LC1 told such a lie. How can he think we wouldn’t found out? We even explained my research is about the LC system...!
Truth is; every story bears meaning, even when the story proves to be fiction (the nicer expression for lies). He probably wanted to impress me, showing he was a good LC and hoping I could bring some prosperity to the village.
So, stories are interesting. It just costs me extra time, because for every story I need to do another 6 interviews to verify everything I have heard before!