Abducted by Kony, Sgt Eyokia narrates ordeal as wife to man in military
by URN · The ObserverMilitary life is often synonymous with sacrifice, both for service members and their families.
Many have noted that being married to a soldier is far from glamorous; it demands patience, resilience, and an unyielding spirit to endure the unpredictability and stress. Sgt Jackline Eyokia knows this reality all too well.
Married to Cpl Godfrey Surundu of the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) for over 20 years, her journey has been marked by both profound hardship and moments of joy.
The culmination of these years came on October 26, when Surundu, after 23 years of service, stood at the quarter guard of the Fourth Division Infantry Barracks, marking his transition to civilian life. Eyokia could not contain her joy. Dressed in a red and silver gown, she waved and kissed her wedding ring, symbolizing a long-awaited reunion.
Eyokia, a nursing officer at Bombo Military Hospital, had travelled to Gulu to witness this memorable moment. Presenting her husband with a red flower, she ululated with tears of joy.
“So, I have just come to witness his send-off, which has pleased me. We have waited for this day as a family and as a wife because he has always been away. He comes home for two weeks on pass leave, and it’s never enough. We still needed his presence, his love, his talks,” she said.
But these moments of celebration are intertwined with memories of pain. The early days of their marriage were particularly harrowing. Shortly after Surundu joined the army, Eyokia was abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels in January 2002 while staying with her aunt in Pakele, Adjumani district. At that time, Kony and his forces had retreated to the Imatong Mountains in South Sudan, about 80 kilometres from Kitgum’s border.
Eyokia, who was 37 and a mother of two at the time, was among several family members taken to South Sudan. There, she was forced to serve in Joseph Kony’s household, taking care of his children. She recalled the grim reality of her abduction.
The LRA was known for its brutality, and Eyokia suffered repeated sexual violence from junior rebels. However, Kony himself grew fond of her due to her care for his children. This unexpected favour saved her from further assaults, and she was later assigned military training, conducted in Arabic under harsh conditions.
Eyokia’s resilience further earned her respect among the rebels when she completed a three-month training program in emergency medical care and was assigned to the sick bay at the rebel base. “Rape stopped, the beatings stopped, and they started respecting me because I was the one taking care of their injuries,” she said.
As the UPDF intensified operations against the LRA, Eyokia was eventually rescued and taken to Kitgum Rehabilitation Centre. Her life took a positive turn when she was recruited into the UPDF, completed nine months of military training, and later graduated from a primary teacher’s training college. She went on to earn a diploma in nursing from the Mulago Health Training Institute and was deployed at Bombo Military Hospital.
Reflecting on her journey, Eyokia commended the UPDF for transforming her husband. “Today, my husband is going home as a ‘home pastor’ and a father figure, and I don’t regret what the UPDF has done for him. From his modest earnings, he ensured that all his children graduated,” she said.
Dressed in a navy blue suit, holding a trumpet and the bouquet from his wife, Cpl. Surundu expressed gratitude as he left the barracks. “Lord, I thank you for protecting my life, and I thank my wife who endured my long absences. Now I come home,” he said tearfully.
However, military service did not end the trials. Surundu’s missions included chasing Kony’s rebels into the dense Garamba forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Life in the jungle was harsh, with six months of surviving on minimal food and facing constant attacks.
“There was no time to cook or bathe. We would boil beans, put them in a jerrycan, and eat them for five days,” he recalled.
Yet even after their reunion, challenges remained. Eyokia’s health complications from her abduction and the stigma associated with her trauma tested their relationship. For six years, the couple separated, but they eventually reconciled with the support of their children. Today, they stand as a testament to resilience and hope, admired by the armed forces and their community.
As Cpl Surundu, 53, embarks on civilian life, Eyokia continues her service in the army, embodying strength and commitment. Their story underscores the sacrifices military families make and the unwavering spirit that helps them endure.