25th January, 2008
War Dance, a film featuring AMREF staff, has received an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Feature.
The film tells the story of three children from Patongo Displacement Camp in northern Uganda. Dominic, Rose and Nancy are members of a school music group who get a chance to compete in Uganda’s national music festival. Although each of them has a heart-breaking story to tell about the effects of the 20-year conflict in northern Uganda, the documentary captures their magical and courageous journey to one of the most exciting events in their lives.
The documentary also features interviews with the country director for AMREF in Uganda, Joshua Kyallo. AMREF has been working to promote health in the northern Uganda districts of Gulu, Kitgum and Pader, which have experienced insurgency for the last 20 years, forcing over two million people to flee their homes and settle in crowded camps for internally displaced people. AMREF activities in the region include provision of water, promotion of hygiene and sanitation, immunisation services, prevention and control of HIV and AIDS, and development of health infrastructure.
War Dance was funded by Shine Global, a non-profit organisation that is dedicated to ending abuse and exploitation of children through the production of documentaries and media products that raise awareness and inspire social and political change. Since 2005, AMREF has been working with Shine Global to draw the attention of the international community to the suffering of Ugandan children and families whose lives and opportunities for development have been destroyed by a senseless civil 
war that has gone on for too long.
Over the past year, War Dance has won critical acclaim and many international awards, including the Directing Award at the Sundance Film Festival. Proceeds from the film will fund programmes in northern Uganda run by AMREF and other organisations.