Over the past five years, Sister Linah Siabana, a mental health specialist belonging to the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa, has been working in settlements near the border with South Sudan in northern Uganda, helping to rebuild the lives of those displaced by conflict.
Uganda is hosting nearly 1.7 million refugees, who are spread across overcrowded settlements. “These settlements are filled with women, children and elderly people who have lost everything,” says Sister Linah. Adjumani District alone is home to over 54,000 refugees.
Sr. Linah arrived in 2019. In 2022, she led a year-long needs assessment in the Maaji and Agojo settlements. She worked alongside local leaders and learnt the local languages in order to gain an understanding of the struggles faced by the residents.
She uncovered widespread trauma, disrupted education and fragile coexistence between refugees and host communities. In response, she secured scholarships, launched vocational training programmes and organised therapy sessions.
“Spiritual care can rebuild resilience,” she says. “It helps refugees to process loss, find purpose and reconnect with hope.” On Sundays, she led communion services under a mango tree for those unable to reach a church.
In a dim tent, Sr. Linah kneels beside a woman who hasn’t slept in weeks. “The nightmares won’t stop,” the refugee whispers. “It’s not just the war they’re fleeing,” Sr. Linah says. “It’s the daily stress of survival here.”
As the team’s mental health lead, she helps to heal emotional wounds caused by abandonment, hunger and isolation. A recent change to UNHCR policy excluded some refugees from food lists, worsening their conditions. “When we provide basics like food, suicide rates drop. It’s that simple,” she says.
Working with the Refugee Welfare Council, Sr. Linah identifies vulnerable families through home visits. “They’re grateful just to be seen,” she says. “One elderly woman told me, ‘You remind me that I’m still human.”
Tensions persist between ethnic groups and host communities. “We’re not just aid workers; we’re mediators,” explains Sr. Linah. Her team promotes peace through dialogue, but the demand for their services exceeds the available resources and partnerships.
Beyond the camps, Sister Linah: Linah mentors’ young religious sisters in the Adjumani Vicariate, offering workshops on mental health and spiritual development. “Young religious sisters crave guidance, but trained counsellors are scarce,” she says. The work is complicated by travel challenges and limited infrastructure, but she remains committed. “Every encounter is holy ground, an opportunity to reflect Christ’s love.”
For Sister Linah, the mission is personal. “We walk alongside refugees and see Jesus in their suffering,” she says. “The challenges, the hunger and the tears rekindle our purpose: to heal, console and rekindle hope.”
While the world’s attention drifts away, her message remains urgent. “These are not just numbers. They are mothers, children and elders — people who deserve dignity. We cannot look away.” (Helen Kasaka) – (Photo: Sr. Linah Siabana with the Holy Childhood group after a communion service)
