From Kabumba to Uganda: A story of survival, advocacy, and hope
Jan 22, 2025
Mulumehoderwa Balangalizi, also known as Jean Peter, was born in 1999 in the village of Kabumba, located in the Kanyola zone of Walungu District in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). For much of his early life, Kabumba was home to his family’s farmland and a mountain rich with minerals—resources that eventually brought turmoil to their lives.
In 2016, at the age of 17, Jean was forced to flee his home country, due to the ongoing war and the violence of rebel groups in the region. His departure marked the beginning of a harrowing journey, one shaped by survival, advocacy, and his unwavering commitment to helping others.
Mining in the Congo
The mining industry in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is marred by significant human rights abuses, particularly in the extraction of cobalt and copper:minerals essential for modern technologies, like electric vehicle batteries and smartphones.
The expansion of industrial-scale mining operations has led to forced evictions of entire communities, often accompanied by violence, including sexual assault, arson and beatings.
Child labour is another grave concern in the DRC’s mining sector. Thousands of children work in hazardous conditions, facing serious health risks and exploitation. Despite international efforts to address these issues, the complexity and lack of transparency in global supply chains allow such practices to persist.
Human Rights Watch has documented the exploitation of child labour in the DRC’s mining sector. Children are often subjected to hazardous working conditions, deprived of education and exposed to health risks due to prolonged exposure to toxic substances.
Moreover, the presence of armed groups in mining regions exacerbates the situation. These groups often control mining sites, extorting miners and perpetuating violence to maintain their hold on the lucrative minerals trade. The profits from these operations fuel ongoing conflicts, leading to further human rights violations and instability in the region.
Environmental concerns are also paramount. Mining activities have led to significant degradation of forests, pollution of rivers and soil and increased poaching due to population displacement. For instance, the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, a UN-protected World Heritage site, has suffered due to mining operations, threatening its unique biodiversity and the livelihoods of local communities.
A Youth Ambassador targeted
Before leaving the DRC, Jean was chosen to serve as a youth ambassador in his community. He worked with organisations, such as UNICEF and War Child Holland, promoting peacebuilding and children’s rights. However, his role as a leader and advocate made him a target.
One day, Jean and seven other youth leaders were kidnapped by rebels. Taken into the forest, they faced torture, deprivation, and fear. Two of the young women in the group—Esther and Shobole Visnuma—lost their lives at the hands of their captors. The rebels’ objective was clear: silence anyone who dared to oppose their control over the region’s resources.
“My family’s land had a mountain full of minerals like gold,” Jean explained. “When companies, including some from Canada and Belgium, came to exploit the resources illegally, they used the rebels to clear the land and silence anyone who resisted. I was advocating for my family’s rights when they kidnapped me.”
After a week of captivity, Jean was released under circumstances he attributes to divine intervention. But his release came at a cost: he could no longer remain in the DRC.
A journey to safety
With no means to pay for a plane ticket to countries like South Africa or the United States, where some of his friends sought refuge, Jean began his journey to Uganda. Along the way, he relied on the kindness of strangers and the support of churches.
“I went to Catholic and Protestant churches, where people contributed to help me. A pastor who was traveling to Uganda took me with him and paid for my transport. He helped me reach the refugee camp, where I was given a small piece of land to live on,” Jean recalled.
Life in the refugee camp was far from easy. To survive, Jean took on labor-intensive jobs like bricklaying and digging toilets—work that was starkly different from his life in Kabumba.
Rebuilding through education and permaculture
Despite the challenges, Jean found ways to contribute to his new community. Fluent in both French and English, he began teaching fellow refugees English and working as a translator.
In 2018, he started home-based teaching, going around the refugee camp to provide lessons in English and skills like permaculture gardening. Drawing on knowledge passed down from his grandparents, Jean taught families how to create sustainable home gardens, a skill that proved vital in addressing food insecurity.
Founding an organisation for change
In 2023, Jean founded an organisation to address the hunger and education challenges he witnessed among children and vulnerable groups in Uganda. One of his key initiatives was the Achi Valley Food Security Project, supported by a US-based organisation. Over six months, the project helped more than 100 families establish home gardens, providing them with both food and skills for self-sufficiency.
Jean’s work also extends to supporting children, orphans and people with albinism. “I love children,” he said. “They are the future. I teach them, provide them with seeds for gardening and ensure they have opportunities to learn.”
A vision for the future
Now married and a father to a newborn son named Jordan, Jean envisions creating a transformative space within the refugee camp—a large indoor community centre where big meetings can be held. This space would serve as a vital hub for communication, collaboration and the empowerment of refugees.
“I want to support my community in any way I can,” Jean shared. “This community centre could be the starting point for building unity and creating opportunities, even while we’re far from home.”
Jean’s story is one of resilience and determination. From the village of Kabumba to the refugee camps of Uganda, his journey reflects the enduring spirit of those who fight not just to survive but to foster connection and hope for others.
See Jean’s page to support his work.
Article updated January 27, 2025.