Surviving cluster bomb victims in Gulu have appealed to the government to consider their plights and enroll them for technical education in a bid to lift them out of poverty.

Majority say that since their limbs and arms were blown away by the bombs leaving them physically handicapped, they have been forced to depend on relatives for survivals.

Morris Latwee, a 46 year old man who lost his left limb to a landmine explosive in 1989 in Patiko in Gulu district, says that looking after his six children has become a challenge since he cannot cultivate the land.

Latwee says that with the unplanned ongoing resettlement, educating his children has become a nightmare since he has to sell household items to do so.

He asked the government to consider their request to provide them with technical support in order to improve their living standards.

In February 2011, victims of cluster bombs in Paicho Sub County demanded that the government give them resettlement packages.

The eight disabled survivors said that life has become unbearable because they cannot sustain themselves.

Berejino Okot, a 55 year old survivor said that hehad to return to Kinene Kala Maji satellite camp from Paicho Kal Ali in 2009 because he could not do any work to feed himself or his family.

Okot said that since October 2000 when he got hit by an explosive device from Atoo hills during a food distribution function, his life has never been the same, because he can no longer do any economic activity to support his family.

Okot who doubles as the Secretary for Publicity for Gulu landmine survivors association and the chairman of Paicho Landmine Survivors Group based in Paicho Sub County added that attempts to seek support from the government have hit a dead end.

He said that after wildfire destroyed his house which was constructed by AVSI last year, he has been unable to construct a new one because his right limb has been blown off and nobody in the community is willing to offer him any support.

Ms Monica Piloya, the Chairperson of the Northern Uganda Landmine Association told Acholi Times that there are hundreds of people registered with the association.

Uganda has more than 2,000 registered landmine survivors, majority of whom are from the war-ravaged northern region districts of Gulu, Kitgum, Pader, Oyam, Apac and Lira.