The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs offered significant support to Lacor through specialists to train the interns, as well as facilities and equipment. By the end of the 1980s the Italian Government was among the major contributors to International Foreign Aid by European governments and Uganda represented one of its major recipients, especially through health programs both to government and non-government institutions. Lucille was on the frontline of training these young doctors. The very first group of interns included Dr. Matthew Luwkiya (who would soon become the hospital’s deputy superintendent and who would die a hero’s death by sacrificing his life, together with twelve other staff members during the 2000 Ebola outbreak), Dr. Isaac Ezati (who would take over as surgeon at Lacor before moving to Mulago National Referral Hospital and then to the Ministry of Health; he remains on Lacor’s Board of Governors). Among the next groups of medical interns were Dr. Opira Cyprian in 1985 (now Lacor Hospital’s Executive Director), Dr. Odong Emintone in 1989 (now Medical Director), and Dr. Ogwang Martin (now Institutional Director). In 1986, after the second ousting of Milton Obote, a weak coalition governed until the end of the year, when Yoweri Museveni’s NRA rebellion took power. The ousted army was mostly from the North, where the dissent led to the formation of rebel groups. In 1987 Alice Lakwena, a young Acholi spirit-medium, formed the Holy Spirit Movement (HSM) into which most rebel movements in the north merged. After a series of spectacular victories against what was perceived as the occupying army, she led her forces towards Kampala, garnering much support from other ethnic groups that also had grievances with the Museveni government. Lakwena’s forces were defeated. From 1986 the hospital was repeatedly looted by rebels at night, sometimes several times a week. The rebels held the staff and patients at gunpoint looking for money and drugs. Piero and Lucille were also held at gunpoint several times within their home, the residence within the compound closest to the hospital gate. When they couldn't find what they wanted, they kidnapped the nurses to force the hospital to pay a ransom. Most of the staff lived within the hospital compound with their families for security, and went to work at night in civilian clothing to avoid being recognised and kidnapped in case of a rebel raid. This heroic dedication and resilience by the staff went on for years.