By Sima Atri and Salvator Cusimano
From 1987 to 2007, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) waged war against the Government of Uganda (GoU), with devastating effects for civilians in Northern Uganda. The conflict is infamous for the widespread abduction of children to serve in the armed forces. Children were forced to commit serious crimes, often against their own communities and families.
The Amnesty Law, as well as a series of military offensives by the GoU which pushed the LRA into South Sudan, precipitated the return of thousands of formerly abducted children and adults. Many arrived at reception centers, which assisted their reintegration into the community. Community leaders and religious figures emphasized “forgiveness” rather than punishment.
This report documents Northern Ugandans’ attitudes towards returning children and transitional justice processes. The study was conducted in 14 sub-counties across the Acholi and Lango sub-regions of Northern Uganda from May to August, 2011. The authors surveyed 709 community members in war-affected communities, interviewed nearly 70 key informants across Uganda, and held 11 focus group discussions. This community-based approach to document Ugandan attitudes of children formerly affiliated with armed forces and armed groups, transitional justice, and children’s involvement in conflict is unique and offers a broad understanding of attitudes throughout the Acholi and Lango regions of Northern Uganda
