The document summarizes the armed conflict in Northern Uganda between the LRA rebels and government forces from 1986 to 2008. This caused over 2 million people to be displaced and more than 20,000 children to be abducted as child soldiers or slaves. While some internally displaced people and former child soldiers have returned home since 2008, their rehabilitation and reintegration presents complex challenges. One large IDP camp near Pajule hosted up to 24,000 residents for an average of 3 years but could not meet their basic needs, and addressing the social and economic issues is difficult.

1. Since 1986 an armed conflict raged through Northern B
Uganda between the rebels of the Lord’s Resistance Army Ex i-an
pe nu
Ti
(LRA) and the government army (UPDF), causing the
m
displacement of up to 2 million people and the abduction of nd al
el
more than 20,000 children, forced to serve as child soldiers,
itu
in
sex slaves and labourers.
re
e
Uganda Since 2008, an estimated 900,000 internally displaced
people (IDPs) have returned to their homes and a number of
former child soldiers have been demobilised or have
escaped. Yet, the issues surrounding their return are
complex. In particular, the rehabilitation of formerly abducted
Pajule adolescents, their reintegration with IDPs of the same age
and their communities of origin, and the provision of training
to foster their livelihoods are of great concern.
One of the largest IDP camps rose around the town of
Pajule, Pader District, Northern Uganda, as people fled their
villages to avoid the LRA raids. The camp hosts up to 24,000
residents for an average of 3 years, but it cannot meet their
basic needs. This major issue is compounded with the need
for social capital reconstruction, ex-child soldiers
reintegration and wealth provision.
Expenditure ($)
Microfinance Monitoring &
$5,000 Evaluation Contingency
Communication
2% $27,370 $19,550
$22,000
9% 6%
7%
Expatriate
Employee
$20,100
Land and Building
7%
Costs Local
$89,300 Management
30% $24,000
8%
Reduction of STDs Disabilities Aggressive Effect on Self-
Administration Livelihood
Opportunities Behaviour Esteem Training
$4,800
Children 2% Counsellors $76,365
Community $9,000 26%
Breakdown Physical 3%
Abuse Psychological
Abuse
Sexual
Abuse Stakeholders and Organisation
Participation
in Conflict Stakeholders Interest Effects Community
Loss of Reintegration and livelihood +++ Elders
Childhood 15-25yr old adolescents
opportunities
Parents
Separation from Family
and Community
Raised by
Commanders
Parents Assurance of child’s future ++ Sustainable
Siblings Social capital +/- Siblings
Exit Strategy
Community elders/chief Community cohesion ++/-
Community
Child Soldiers Other community Social capital ++/-
members Stability Child Protection 15-25yr old
Committee Adolescents
Neighbouring villages Knock-on effects +/-
Poverty War Displacement
Government Stability +/- Builders Counsellors Trainers Ed Bridge
Rebels and Military Recruiting children -- Alberta Filaferro
Other NGOs Working in partnership +/- Francesca Hughes
Expatriate Local Manager and
Farmers/other producers Competition +/- Manager Administrator Aaron Jamison