Community Based Reintegration of Former Youth Combatants

Community Based Reintegration of				fail to fit into the communities run back to
Ex-Combatants: A Case Study Of The Lord's				the reception centers, while others opt to
Resistance Army In Northern Uganda				stay in the major trading centers and towns
				within their respective districts, where they
Muwonge J. Maxie				do petty jobs like driving manual and motor
				bikes carrying passengers who pay them, hence
Human Rights, Peace and Development Worker				supporting their livelihoods.
and Researcher
				Implication of the Juba Peace Talks on the
Introduction				Reintegration of FAPs

The specific context of any conflict, and the				Generally the peace negotiations in Juba,
differentiating dynamics therein, inform the				after several failed peace talk attempts,
processes for resolving that conflict. In the				have largely been viewed by the war stricken
case of northern Uganda Lord's Resistance				communities of northern Uganda as the
Army (LRA) war, the nature and scope of				greatest opportunity for ending the conflict
commitments and interventions; evolving				through peaceful means. This sanguinity was
political and security frameworks, vision and				raised largely due to the increased
objectives set by the various stakeholders in				commitment and the desire by both the LRA and
an attempt to end this twenty years				central government of Uganda to find a
insurgency are informed by the nature and				peaceful end to the conflict, manifested
dynamics of this war. Many studies have				through the signing of the Cessation of
indicated the nature of the LRA war. The LRA				Hostilities Agreement (CHA). The success of
rebels mutilate, abduct children, widely kill				the peace talks in Juba is largely viewed as
civilians, commit rape and other acts of				increasing the number of FAPs, mainly
sexual violence as well as crimes against				children and women returning to live with
property including though not limited to				their families. This will likely create
burning down civilians' huts, destruction of				challenges for their community based
vehicles, economic extortion and stealing				reintegration and resettlement. The author
food and medical stuffs.1 Although it is				of this paper is aware that at the time of
right to argue that nature of LRA atrocities				writing this paper, the peace talks at Juba
is synonymous with other armed conflicts in				had stalled due to several counter
Africa like the Darfur insurgency in Sudan,				accusations between the LRA, GoU and
the 1994 Rwandan genocide and other				Government of Southern Sudan under the
scenarios, in the case of the LRA, many of				auspices of the chief mediator Reik Machar.
those who have committed crimes against				For the purpose of this paper, the author
humanity are under coercion from their				distances himself from interrogating the
abductors. At the core of the internal				reasons for the stalling of the peace talks.
organization of the LRA are the abductees,				It is his felt desire like many other peace
mainly children and youths, who are turned				lovers of the world that non violent
into porters, soldiers and wives.				solutions are reached to end this war.
				Considering that the hopes of the war
Many of the LRA ex-combatants who for the				communities were galvanized by the Peace
purpose of this paper will be referred to as				talk's success, he shares moral support with
Formerly Abducted Persons (FAPs), considering				the advocates for successful peace talks
that they were abducted and forced to commit				until the signing of a comprehensive peace
atrocities against their will, have over				agreement as expeditiously as possible.
years escaped from combat back into their
communities. In many instances, upon return				Implication of the International Criminal
from combat, the FAPs, due to their				Court on FAPs Reintegration
involvement in the violence against their
community during the war, are portrayed as				The ICC is the first ever permanent, treaty
prone to violence and criminally inclined and				based international criminal court
summarily perceived by members from the				established to promote the rule of law and
centrally war affected communities as a				ensure that the gravest international crimes
menace in one form to another. Such				do not go unpunished. "The 1998 Rome Statute
perceptions are premised on the bitter				of the ICC which established this court was
realities. When the FAPs were abducted they				entered into force on the 1st July 2002.
were coerced to commit an act of brutality,				Accordingly anyone who commits any of the
frequently against a relative, thereby				crimes under the statute after this date will
incriminating and traumatizing them so that				be liable for prosecution by the court".23
they are reluctant or unable to return to				Considering that Uganda signed the Rome
their villages for fear of accountability to				Statute of the ICC on the 17th March and
their community and revenge from those				ratified it on the 14th of June with no
enraged as a result of losing their				reservation, as a matter of state practice,
relatives.2				President Museveni of Uganda referred the
				situation concerning the LRA in northern
This paper describes the war situation in				Uganda to the ICC in December 2003.On the
northern Uganda3 and the plight of the FAPs				29th of January 2004.
and investigates the various initiatives
undertaken to ensure sustainable				The Argentine ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno
community-based reintegration of these FAPs.				Ocampo announced that "there was sufficient
It also provides achievable recommendations				evidence to start inquiring into the grave
to better their reintegration and functioning				human rights violations committed by the
within their communities.				LRA".24 On the 13th October 2005, the ICC
				pre-trial chamber unsealed the warrant of
Situational Analysis of the LRA Insurgency on				arrest for five senior leaders of the LRA for
Northern Uganda				crimes against humanity and war crimes
				committed in Uganda since July 2002. The
The entire Northern Uganda testifies to the				chamber concluded that, "there were
vicious suffering emanating from the LRA				reasonable grounds to believe that Joseph
twenty-year conflict with the central				Kony, Vicente Otti, Okot Odhiambo, Dominic
government of Uganda, characterized by mass				Ongwen and Raska Rukwiya ordered the
willful killings, abductions, rape and				commission of crimes within the jurisdiction
internal displacement of the civilian				of the ICC".25 On the basis of the above
population.				background a lot of excitement regarding the
				arrest of Kony and the end of the war was
Poor living conditions are prevalent among				registered among the civic, civil and war
the internally displaced persons (IDPs), who				affected communities. The hopes of the
are highly impoverished, displaced from their				community were frustrated when the ICC failed
traditional land, and suffering illness like				to immediately arrest the indicted LRA
cholera, malaria, and HIV/AIDS. The region				commanders. As such, the war affected
has witnessed interrupted education; families				communities inspired by their traditional,
have had to endure severe social breakdowns				religious and political leaders opted for the
as evidenced by the high numbers of orphans,				traditional justice system of Mato Oput that
child mothers, and child-headed families.				has been discussed above. Part of the
Communities are faced with shortages of food				reasons advanced against the ICC include, but
due to the inaccessibility of their farmlands				are not limited to, the fact that the ICC
in the areas far way from the respective IDP				does not have retrospective powers to
camps, and are hence left to survive on the				prosecute crimes committed before the 1st of
food rations provided monthly by World Food				July 2004, and its intended justice is not
Program (WFP).				fully representative and healing for all the
				war victims who suffered from the bloody LRA
A recent August 2006 IDP revalidation				offensive. In principle, the ICC justice is
exercise established that Gulu had 460,226				seen by the war affected communities to be
(87 percent of its projected population				insufficient in bringing about sustainable
estimate of 528,800) living in 66 protected				peace and reconciliation in northern Uganda
internal displacement camps/settlements as a				and as such is not preferred as a justice
result of the repeated and protracted forced				intervention for the LRA conflict, at least
displacements triggered by the insurgency.				for now.
This IDP population figure constitutes a
total of 118338 families/ households.4 If the				The ICC indictments of the top LRA commanders
same scenario of Gulu is reflected in the				directly inhibited the FAPs escaping from the
districts of Kitgum and Pader which had the				LRA captivity. The rebel commanders used the
IDP population of 31011 IDPs in 22 camps and				ICC against their abductees, whom they
319,506 IDPs in 30 camps respectively, then				convinced that they would be arrested by the
the total number of IDPs in the Acholi Sub				government forces and taken to the 'whites'
Region is 1089843.5 Most of these camps are				to be imprisoned by the ICC. This propaganda
highly under-serviced in spite of the efforts				worked on the FAPs' psyche for some time as
exerted by the Local Government together with				informed by this paper:
its Humanitarian and Development partners.6
The IDP situation, as a result of the LRA, is				We were told that the whites are looking for
extended to the Lango sub region, especially				us to be taken to the ICC supported by
Lira district as well as the Teso region in				President Museveni. We feared to come back
the east.				home first. But later when we learnt from
				the Radio Megga (Gulu based FM) that they
Amidst this war traumatized IDP communities				wanted the top commanders we decided to
are the hundreds of FAPs who were affected in				escape and come back home.26
multiple ways by being abducted, tortured and
forced to kill the same communities that they				For some of the FAPs in the IDP camps, the
now seek to reintegrate into. Whereas the				ICC indictment news made them scared that
general feeling is that the FAPs have been				they would also be arrested from the camp and
forgiven by the war affected communities of				taken to the ICC. The author is certain of
northern Uganda, the idea for them to stay				the lack of information within the war
with former communities that they were forced				affected communities as regards the ICC
to brutalize, has at times led some community				mandate and operation. This is attested to.
members to palpably insult FAPs as rebels,				In some of the interactions with the IDPs, a
which often stigmatizes them, causing deep				community member inquired if ICC was a person
psychological scars. Therefore there is need				they could talk to and explain the plight and
for understanding their plight before				innocence of their abducted and victimised
interventions for their reintegration is				sons and daughters, FAPs.27 It is therefore
commenced.				very crucial for the ICC to develop a
				communication strategy intended to sensitize
The Plight of the FAPs				the war affected communities whose justice
				they intend to represent and foster.
It is imperative to note that the FAPs are
the worst affected by the LRA insurgency in				Needs Assessment and Constraints for FAPs
northern Uganda. From1996, a year marked by				Reintegration
intense fighting between the LRA and the
government forces - Uganda Peoples Defence				ï‚§ Long term reintegration beyond
Forces (UPDF), the LRA resorted to abductions				reception centers. Support from reception
and massacre of suspected government allies				centers is limited leading to apathy about
to terrorise the civilian population in				status in community. Reception centers can
northern Uganda.7 The LRA abducts children				only follow up a few FAPs for a few months
and adults to serve as soldiers, and girls to				after being returned to their communities.
serve as sex slaves to its commanders. Those
abducted are brutalized to deter them from				ï‚§ Not all FAPs pass through reception
escaping. Those abducted persons attempting				centers. Most of the FAPs in Kitgum and Pader
to escape are killed or seriously wounded as				did not pass through reception centers and as
an example to others abducted.8 UNICEF				such missed out on the basic counseling and
estimates that over 25,000 children have been				rehabilitation to help them deal with the
abducted in the course of the 19-year LRA				violent situations they might be confronted
insurgency.9 The LRA reportedly favours 9				with within the IDP camps.
to 12 years old abductees because the age
group is the most malleable.10				ï‚§ The Amnesty Commission can provide
				amnesty certificates and a one off
A deeper interrogation of the process and				resettlement package in their Gulu Office.
consequences of abduction of especially the				Access to services of the Amnesty commission
children and youth into the ranks of the LRA				from Pader is very difficult because of
informs us that:				travel to Gulu for the poor FAPs

â€¢ Most FAPs were abducted when they				ï‚§ Awareness, respect and redress for
were children;				rights of FAPs especially for peace, life,
				health, property ownership, self
â€¢ As an initial indoctrination of the				determination is insufficient.
FAPs, they were coerced to commit atrocities
against their own communities as a way of				ï‚§ Sense of belonging to and coexistence
incriminating them, thereby making it				with communities is needed and anticipated by
difficult for them to return home;				the FAPs. The reconciliation with community
				is obstructed because of fear of vengeance
â€¢ FAPs were isolated and turned against				and lack of self confidence and image. They
the members of their families and				need receptive home communities.
communities;
				ï‚§ The livelihood systems for the FAPs
â€¢ In many instances, FAPs were				are lacking. As such they are in a state of
inflicted with physical and psychological				poverty and lack knowledge of practical ways
abuse;				they can improve their well being

â€¢ Frequently, the FAPs were forced to				ï‚§ Many young FAPs express the need to
give up their personal identity by				continue with their education. It is
undertaking new names; and				imperative to point out that many IDP camps,
				especially in Gulu and Kitgum, have a nearby
â€¢ For the young girls, they were raped				school. Some of these schools, commonly
and forced into marriage with the LRA top				referred to as bush schools, are started by
commanders.				the government, former teachers and camp
				inhabitants who have attained some level of
Over 90 percent of the girls and young women				higher education
abducted by the LRA were forced into
marriage.11 Of these, at least 73 percent				ï‚§ Health services, especially for HIV,
continued to fight as soldiers even if				primary health care and access to medical
married.12 Although difficult to come to				services are insufficient.
terms with, the young girls repeatedly raped
under the 'marriage of convenience with the				ï‚§ Psychosocial support to deal with
rebels' were safer than those who were				effects of trauma is dearly needed. Many FAPs
single. Interviews with some of female FAPs				say they still experience post traumatic
indicate that unmarried boys and girls were				stress disorder even after reception centers
responsible for the heaviest and most				and traditional cleansing ceremonies. FAPs
dangerous workloads such as carrying supplies				are called many derogative names like 'demon
or moving to the front of a military				possessed', murderers and LRA prostitutes.
deployment in battle.13 I wish to clearly
state that this does not necessarily imply				ï‚§ Skilled leaders able to provide
that FAPs especially the young girls who were				support for community reintegration
raped under the disguise of being married to				mechanisms.
the LRA commanders did so voluntary. In
reality, they were forced into marriage and				ï‚§ Risk of re-abduction or killing if
have sex against their will, after being				found by rebels.
beaten, tortured and threatened with death.
				ï‚§ Community bitterness because they
In principle, the FAPs were physical and				feel that FAPs were part of the rebels who
sexual slaves of their abductors. If you are				caused their suffering in the IDP Camps.
to form a picture on the situation of the
FAPs while under captivity, the chances are				ï‚§ Skepticism about what the government
that the imagery will be very tormenting and				or community may do either to punish the
traumatizing. Many researches and studies				ex-rebels or seek revenge.
like the ones cited in this paper have been
very good at helping us map out the ghastly				ï‚§ The weakest interest groups like
and inestimable suffering the young men and				child mothers, the disabled, HIV affected and
women (FAPs) went through under LRA				the female gender feel disempowered because
captivity, but fall short of answering the				of stereotypes about roles of the female
question of who is responsible for their				gender.
suffering.
				ï‚§ The different initiatives undertaken
Uganda is one of the African countries that				by the various humanitarian agencies to
have signed and ratified most of the				support livelihood systems of the FAPs in the
international conventions and treaties that				camps have not seriously engaged the question
define and prohibit slavery and practices				of whose land they are using giving rise to
similar to slavery like abduction of				land conflicts
civilians in times of war and peace. These
include, but are not limited to, the UN				Conclusion
charter of 1945, UDHR of 1948, Slavery
Convention of 1962, Convention on the Right				Community based reintegration of FAPs has of
of Children, and Geneva conventions which				recent become well recognized to be a
place obligations on individuals and warring				necessary intervention in transforming
parties to govern their conduct in war, and				societies in northern Uganda by various key
recently the 1998 Rome Statute of the				stakeholders like the government of Uganda
International Criminal Court. UDHR (1948)				and its development partners. It is
declares that everyone has the right to life,				imperative to point out that this development
liberty and security of the person.14 The				is not a cure-all for sustainable
1995 Uganda Constitution provides under				reintegration and reconciliation of the FAPs
general principle 3 that all organs of the				and their communities which they once
state and the people of Uganda shall work				assaulted.
towards the promotion of national unity,
peace and stability.15 It is the primary				I wish to point out that some of the NGOs
responsibility and duty of the government of				like JYAK have undertaken community based
Uganda to protect the life and property of				reintegration initiatives of the FAPs from
all Ugandans at all times. The existence of				the reception centers and those who directly
IDPs in northern Uganda, with some of their				found their way into their villages. JYAK for
family members forced into military combat by				example attempts to transform the apathy,
the LRA, is a clear testimony to the				guilt, isolation, trauma and violent response
inadequacy of the various duty bearers, in				to provocation of the FAPs to reconciliation
Uganda and the failure of the international				within the FAPs, their families and
community to protect the rights of these				communities, initiating self development
victimized people.				activities to foster their responsible and
				human rights observance and to living with
The above should not be perceived to mean				other IDPs. The main activities are
that nothing has been done by the responsible				establishment and strengthening of FAPs'
duty bearers in Uganda and beyond, primarily				groups; peace and self-help training;
the Government of Uganda. There have been				psychosocial support; support for Amnesty
both military and dialogue (stick and carrot)				registration, public engagement; advocacy and
approaches, whose merits and challenges are				networking; and economic reintegration of
not necessarily discussed in this paper. The				FAPs through vocational and entrepreneurship
discussion is around the stark realities of				skills development. Such initiatives of JYAK
the civilian (IDPs) suffering as one category				and other like minded partners are intended
of victims alongside the FAPs, whom this				to support sustainable grassroots initiatives
paper takes to be the worst affected. For				for effective community based reintegration
these, there is no contest over the actuality				of the FAPs, with the major component of
that they were not protected from being				promoting their livelihood systems.
manipulated and used as pawns in sustaining
the whole insurgency.				Community based reintegration of the FAPs
				could be a success story, if it were to be
Whereas these sound strong statements, they				engaged in an integrated way by the various
can be substantiated. Some scholars are in				stakeholders; civil society, the government,
agreement with me that behind the LRA				religious and cultural institutions
abductions is a systematically crafted				represented in the region, working in
strategy of turning the population of				conjunction with the primary war affected
northern Uganda against the government in				communities to realize social and conflict
power, which has majority members from the				transformation under the themes of
south. This has widened the north-south				forgiveness, peace, unity and reconciliation.
divide, which the author, like many
nationalists, does not support and looks				Recommendations
forward to its end through academic and
proactive activism engagements with the				â€¢ For sustainable resettlement and
responsible stakeholders as analyzed in the				reintegration of the FAPs and IDPs to be
authors other related papers: The Northern				attained, there must be security guarantee
Question in Uganda; and Joining Hands to				for both their lives and property. The
Build a better Uganda through National				government and its development partners need
Recocniliation16				to have in mind a fall-back position on how
				to deal with the same community in case the
The above statement is premised on the				Juba peace talks that have raised hopes for a
reality that the LRA use the abducted young				peaceful end of the war fail.
girls and boys on the battle front as human
shields. During the UPDF offensive against				â€¢ The government action plans for
the LRA, most often they could kill the armed				northern Uganda like, the National Peace
abductees as rebels. From some of the				Recovery and Development Plan for Northern
interviews with the FAPs who survived the				Uganda (PRDP), must address the livelihood
UPDF offensive, came the following:				component of the FAPs and IDPs for their
				sustainable reintegration in a strategic
We used to fight the UPDF troops once we fell				planned manner.
into their ambush. We had to put up a
spirited resistance against them to save our				â€¢ Local communities' initiatives to
lives, because if you were to retreat the LRA				facilitate reintegration are tempered by the
commander of your group could shoot you.				fact that they themselves are strapped with
What we feared most were the government war				psychological, economic and social
planes that could drop deadly bombs, killing				constraints that have already depleted their
many of our colleagues. We were however				traditional and socially entrenched coping
instructed upon seeing their advance towards				mechanisms. Additional mechanisms that serve
us, to remove our shirts, smear with dust or				to shift responsibility from individuals to a
mud, take cover in a tree of bush, hiding				system are necessary to compensate for the
both our finger and toe nails, and in that				lack of resources.
way the planes could not easily spot us.17
				â€¢ Specifically, mechanisms that serve
Whereas some of the FAPs survived combat,				to aid local communities' capacity building,
many died. When these children are killed in				monitoring and evaluation of resources
combat by the UPDF, their parents condemn the				allocated to uplift their livelihoods and
government for killing their children. As a				community initiatives for reintegration and
result many enraged parents of the killed				reconciliation would assist in developing an
abductees resent the government, which				effective overall response to improve FAP and
indirectly meets the intended objectives of				IDP livelihoods.
the LRA of turning the people of the north
against the central government of Uganda.				â€¢ Skills training and learning centers
There have been instances where the abductees				are needed so that FAPs can continue their
who had managed to escape from the LRA during				educations and learn income generating
combat with the UPDF found themselves				activities.
harassed and physically harmed by the
community members where they had run for				â€¢ Sensitization training should be made
rescue. This resentment is attributed to the				available to community members in order to
fact that most of the families that had lost				address the negative attitudes that clearly
their relatives could not stand any LRA				exist and impede community based
suspected aide or involved combatant. They				reintegration and reconciliation with the
transferred their rage to the escapee FAPs				FAPs
for revenge. Although such road blocks exist
in the course of the FAPs pursuing freedom				â€¢ Equalization of reintegration
from their abductors, many found their way to				programming across sub-counties and
the reception centers like Gulu Save the				districts, especially Pader and Kitgum, need
Children Organization -GUSCO and World Vision				to be tracked to ensure everyone has access
- where they were received and rehabilitated				to program resources.
for a while before being rejoined with their
families. Some of them who were captured by				â€¢ Cultural leaders need to be
the UPDF were taken to the barracks and later				facilitated in performing traditional
transferred to the reception centers. There				cleansing rituals as a part of the welcoming
also exist those FAPs that directly escaped				and reintegration ceremony for the FAPs into
from combat and found their way home to their				their former communities.
relatives, and those who failed to trace
their relatives or feared the communities'				â€¢ Community forums are needed for the
revenge against them, and who moved to the				FAPs to share their experiences with the rest
main towns within the war affected districts				of the community. This aspect will strengthen
to engage in petty brokery jobs to earn a				reconciliation given that some FAPs harbor
living.				bitterness over the fact that few attempts
				were made to rescue them from the Bush when
Reintegration Initiatives for FAPs				they were abducted.

Uganda's former child soldiers, haunted by				Community Based Reintegration suffers from a
exposure to violence at a young age, often				lack of shared vision between the community
find little solace when reintegrated into				and the FAPs. While the community provides
their home communities. When they return				the basic necessities for survival, the FAPs
home, the nightmare continues, as they face				generally feel that this is insufficient
stigmatization from their family and peers.18				given what they have been forced to endure.
The government of Uganda has not come up with				This failure to anticipate the expectations
a comprehensive plan for reintegration of				of the FAPs is at the heart of the
FAPs back into their communities. Few IDPs				dysfunction within the IDP community.
feel that reintegration of FAPs has been				Several approaches can be taken to engage
satisfactory so far. Some FAPs have had				this issue:
difficulties, for example, to adjust from the
power of the gun as a source of self-reliance				â€¢ An open, consultative process along
and the gun being taken away without				the lines of traditional community dialogue
facilitation for alternative livelihood				between the parties to arrive at some sort of
skills. What exists as reintegration				shared position and to answer the question of
intervention processes by humanitarian				what type of practical assistance would be
agencies and the civil society, are basically				deemed sufficient.
ad hoc activities implemented and duplicated
by the various stakeholders. Nevertheless,				â€¢ FAPs should create groups of their
the government of Uganda instituted the				own, with elected leadership, which can
Amnesty Commission to process blanket amnesty				interact directly with local leadership and
for the LRA.				NGOs. The FAP groups should be able to
				critically assess their own needs and inform
I Amnesty for the FAPs				the parties of their intentions. This would
				also help to avoid duplication in
As a response to the persistent insurgency in				programming.
Uganda, the government enacted the Amnesty
Act in the year 2000. This move was to				Health concerns regarding HIV/AIDS and
pardon, exempt and discharge former rebels				malaria, water and sanitation and other basic
who voluntarily give up fighting the				health services are prevalent in the camps.
government through military means from				Reduction of avoidable mortality and
criminal prosecution or any form of				morbidity from trauma as well as communicable
punishment from the state. The blanket				and non-communicable disease and maternal
amnesty that the government offered to all				risks, through access to safe and quality
people engaged in rebellions against the				primary, secondary and tertiary health care
government of Uganda, including the LRA,				services, as well as environmental health for
covers all rebel movements since the 26th				all affected populations should be the
January 1986. For the LRA ex combatants				central objectives for all health
interviewed in the process of writing this				interventions.
paper, the greatest significance of the
amnesty law is that it confers upon them as				â€¢ Monitor health threats and risks,
beneficiaries of amnesty, an irrevocable				including provision and /or enhancement of
legal immunity from prosecution or				the early warning surveillance and outbreak
punishment. Indeed Key LRA rebels like the				response systems.
former notorious Brigadiers Sam Kolo and
Banya received blanket amnesty from the				â€¢ Address critical threats with
government. A number of junior LRA commanders				appropriate and quality primary health care
and FAPs who managed to escape from combat				actions and strengthen secondary levels of
and gave up arms have equally been granted				medical care in the affected areas.
the amnesty status. There is a general
consensus within the war affected communities				â€¢ Address gaps in health services
to grant full amnesty to the FAPs especially				delivery and support in re-establishing
those who were in the lower ranks of the LRA				essential and emergency medical, public
because most of them were victims of				health and environmental health services.
abduction against their will. It is
imperative to note that "the Amnesty Act 2002				â€¢ Ensure that FAPs and IDPs - with
of Uganda empowers the Amnesty Commission to				particular emphasis on women and children -
promote appropriate mechanisms of				have access to facilities, supplies and
reconciliation in the affected				information that contribute to their hygienic
communities".19				status and protect them from water-borne
				diseases.
The affected communities perceive the Amnesty
process to be insufficient for reintegration				â€¢ Awareness campaigns and counseling
and reconciliation as understood by the war				for the community and FAPs about the risks of
victims. At most, some of the FAPs are given				HIV/AIDS.
amnesty certificates, blanket and mattress,
plus some basic farm equipments. The victim				â€¢ Prevention and support for victims of
communities perceive the amnesty packages				Gender-Based violence (GBV) among IDPs and
from many aspects. Some argue that the				FAPs.
government is empowering the FAPs, who are
perceived by some community members as the				â€¢ Establish mobile health care units
perpetrators that contributed to the				and strengthen functional health centers
communities' suffering in the camps, while				capable of delivering maternal and child
others feel that the packages are necessary				health, non-specialized mental health
to enable the FAPs to start a new life after				services, and chronic disease management.
abduction. The families of the FAPs feel that
proper reintegration of their children should				â€¢ Increase sanitation facilities for
on be at the top of the Amnesty process				IDPs living in public facilities, and support
involving traditional cleansing, Mato oput.				their maintenance and operation.

II Acholi Traditional Justice Mechanism -				â€¢ Increase access to hygienic supplies
Mato Oput				for IDPs and FAPs so they can maintain
				personal hygiene levels and protect
This is the traditional justice mechanism				themselves from water-borne diseases.
among the Acholi people who are mainly
affected by the conflict. This practice is				â€¢ Related promotional activities,
widely accepted within the IDP communities as				ensuring in particular appropriate
ideal for cleansing FAPs before their				participation and sustainability of
reintegration with their families. It is				interventions.
carried out usually at both family and IDP
camp levels for the FAPs with and without				There is a concern that current Reintegration
amnesty certificates.				activities that involve construction of
				shelters in the camps only benefit the
The mechanism is based on the offender's				long-term residents and not those that would
(FAP) declaration of the wrong he or she				relocate once the FAPs and IDP community
committed. Inherent to this process is the				resettlement into their original homes is
identification of acts committed by the FAP,				undertaken. Thus appropriate sites must be
which are Kir (Taboo) to the Acholi				identified for the accommodation of FAPs, and
Traditions. These acts range from war crimes				for the communities to pursue land-based
to antisocial violent acts. The Taboo (Kir)				Income Generating Activities, such as
is cleansed through extensive rituals, which				agricultural or animal husbandry.
often constitute part of the reaffirmation of
common values or behaviors. A common ritual				â€¢ Designing shelter assistance
involves stepping on a raw egg which				strategies to minimize tension between the
symbolizes pure and untouched, the Laibi				displaced persons and host communities.
stick, used for opening the granary
symbolizing that the individual is returning				â€¢ Identifying possible new sites and or
to eat home, and a twig from the Opobo tree,				communal building, and undertaking
traditionally used to make soap symbolizing				rehabilitation, where necessary, to keep
cleansing.20				minimum living standard.

The same rituals are conducted for IDPs that				Effective implementations of the assistance
have started the voluntary return and				and protection activities outlined in this
resettlement into their original homes				paper are fully dependent on stable security
especially in Gulu district. A deeper				situations within the camps. Due to
interrogation of the whole Mato-Oput system				displacement and the accompanying increase in
reveals that:				the levels of poverty, there is a greater
				risk of domestic and sexual violence and
â€¢ Mato-Oput is a cultural resolution of				economic exploitation, especially of children
conflict in Acholi carried out by the Rwodi				and women. Conflict resolution mechanisms
Moo, the traditional institution concerned				between the FAPs and IDPs are also
with reconciliation.				inefficient, as there is little or no police
				presence in the camps, only a camp commander.
â€¢ It focuses on genuine forgiveness for				Issues above his ability to resolve are
the offenders like FAPs who ask for				currently referred to the army, which is not
forgiveness, leading to reconciliation of the				in position to provide adequate resolution.
offender and offended. Usually, the elders				Interventions aimed at improving the security
from the FAPs clan acknowledge guilt and				situation should focus on:
regret it, while the victims' clan elders
agree to mend fences after factual				â€¢ Ensuring a systematic protection
investigations.				monitoring system of all IDP sites.

â€¢ An agreement is worked out by the				â€¢ Ensuring physical and material safety
elders, including a kind of compensation in				of identified vulnerable FAPs with particular
form of livestock, usually cattle, or handing				emphasis on women, children and elderly.
over a young girl to the deceased's family
and clan, expected to produce children to				â€¢ Ensuring children are protected from
replace the dead.				violence, abuse, and exploitation.

â€¢ On the agreed date the compensation				â€¢ Contributing to securing a safe
is done, elders conclude the process by				environment for women, girls, and young
sharing a bitter drink (made from the roots				people and supporting victims.
of the Oput tree). This is the ceremonial way
of swallowing the bitterness.21				End Notes

The author wishes to clearly highlight that				1Refugee Law working Paper No.11 (2004),
the component of handing over the girl to the				Behind the Violence: Causes, Consequences and
family of the deceased is not generally				Search for Solutions to the War in Northern
supported by all the Acholi people in				Uganda, Faculty of Law, Makerere University,
contemporary times, although there are some				Kampala-Uganda.
conservative groups who wish to keep the
entire Acholi custom intact with that				2ICG African Report No77 (14th April 2004),
component. Many of the families, who opt for				Northern Uganda: Understanding and Solving
Mato-oput, give cattle to the deceased				the Conflict.
family, which is expected to be used by that
family to marry a woman for one of their				3In this paper, the northern Uganda region
sons, who will give birth and replace the				constitutes the districts of Gulu, Pader,
deceased member of the family and clan. In				Amuru and Kitgum within the Acholi sub
summary, the traditional practices that are				region; Apac, Oyam, Dokolo, Amolatar and Lira
partly used to restore the broken				districts within the Lango sub region; Moyo
relationships of the FAPs and the victimised				and Adjumani districts in Madi sub region;
communities have some shortcomings.				Kotido, Moroto, Nakapiripiti and Kaabong
				districts in Karamoja sub region; Arua,
â€¢ The process is very expensive for the				Koboko, Yumbe and Nebbi forming the West Nile
highly impoverished IDP communities whose				sub region. The political definition of the
children are FAPs. Some civil society				north takes into account all those districts
organizations like Northern Uganda Peace				that have suffered under the armed conflicts,
Initiative tried in 2005 to sponsor a team of				despite the fact that they are categorized
Acholi leaders to undertake rituals of mato				statistically to be in the eastern region.
oput in welcoming back the FAPs to be				These districts in the North Eastern Teso
reintegrated into their families.				region include, Soroti, Katakwi, Kumi,
				Kaberamaido, Pallisa and Amuria.
â€¢ Many human rights activists are
contesting the component of giving a way a				4Muwonge Maxie et al (2006), Needs and Impact
girl to the deceased's family to compensate				Assessment of the FAPs in Kitgum, Pader,
for the dead family and clan members.				Amuru and Gulu districts, Jamii Ya
				Kupatanisha-Fellowship of Reconciliation,
Consequently, many FAPs whose families and				Kampala Uganda.
clans have logistical support to meet the
cost involved in undertaking this traditional				5WFP report (July 2005), Northern Uganda
practice have tended to feel that they are				Revalidation Exercise
not cleansed, and hence not properly
reintegrated into their communities.				6OPM-Department of Disaster Preparedness and
				Refugees Report (December 2005), Return
III Reintegration into the National Armed				Resettlement and Reintegration of IDPS
Forces				Strategic Plan in Acholi Sub region.

Some of the FAPs, upon escaping from the LRA				7Before 1996 Kony was perceived many people
opt to join the national armed forces. It is				including some leaders from Northern Uganda
imperative to note that by and large, the				as a hero promoting Acholi subnationalism,
process of FAPs joining the armed ranks of				and indeed some of the fighters he started
the state is voluntary. For this category of				with voluntarily joined him to pursue this
FAPs, they feel better being reintegrated				cause. When the communities shifted from
into the army to provide services - safety -				supporting him, he adopted a revenge approach
to the communities that they were once forced				of terrorizing them through such activities
to brutalise while under the LRA captivity.				as abducting their children.
These FAPs are given full military training
and passed out in various categories, some,				8Jemera Rone (September 2005), Uprooted and
as part of the Uganda People's Defense Forces				Forgotten Impunity and Human Rights Abuses in
(UPDF) and others as Local Paramilitias. In				Northern Uganda, report available at http//:
some communities like eastern Uganda, the
FAPs formed part of the AMUKA and Arrow boys				9Ibid.
to protect their own communities from LRA and
the Karamojong cattle rustlers. This paper				10see Behind the Violence, supra note 1 at
does not intend to examine the merits of this				23.
process. It nevertheless wishes to point out
that this approach for reintegration of some				11The Justice and Reconciliation Project,
FAPs has been under attack by sections of				Field Notes No.2 (September 2006), Young
both local and international communities. In				Mothers, Marriage, and Reintegration in
generic terms, those opposed to this				Northern Uganda: Consideration for the Juba
mechanism ground their allegations on the				Peace Talks, Liu Institute for Global Issues
perception that the government is using the				and Gulu District NGO Forum.
reintegrated FAPs in the military ranks as
human shields in the process of military				12The figures were obtained from structured
confrontation with their former abductors,				interviews that Liu Institute for Global
the LRA.				Issues and Gulu NGO forum conducted with 147
				young mothers formerly married to the LRA in
IV Reception Centers				the district of Kitgum, Pader, Amuru and Gulu
				in northern Uganda.
This intervention was the earliest attempt
modeled by the Civil Society Organizations				13Ibid.
(CSOs) to receive FAPs. Gulu Save the
Children Organisation (GUSCO) and World				14Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Vision International were among the first				(1948), Article 3.
agencies to establish reception centers for
FAPs. More agencies like Jamii Ya Kupatanisha				15Constution of the Republic of Uganda
(JYAK), a Swahili phrase for Fellowship of				(1995), National Objectives and Directive
Reconciliation in Uganda, among others,				Principles of State Policy III
joined to support these initiatives of FAPs
reintegration especially at the grassroots				16The author has written a research paper on
levels.				the northern Question in Uganda for the
				Center of Basic Research, Kampala. The paper,
Upon arriving at the reception centers, the				Joining Hands to Build a Better Uganda
details of the FAPs are taken and with their				Through National Reconciliation was written
assistance the search for their families from				for the Coalition of Organizations and
which they were abducted commences. While at				Institutions working towards National
the reception centers, the FAPs undergo				Reconciliation in Uganda, presented during
counseling as part of psychosocial therapy,				their Consultative Conference at Speke Resort
considering that many continue to experience				Munyonyo-Kampala, 12th -14th February were it
traumatic disorders due to the gruesome acts				was discussed by Professor Joanna Quinn from
they were forced to engage in while under LRA				the University of Western Ontario Canada.
abductions. Alongside the counseling, the
FAPs at the centers are physically				17Interview with a group of FAPs from Palabek
rehabilitated through provision of food				Ogili IDP camp in Kitgum district; the author
stuffs, and treatment of wounds and other				implements a community based reintegration
health hazards they contracted in the bush.				project of FAPs in Kitgum, Pader, Amuru and
Peace education components, like non-violence				Gulu districts.
skills are offered to the FAPs to help them
adjust their interpersonal relations with the				18Micheal Bionx Akena (February 2006),
communities where they are reintegrated. In				Uganda's Former Child Soldiers Challenged
World Vision reception center for children,				After War, Uganda Conflict Action Network.
"Bible teaching and prayers are emphasized as
ways through which FAPs seek for forgiveness				19See section 9 C of the Uganda Amnesty Act
from God for themselves and to forgive their				2002
abductors".22
				20Tito Owor Shanon et al (2003), Peace
The field officers under the reception				Building For Elementary Schools, A Teacher's
centers, upon finding the family relatives of				Resource Guide, Jamii Ya
the FAPs, arrange with the community members				Kupatanisha-Fellowship of Reconciliation in
who gather at a specified time and location,				Uganda.
usually the IDP camp where the family
relatives of the FAPs live. The FAPs are				21Ibid.
handed over by the reception center field
team to their families in the presence of				22Report by a senior Counselor, World Vision
other IDPs, who are called upon to be				Children of War reception center in Gulu town
supportive of the FAPs. This intervention as
well has its own shortcomings.				23See International Criminal Court:
				Historical Introduction, available from
â€¢ The FAPs upon being handed to the
local communities, find there is a very big				24Global Policy Forum Report (2004, January
gap in their livelihood support system. They				29th): International Criminal Court Gets its
come to the IDP camps where, unlike in the				First case: Against Rebels in Uganda,
centers, they can not easily access free
food, accommodation facilities, luxuries like				25Rene Wadlow (20th October 2005): Uganda:
TVs and videos, which they used to enjoy at				ICC Issues Arrest Warrants for Lords
the centers.				Resistance Army,

â€¢ As such, it is usually very difficult				26Interview with a group of FAPs at Atanga
for the FAPs from the reception centers to				IDP camp-Pader district
fit and resettle within these IDP
communities. Some IDP camp members are not				27The author works with both IDPs and FAPs to
friendly to them. They call them all sorts of				strengthen their community based
names as rebels. This traumatizes them again.				reintegration, resettlement and return within
				six IDP camps in the districts of Kitgum,
â€¢ Consequently, some of the FAPs who				Pader, Gulu and Amuru.

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Community Based Reintegration of Former Youth Combatants