Ex LRA combatants and children born in captivity

Hi my name is Lanam Stella am fundraising for war affected women and children born from captivity

PROFILED LIST AND STORIES OF FORMERLY ABDUCTED LORDS RESISTANCE ARMY WOMEN FOR ADVOCACY PROGRAM.

I am called Achiro Grace, I was born from Padibe, loc-ken west village, Lamwo district. I am a mother of three (3) living a single life and currently live in Gulu city with my children too. I was abducted in the year 1990, January 1st during the post-conflict war of the lord resistance army (LRA) that was too rampant in Acholi land. I was then taken to captivity in Sudan where I was used as human portage for carrying heavy loads from one place to another in long distance, later on forcefully I joined the army of lord resistance army as a soldier. I served in the army for a period of seven (7) years then later I was given a rank of lieutenant in the army of which during the battle fields I killed many people too because I was forced to do so. On addition to the above, I was forced and handed over to one of the army commanders to be his wife. I gave birth to one child from captivity. I faced challenges from the captivity of which it includes famine, drought among others.

Life became so complicated that I needed to escape from the captivity and indeed, I did so, I escaped with my child and my friend and by God's grace we landed in the hand of one of the Ugandan civilianss from Pader district and he took us to a near by government Barack, and we stayed in from three good weeks and then later we were taken to a rehabilitation Centre for Caritas Uganda at a mission in Pajule. The rehabilitation took six (6) months, later on Caritas took us to Gulu for vocational training in tailoring. this was done after I was delivered home safely and welcomed warmly. Currently the challenges I am facing is land for settlement because later on I was chased from home, renting house for me and my children has become a problem because I got divorced with my second husband after him realizing that I was formally abducted in the captivity so I am living a single with my children. I there fore urged for kind support from any one who has kind heart to support me in this situation, well-wishers, stake holders, NGOs among others. I will be grateful for every hand that shall support. Blessed is the hand that give it than the one that take it.

 

It was during the post conflict war of the lord distance army (LRA) that I was abducted. I am called Achan Everline, born of Dye-Oryang Village, Kitgum District, 36 years of age. I am a mother of five (5) children and currently living in Gulu city. The abduction took place in the year 1995 from Kitgum District I was 11 years old. Life was not easy for me from the bush where I was forced to join the army at the age 12 years. I worked as a child soldier for a very long time and amidst the situation forcefully I was made to kill many people due to fear for my life too. I could walk for a very long-distance looting goods from various places. I saw many people dying and I smell blood shade. Famine and drought were seasonal but it affected my life. Later on, we went for a battle fields with the government soldiers and later there I was shot in my legs then I became unconscious. time came when I got myself in the hospital called St. Mary’s hospital Lacor in Gulu Uganda and in truth I don’t recall how I was brought back to Uganda because I was unconscious. After when I got recovered from the hospital, I was taken to a rehabilitation center in Gulu called GUSCO where I was trained in tailoring. After two (2) years of rehabilitation, the organization rent for me a house in Gulu district that has immerged to city of recently. I went back home only to check on my parents but currently I am living a single li8fe in Gulu city. on addition, my x-husband also returned home and he managed to get me again and I stayed with him as husband and wife for a long period of time then later we divorced because he got another wife and left me with five children.

My humble request goes to stake holders, well-wishers, NGOs among others to kindly support me and empower me in the tailoring business I am doing to earn living because I am facing challenges in renting houses, paying fees among others

The post conflict war of the lord resistance army (LRA) has ruined my future, Achayo Margret is my name. I was born in 1979 from Purongovillage, Nwoya district, 42 years of age. I was abducted in the year 1992 from purongo village and I was taken to captivity. I am a mother of three children and one child born from captivity and the other two were born from home.

Currently I am living in Gulu city together with my children but living a single life after a divorce with my second husband. I took ten (10) years in the bush and I returned in the year 2002, from the captivity I was forced to join the army and later given to one of the commanders to be his wife. I gave birth to one child from the captivity. life was so terrible for me from the captivity because was reallytortured,brutallybeaten. forcefully I was made to shade many innocent bloods in fear for my life. I walked in long distances from one place to another operating, killing and looting goods from various places. I remember so well in the year 2002 when we came to loot goods from Atiak sub-county in Amuru district, it was a successful release from the LRA soldiers that I should come back home because both of us (me and my child) we were all sick and we could not walk anymore and this how I was able to return home. Later on, I was brought to GUSCO which was the NGO rehabilitation Centre for war victims. I was rehabilitated for a period of six (6) months and in this period, I was trained in tailoring then later I was taken back home to Purongo Village, Nwoya district.

Life was so good for me after a warm welcome back home from my parents and other family members but little did, I know that my father had sold off the family land that we used to stay in and it remained only a little piece of land. I struggled with life and later I got my second husband that we produced two (2) children on addition to the one I produced from the captivity making three children. After my second husband realizing that I was once abducted, he left me and we divorced hence leading to my single life as a mother of three children. Life still continues but I am facing a lot of challenges majorly in renting houses, paying fees for my children at school, I never went to school so I have no job that I can do to earn living on but am striving with tailoring of which at times the money I earn from can not rent house .

I am hear crying out loud to stake holders, NGOs, well-wishers among others to lay hand of support om me and the almighty God bless every hand that shall support me in this tremendous situation.

I am called Auma Hellen, I was born from St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor, Gulu district and 36 years of age. I was abducted in the year 1993 from Pawel-langeta village, Amuru district during the post-conflict war of lord resistance army (LRA) that took place in northern Uganda majorly in the Acholi sub-region. I was abducted when I was nine (9) years and taken straight into captivity in Sudan. From there, I was used to carry heavy lords looted from various places, I could eat only twice or once in a week hence this weakened and tortured me physically, socially and psychologically. I wiped for my parents and family members whom I left them home because I got displaced and forcefully separated from them. When I was in the bush, I felt lonely, I heard gun shots and saw dead bodies in crowds. Later on, I was trained a child-soldier in which I was trained how to operate gun, shoot enemies and loot goods from various places. When I reached 13 years, I was forced to marry one of the army commanders of the LRA and through this, it resulted into giving birth to four (4) children from the captivity. After a long duration of time in the bush, we came to Uganda to abduct more captives and loot goods in the region of lango and Acholi. During this time, I was already pregnant of the third born and I used this moment to escape from the captivity of which it was successfully done. It should be known that I only escaped with one child and the first born I left with the father. I was welcomed by some family in the village of Gulu district next a hill called Atoo in western Gulu. Later on, the family members took me to Radio Mega and there I had a radio talk show on how I managed to escape from the captivity.

Later on, I was taken to GUSCO for rehabilitation in which I stayed there for six months, it was where I also gave birth to my third child and I got training on tailoring then later I was dispensed home. After that period my husband also returned home and later, he joined Uganda People’s Defense Force where he served as a government soldier and later passed on but before he passed on, we were living together as husband and wife. Currently I am married my second husband and I have produced one child with him though I am facing a lot of challenge of rejection from my husband’s family, challenges in paying fees for my children to school because both of us has no settled job to do. Renting houses for all of us has become has become a serious problem.

I am therefore seeking for help of support from any kind persons, stake holders, NGOs, Well-wishers among others to lay hand of support in this tremendous situation. Be blessed.

It was during the post-conflict of the lord resistance army (LRA) that I was abducted into the captivity in the year 1994 from Paicho sub-county, I am called Akello Margret, born in 1983 from Paicho sub-county, Gulu district. I was taken to captivity in Sudan. I went there as a young girl and was forced to get married to a one of the army commanders and indeed due to fear for life, I accepted to marry the army commander and during my life time with him, I gave birth to two children. When I was in the bush, I was forced to carry heavy lords from one lace to another and to make the matter worst, I was forced to join the army of lord resistance army from the captivity and amidst this situation I was forced to kill many innocent bloods and this really traumatized me. Amidst other challenges, famine and drought were the major challenges from captivity where I could hardly eat food but mostly feed on wild fruits from the bush.

After a long period of time in the bush, I thought of escaping from the captivity and indeed my plan did not work but later on I was captured by the Uganda People’s Defense Force when we came to Uganda to loot goods and this was done from Pala-bek in Kitgum district. I was kept in a place called Gang-dyang in kitgum district then later I was taken to Rachele Rehabilitation Centre in Lira district. I spent almost three years in the Center and later I was brought back home in Paicho sub-county in Gulu district together with my two children.

Later on, I got married to my second husband and I gave birth to two children and later on after he realized that I was abducted in the captivity he had to divorced with me and till now I am living a single life with the four children. This really tortured me and I had to shift to Gulu city where I am currently living. Amidst all these, I am facing challenges in renting houses for all of us, paying my children to school among others and all these due to rejection from my parents and divorce with my second husband. Therefore, I am here crying out loud for help from any kind persons, stake-holders, NGOs, Well-wishers among others to lay hand of support upon me and my children, May God bless you all.

 

I’m Alice lawino aged 45, a resident of Unyama sub county Pakwelo parish Ki-Nene village a mother of 11 children five are deceased while I’m currently living with my six children two boys and four girls. I was captured by the lord’s resistance army in 1993 at Unyama sub county Gulu district northern Uganda and managed to escape from there captivity in 1996 after spending three years.

It wasn’t easy for me to resist being captured because the person who came for me was my cousin brother. Making things worse for me they were in tension with another colleague who is also a rebel on who should take me as his wife, my cousin fired a bullet saying this is my wife so I was left with no option but to submit to him. Things worsened for me when he began to force me in to sexual intercourse at a tender age I wasn’t ready but he forced me in to it, more so we were related. This left me with no option but to escape. I together with the other colleagues whom we were arrested with decide to flee but unfortunately, we were intercepted and recaptured then brought back to the barracks. The commander in charge asked us what made us to escape from them. I and my two colleagues replied that we were lost from where we stayed, giving such excuse the three of us where put aside from the other who said she (a lady arrested from gang dyang in kitgum district northern Uganda) wanted to leave because she was tired of staying under captivity. Giving such reason to them, the commander ordered us to cut her in to pieces and if in case we refuse you will be chopped together with her. We were left with no option but to do as he said. Living me with a lot of trauma up to date. I managed to escape in the yeah 1996 but did not go through amnesty on fear of being hurt or even killed by the community because by then if they get to know that you are under amnesty they could attack your family on revenge that you where the one killing their family member’s. I came home four (4) months pregnant with my cousin. But manage to settle with another man this did not stop people from despising me saying I’m killer and a rebel up to now when it comes to election, I’m not allowed to contest for any post saying that I’m confused and I’m a killer they cannot be led by a murderer/rebel. Because the community keep talking about me, my husband left me with all the eleven children, five are deceased leaving me with two boys and four girls. Two are in school, the four dropped due to lack of tuition.

Currently I collect plastic bottles from occasions or ceremonies and sale them to bar operators in Unyama trading Gulu District. But during this corona pandemic things became worse since the bars have stopped operating because of the government restriction/ guidelines imposed to control the pandemic. Things became tougher for me and my family since it was the only mean me and my family survived on for our living. We were left with no option but to look for something from the nearby community to do, where we later resorted in to ploughing and weeding gardens but it was also hard sometimes to get, living us with no option but to starve for days. Things became worst for us this year when my grass hut house burnt down with all my belongings on the 17th September 2021. The cause of the fire was unknown so I decide to report to the local authorities but nothing has been done.

The greatest challenge we the war victims face are land issues, most of our clans’ members ignore the children we came with from the bush saying they should go and look for their father or go back to the bush where they are from. We also have problems of trauma, negligence from the community, some of us also came back infected with diseases especially HIV AIDS among others. So, my appeal to the government, other organizations and well-wishers is to come to our rescue a lot has been promised but nothing is being done.

The advice I give to any supportive organization or well-wisher and the government, if they can acquire land for us and construct a permanent structure/house to help us deal with fire destroying our grass houses where we lose a lot in terms of our harvest and house hold belongings.

Our children should be paid in school to help us deal with tuition issues which is highly affecting the children others have even dropped out of school engaging in early marriages thus affecting them badly.

Dialogue should be organized to unite us with our community members, since most of us are being accused and finger pointed to the extent I’m not allowed to contest in any organized election in my village and our land are being grabbed

In conclusion, I would like to thank war victim and children networking they have always been there for us giving us counseling and guidance for the past years and kept on checking on us, some other stake holders have come but we never see them again, I would also love to encourage the government to also do some follow up and profiling on we the war victims because we are going through a lot these days especially during this pandemic.

A PHOTO OF THE DIRECTOR WAR VICTIMS AND CHILDREN NETWORKING WITH ALICE LAWINO AND SOME OF HER FAMILY MEMBERS STANDING INFRONT OF

I am Akello Florence, I am 37 years of age. It was in 1995 that I was abducted from Awere-ibolo village, Pader district during the post-conflict war of the lord resistance army (LRA) that was majorly operating in Acholi Land and Northern Uganda at large. When I was abducted, I was only 10 years and this was hard for me to persevere the bush-life situation as a child. What I did not like was carrying heavy loads from one place to another because this was forcefully done and I went through a lot of brutalities. This really tortured me physically, socially and psychologically because I felt lonely and traumatized as a young child, I had no settled life from the bush because it was a up and down movement from one place to another.

I was trained to become a child-soldier of which later amidst all these I was forced to kill people from the captivity especially those who were not loyal to the command from generals. I can testify that through the training I was able to operate various types of guns at different levels. It should be noticed that I could hardly eat food but most of time I was feeding on wild fruitsand this guaranteed my life in the bush, I was able to produce three children from the bush after a forceful marriage to one of the rebels but unfortunately one child passed on from the captivity.

When life became so hard, I decided to escape from the infantry and by God’s grace I was able escape back to Uganda and this was a successful exhibit from the captivity. Later on, I was taken to World Vision for rehabilitation and I took a period of seven months. I was taken back home to Pader district, my family members only welcomed me but not my children so I had no where to take them and the only solution was to quit home and start renting house on my own together with my children. Later on, I got married to my second husband and I produced one child with him and later I got divorced hence I am living a single life woman with my children and currently I am living in Gulu city. I do minor business along the road side of Gulu main, market to earn living.

Amidst all these, I am facing a lot of challenges as a single mother, renting a house for me and my children has become a problem, most of my children has dropped out of school due to inadequate fees for them that I can not afford. Above all, the major challenge is land. I don’t have land for my children hence this is the biggest problem that I am worried of. Therefore, I am kindly seeking for help from different stake-holders, well-wishers, NGOs among others to kindly support me in this life-time situation.

I am called Atito Maurine, born in 1983 from Abam village in Kitgum district, aged 38 years, a mother of six (6) children. It was during the post conflict war of the Lord Resistance Army (LRA) in northern Uganda majorly in Acholi sub-region in which I was abducted to captivity by the rebels in 1995. It was a terrible situation for me as a young girl, I had to walk a long distance from Uganda up to Sudan where I encountered a lot of challenges in life in which famine broke in during the journey, I could hardly eat during the captivity but I was able to eat from was the wild fruit. Amidst all challenges, I was neglected from my family members hence this really tortured my life psychologically, physically and even socially. When I was in the bush, I was trained as a child-soldier and I was invited for many battle fields to fight and as a result of this, I killed many people including innocent bloods.

I was also trained how to abduct ladies and loot goods from various places of designation commanded by the army commanders, later on as a young girl who had grown up, I was forced to get married to one of the rebel officials and I produced two children from the captivity. Later on, the tremendous life became so difficult and I had to request for a release then finally by God’s grace I was brought back home from Juba to Uganda, later on I was shifted from Atiak Barack to Caritas mission for rehabilitation and then later I was taken back home safely. From home life became so hard then I had to get married to my second husband of which I produced four children on addition to the two children I produced them from the bush making a total of six (6) children. After the marriage, I got divorced with my husband and till now I am a single mother living in Cuk-Odii village, Laroo-Pece Gulu east.

The challenge I am facing is land conflict with my parents and family members because I have many children hence my parents and brothers are afraid of land being taken by my children in future so I am also worried where to have my children stay in future, I am not able to afford fee for all my children since their father left me with them with all the responsibilities hence I am therefore seeking for kind support from any well-wishers, NGOs, and stake-holders to support me in this tremendous life situation.

I am called Alaro-ker Lilly, born in 1979 during the power struggle between Idi- Amin and Dr. Apollo Milton Obote and this summarizes the meaning of my name,I was abducted in the year 1992 during the post conflict war of the Lord Resistance Army (LRA) that took place in northern Uganda for the past 25 years. I was abducted and immediately after some good months I was forced to join the rebel group and I was trained how to operate guns and looting goods from one place to another. It was a lonely life in the desert where drought affected me and famine too, at times I could drink urine instead of water and this really tortured my life.

Life in the captivity was worst than life in hell, there was no love, peace, food, water among others and these really affected my thinking capacity and confused me generally because had lost hope in life because every time was a time of fight. As a young girl, I was forced to get married to one of the army commanders. During my life time from the captivity, I gave birth to two children with the army commander I was forced to be with as my husband. Later on life became so worst and I had to escape from the captivity and my plan became true and successful where I reached Uganda from Pader district and the local people(Civilian) took me to Caritas a mission at Pajule in Pader district, I took three months at the mission for rehabilitation of which later I was brought back home safely.

I was warmly welcomed home by my parents and they were so happy to see me and immediately traditional ritual was done to welcome me home, few years later I got married to my second husband and I produced two children with him on addition to the two children I came back with them making four children but unfortunately I got divorced when he realized that I was once abducted in the captivity hence I am living a single life with the four children. I am therefore kindly calling upon any willing bodies, well-wishers, NGOs, stake-holders among others to support me because I don’t have anywhere to take my children because I have no land to settle in, renting has become a problem to my side and paying fees too.

I am by the names Aloyo Irene, born in 1982 from Pagik village, cwero sub-county, Gulu district. I was abducted in the year 1995 during the post conflict war of the Lord Resistance Army (LRA) that took place in Acholi Sub-region for the past 25 years. The abduction set a tremendous history in my life and goes like this;

I was abducted as a young girl who lived with all parents alive and all other family members, I was taken to the captivity by one of the army commanders who abducted me with the intention of making me his wife at the age of 13 years of age among all the daughters to my parents he abducted only me. This really broke my hope in life for the future because I had to leave studies and dropped out, I went to the captivity and there I became the wife to the army commander who abducted in 1995 and in 1996 I was able to produce one child (baby boy). Later on, I was trained to become a soldier of which I was able to operate various types of guns.

I was forced to kill many people as a soldier but unfortunately my husband from the bush passed on because he was shot from a battle field, I went through a lot of challenges including famine, drought and above all I was shot at my back and up to now the remain of the bullet is still in my body that they have never removed it till date. I escaped from the captivity back to Uganda after when my husband passed on, I managed to reach Uganda through Kitgum District. Later I was taken to Caritas mission in Pajule Pader district for rehabilitation that took a period of three months then later taken back home to Gulu town. I was warmly welcomed by my parents but later on I got married to my second husband and I produced two children with him but I divorced him and now am with another man up to now but no one wants need me from their family.

I have challenge of land because we are renting and at times its so difficult to raise tuition and fees for my children. Therefore, I am here seeking for help from any willing bodies, stake-holders, NGOs, well-wishers among others to support me where possible.

I am called Acheng Janet, I was born in 1979 from Atimi-kica village, Agago District. I am a mother of three (3) children currently living in wii-awara-nga Parish, Gulu city, it was in the year 2000 that I was abducted into thecaptivity during the post conflict war of the Lord resistance Army (LRA) that took place in northern Uganda for the past 25 years.

I was abducted when I was in senior four at my secondary Ordinary level from Adi-Lang Secondary School, this really ruined my future as a young girl who had a future based on my studies , I did not sit for my examinations due to the abduction and in my heart I had hope of going back to school because I thought I would not take long in the captivity but to make the matter worst I took a period of two years in the bush hence this spoiled my life as a young girl because later on I was forced and given to one of the rebels to become his wife of which I conceived in the second year when I was in the bush . I came and gave birth from home after a narrow escape from the hands of the rebels.

It should be noticed that life was not easy for me from the captivity, I walked long distances carrying heavy loads from one place to another, on addition to the above I was trained to become a child- soldier but I did not take long in the captivity. I also faced challenges in famine and drought where I could hardly eat food but majorly have been feeding on wild fruits from the captivity and during dry season water was a challenge too where many children and their mothers died. I was able to escape in the year 2003 where I was captured by the Uganda government soldiers on my way back to Uganda, I was referred to Caritas mission in Pajule for my rehabilitation for a period of two (2) months then later I was taken back home.

Itsuffices that after I came back home, I was able to give birth after carrying a long pregnancy from the bush. Later on, after some few years I was able to marry another man whom I produce two children with him but unfortunately, he passed on in the year 2015 hence I am left a single mother with three children altogether. I am therefore crying out loud to the world that for a willing body, stake-holders, NGOs, Well-wishers to kindly support me in this tremendous situation. I don’t have land to keep my children, I can’t afford fees for them to school and at times I fail to get food for them because I have nothing like job that I can do and earn living from.

I am called Achora Sarah, I was born in the year 1991 from laceko-cot village, Pader district. It was during the conflict war of the Lord Resistance Army (LRA) that I was abducted I the year 1996 after a serious attack to my village by the LRA rebels.

I was abducted when I was young girl of five (5) years and it was a period that I was suppose to start my primary level of education but unfortunately,I did not make it due to the tremendous attack by the rebels. it should be noticed that life was a tug of war according to what I encounter from the captivity, I was forced to carry heavy loads from one place to another,the example includes heavy cooking oil tin, powder milk, minerals among others. After I reached the age of 14, I was forced to marry one of the rebels of which I produced one child with him, it’s a must for every one to be trained as a soldier because this would help in self protection incase of attack from the enemies hence I went through the training.

Time came when we had gone for a battle field(fire-exchange) with the govern soldiers for Uganda and it was through this period that I had to surrender myself and I was captured and brought back to Uganda together with other people arrested, I was taken to Rachele in Lira district for rehabilitation . From there I spent two years then later I was brought back home in Pader, As a woman I had to marry my second husband whom I produced two children but later on after him realizing that I was once abducted, he divorce because I kept the secrete for a long period of time because I saw many colic of mine getting divorced with their husband so when he new this we divorced. I am living a single life with three children, renting and paying fees for them at school but it’s a challenge to me as a single mother hence I am kindly seeking for help from willing bodies, stake holders, NGOs, Well-wishers among others to kindly support me in this tremendous situation.

I am called Akello Jenifer, born in 1985 from Acholi-bur, Pader district. The post conflict war of the Lord Resistance Army (LRA) created a very big wound in my life as a citizen of Uganda, I was abducted in the year 1997 by the rebels after a serious attack in my village where they burned many houses, killed many people and abducted others of which I was inclusive. Its very important to note that when I was in the bush, I went under terrible situation as a young girl due to mistreatments have been going through from the captivity. My life was full of worries thinking out loud on what tomorrow may bring, natural disasters like Famine and drought reallyaffected my live as individual where have been depending on wild-fruits because I could hardly eat food.

I was forced to carry heavy loads from one place to another, training was the order of the day and what I mean here is that I was trained to become a soldier but no rank was given to me but I remained in the infantry. There was a time where I was shot in my stomach during a confrontation in an ambush, this resulted into my capture by the government soldier of Sudan whom later referred me to capital city of Sudan by then at Khatum. It was through this that I was brought back to Uganda together with some friends of mine, we landed at Entebbe international airport and then later I was designated to Kichua rehabilitation center in Kitgum district. The rehabilitation took a period of three months then later I was released home safely.

Traditional rituals were done by my family members to welcome me back home and this done to cleans me because the culture believes that all the returnees are possessed with evil spirit, later on after some good times at home I got married to my second husband of which later on I got divorced with him after producing three children . I am now facing challenges as a single mother in this current situation, Currently I am renting in Pece vanguard , Gulu city but its so difficult for me to raise rent monthly, pay fees for my children at school because I did not study and more so I have been operated in my stomach seven(7) times so I am very weak that I can not work for so long due to over operation I went through to remove the remains of the bullet in my intestine.

I am therefore here by seeking for kind support from stake-holders, NGOs, Well-wishers among others to kindly support me and may the good lord bless you

I am called Stella Lanam Angel, born from jinja, Ugandan by nationality, 35 years of age and an Acholi by tribe. I was abducted at the age of 10 years from madiopeyi sub-county, Lamwo district in Northern Uganda in 1996 and I came back in the year 2004. This abduction was due to the rampant abduction of the people in the greater northern Uganda in the war of lord resistance army that took place in northern Uganda for a period of 25 years. During the captivity, I personally faced a lot of challenges. I was physically and sexually abused by the rebels during the war and forced to marry a rebel combatant while in captivity.

I was also forcefully made to carry heavy loads from one place to another in long distance and this really led to weaknesses in my body. Famine was a real tag of war in the captivity whereby I could eat once or twice a week. This is a real-life history that I underwent. Sometimes drought also affected me whereby in dry seasons, I could drink urine in terms of water and this really affected health. I was also trained as a child soldier in that I was trained how to loot goods from different designated destiny and even how to fight my enemies. My life became so hopeless when I was forced by the Gen. Joseph Kony to become his wife among his wives and this really tortured my life because I thought it would be my last time on earth because I really felt so depressed in life. On addition to the above, I had a believe that I may not come back home since I was forcefully made to become his wife and I would not see my family again because I would be moving with him wherever he goes but luckily enough, I was able to escape back home alone with no one’s help but together with my own son and other seven (7) boys that I rescued them too.

When I returned home, I went to school so that at list I may gain some knowledge and wisdom and in deed I went. So, when I came back from school, I saw that the war victims in the community their rights are being denied hence this made me to think of starting up an organization for the war victims that at list it would fight for the rights of the war victims in northern Uganda, and this really made me to start up the WAR VICTIMS AND CHILDREN NETWORKING ORGANISATION through the support from the local leaders and cultural leaders (Ker kwaro Acholi).

We started war victims and children networking with groups of returnee women who were abducted by the lord resistance army led by joseph Kony and came back with children born out of rape.

We have formed ourselves into an organization called war victims and children networking to jointly advocate for our well-being, education for our children with whom we returned from the bush and our health which is generally very poor. Many of us returned with bomb pellets embedded in our bodies and also bullet stuck in our bodies which required to be removed. Some of us also have psychological problem due to being subjected to deliver children when they still very young

I am called Aber Gladys, born of Pader district in 1984, I am a mother of four (4) children living a single life. I was abducted in the year 1997 from puranga sub-county, Adong-keno village in Pader district during the post conflict lord resistance army war in northern Uganda on the 7th March and I reached Sudan on the 15th June 1997. From Sudan, the first settlement was in a place called jebelen in which I was trained to become a soldier and then later we shifted to a new conquered territory called Lubanga-tek. Later on I was forced to be a wife to one of the commanders called John Odur but he passed on in serious battle and then finally I was kept in the home of another commander called Ochan Bunia for a period of three months after the death of my husband and then finally I was shifted to another Administrator in the names of Okao. This was a season I had to escape from the captivity and we were four (4) of us and we took the direction to Juba city, we were captured by the Sudan soldiers and they took us to Save the children organization that was based in juba and we stayed there for three weeks and later we were taken to Khatum where our colic were kept, we stayed in Khatum for a period of two months of which later we were brought back to Uganda where we landed at Entebbe international airport, from there we were brought to Kitgum district and some of us were taken to Gulu because we were abducted from different districts and this in 2002

Later on we were taken to a rehabilitation center called Kichua for a duration of three months, later on I was taken back home and I was warmly welcomed by my people though it was also a painful moment for me after finding out that my father had passed on and my mother remained a single mother. It was after six months that I got married because no one was there for me to pay me at school, it’s very painful that after getting married mt husband joined Uganda peoples defense force and this led to our break-up after third teen (13) years because he started practicing sexual violence on me every times he gets drunk and this was in 2011. Currently we are living in Gulu city with my children though life is not easy for me and my children because I am facing challenges in paying my children at school and renting house in monthly basis, I am therefore crying out for help from any willing persons, stake holders, NGOs, well-wishers among others to kindly support me and my children and may the all mighty God bless you all.

 

I am called Alanyo Betty, born in 1985 from Mi-anyima Village, Kitgum district. I was abducted in the year 1995 during the Post-conflict war of the Lord Resistance Army that occurred in northern Uganda for the past 25 years and I was able to return home in 2001.

The post-conflict war of northern Uganda set a record in the history of Uganda and the world at large on the mistreatment of children’s right because the majority of the victims abducted were the children below the age of 15 years. I can not blame the world for not rescuing me from the hands of the rebels but it was the responsibility of the government of Uganda to protect the right of citizens of Uganda but he failed to do so hence leading to the tremendous abduction of young girls and boys into the captivity by the Lord Resistance Army (LRA) also known as Rebels.

Life in the bush was not easy for me as a young girl because everything I could do was not in my will and proposal hence it was forceful to me by the commanders in the army and order from the rebels in the infantry. I do witness the malicious act that I was involved, these acts include killing, cutting off mouths, hands, legs and setting land mines and this was tremendously done. It should be noticed that I was forced to get married to one of the rebel officials and during this marriage I was able to produce one child, its should be known that I could hardly eat food but I became a bush woman who fed on wild-fruits locally known as Oywelo, Obwolo-Acholi , Laling-kwalo among others.

Famine and drought affected my life from the captivity where during dry season, Urine from the fellow became water and we could often drink it as water. I am able to say that I saw a lot of dead people, I smelled blood shades, I heard gun shots and this really traumatized me as a young girl who had never gone through this. I escaped from the captivity during a serious war confrontation, and I entered Uganda through Kitgum District and I was taken by a civilian to a rehabilitation center called Kichua and I was rehabilitated for a period of six (6) months and later brought back home.

Later on, with some good time I was able to get a man of my choice and got married to, I am happy to produce two children but on a sad not I got divorced after him realizing that I was abducted and this as resulted into single mother. I am facing challenges in renting house and paying fees for my children hence I am seeking for help from every angle of kindness from the willing bodies, well-wishers, NGOs, stake-holders among others and I will be grateful for every hand that shall lay support on me, thanks.

I am called Adule Rose, 38 years old, born from Padibe west village, Lamwo district. It was during the post conflict war of the Lord Resistance army (LRA) in which I was abducted when I was still a little girl. I almost smelled death when I was taken to the captivity because I witness malicious act by the rebels, I was raped by more thanfive male rebels and through this sexual violence I had to conceive and give birth to a baby boy which the father is unknown.

I suffered all kinds of troubles from the bush, I was trained to become a soldier and with all pains I had, I also killed many people under pressure and command from the army commanders, I remember one day we went to some village in south Sudan where we burned houses, looted many goods including abduction of many people. I escaped from the bush during a battle field and I had to surrender myself to the Uganda government soldier and this how I manage to return home, I was then referred to Caritas mission at Pajule, Pader district for rehabilitation and this took a period of six months and later taken back home by the missionaries at the mission.

Life at home, a traditional ritual was performed by my parents and uncle to cleans me and be welcomed home. After sometimes I got married and produce four (4) children but later on my husband passed on hence living me a single life mother though I am facing challenges in life because of land conflict with my Parents and more so paying my children at school has become a challenge. I am therefore kindly seeking for help from any willing bodies, well-wishers, NGOs among others and through your support I will be so grateful.

 

Auma Nancy is 29yrs old a resident of Pece -acoyo village in Gulu district she was abducted at the age of 11yrs at the time when she was living with her parents in Pece. One evening when she had just come back from school and was trying to help her mother to do domestic work, she heard gun shots from the neighborhood as the villagers scattered all over and were seeking for refugee for their lives from the rebels who had invaded the village. She got in one group of young girls and boys who were already in the bush that very evening and they had a night together in the bush with the people she had found in the bush. In the morning when they woke up only to realize that they had been surrounded by the rebels. They started moving with the rebels from Pece up to Abegeri and again spent another night that evening. The following morning, they were gathered all together so that they could meet with the army commanders who later picked them for wives but since she was still very young, she was later taken to work at Otii Lagony’s wife to help her with other work. She was then initiated for military training in Sudan at the age of 11yrs in a place called Owiny-Kibul and after training, she was annexed to one group to start off operations. She was given a husband after she had joined the group at the age of 13yrs old and the man was at his late 60s and she conceived later on and gave birth to a baby boy whom she came back with and he’s now 11yrs old. The challenges that she faced while in captivity was that she had no food, sicknesses, moving very long distances in search of what to eat and drink, some of her friends whom she was abducted with up to now have not yet come back ever since they were abducted.

She returned home in the year 2006 in March and was received by Gusco and later on they issued an amnesty certificate together with seeds, saucepans, jerry cans, hoes and those who wanted to do handcraft work were also trained.

The challenges that she faced after she had returned home were:

Her parents had separated so she had to live with her grandfather who was also helpless at the time when she came back and because of the difficult situations that she was going through she got married to a man whom she’s living with up to now in Agonyi village.

Sickness is also another major problem which she’s battling with to move for long distances in order to access medical help.

Raising school fees for her children since they have no means of raising money for school fees to cater for their children who are now at school. I am therefore seeking for kind support from any willing body, well-wishers, NGOs among others and I will be so grateful.

 

I am called Akello Milli Grace,42 years old, born from Bobi village, Omoro district. It was during the post-conflict war of the Lord resistance army (LRA) that I was abducted in the year 1992 and I return back home in 2002, while in the bush I encounter a lot of malicious act which include the following; I was forced to carry heavy loads from one place to another, training was the order of the day and what I mean here is that I was trained to become a soldier but no rank was given to me but I remained in the infantry. There was a time where I was shot in my stomach during a confrontation in an ambush, this resulted into my capture by the government soldier of Sudan whom later referred me to capital city of Sudan by then at Khatum. It was through this that I was brought back to Uganda together with some friends of mine, we landed at Entebbe international airport and then later I was designated to Kichua rehabilitation center in Kitgum district. The rehabilitation took a period of three months then later I was released home safely.

Traditional rituals were done by my family members to welcome me back home and this done to cleans me because the culture believes that all the returnees are possessed with evil spirit, later on after some good times at home I got married to my second husband of which later on I got divorced with him after producing three children . I am now facing challenges as a single mother in this current situation, Currently I am renting in Pece vanguard , Gulu city but it’s so difficult for me to raise rent monthly, pay fees for my children at school because I did not study and more so I have been operated in my stomach seven(7) times so I am very weak that I cannot work for so long due to over operation I went through to remove the remains of the bullet in my intestine.

I am therefore here by seeking for kind support from stake-holders, NGOs, Well-wishers among others to kindly support me and may the good lord bless you.