Perceptions of Children Involved in War and Transitional Justice in Northern Uganda

This community-based study documents Northern Ugandans’ attitudes towards children affected by the war between the government of Uganda and the Lord’s Resistance Army, and towards transitional justice processes surrounding the conflict. Perceptions of children associated with armed groups were found to be generally positive, but reflected conflict within and between individuals and communities about how to confront the crimes committed during the war. Perceptions of children associated with armed groups are also positive, but similarly contain contradictions and highlight continuing challenges for reintegration and the prevention of recruitment of children. This study also documents the underreported involvement of children in the Auxiliary Forces of the Government of Uganda, showing that due to political and practical difficulties, few received assistance upon their release. We recommend that rehabilitation and reintegration programs for children associate with armed groups should be tailored to the specific needs of the particular child, considering particularly their gender and experiences in captivity. At the same time, these programs must also account for the community’s social, cultural, and economic context. With respect to transitional justice, we call for a clarification of the legal basis and implementation of the Amnesty Act. Additionally, we urge the International Criminal Court to investigate alleged crimes of agents of the Ugandan Government and promote the use of the Trust Fund for Victims to channel reparations to affected communities.University of Toronto, Munk School of Global Affairs, Trudeau Centre for Peace and Conflict Studie