The Reintegration of Child Soldiers and Abducted Children: A Case Study of Palaro and Pabbo Gulu District, Northern Uganda

This case study examines the abduction and forced conscription of children by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in the Gulu District of northern Uganda, focusing on the communities of Palaro and Pabbo. It analyzes the systemic destabilization of these communities, the psychological trauma (PTSD) experienced by former child soldiers and their families, and the failures of current reintegration strategies that focus on individuals rather than the broader family and community networks.

• The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has abducted approximately 14,000 children since 1992, primarily from the Acholi people in northern Uganda, to serve as child soldiers and sex slaves. While about 5,000 have escaped or been liberated, thousands remain in captivity or have died.
• Abducted children are subjected to extreme violence, forced military training, and sexual slavery. Girls are frequently forced into 'marriages' with rebel commanders or soldiers, and many suffer from syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases. Discipline is maintained through fear, with children often forced to kill other captives or their own siblings to sever ties with their home communities.
• Former child soldiers suffer from severe psychological trauma, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which manifests as nightmares, hallucinations, flashbacks, and psychosomatic pains. These children often struggle with a loss of trust, a lack of conflict resolution skills, and the institutionalization of violence, making reintegration difficult without professional counseling.
• The conflict has caused systemic socio-economic collapse in the Gulu District. The government's 'protected camps' and 'scorched earth' policies, combined with LRA looting, led to the loss of cattle—the primary asset for the pastoralist Acholi society. This has resulted in extreme poverty, food insecurity, and a decline in health, with cholera and malnutrition prevalent in IDP camps like Pabbo.
• The trauma of abduction extends to the families left behind, who experience extreme guilt, PTSD symptoms, and economic ruin. The loss of children is viewed not only as an emotional tragedy but as the loss of a vital productive asset and future security measure, as children provide essential labor and elderly care in African societies.
• Current reintegration strategies are criticized for being too individual-focused and issue-based, neglecting the necessary holistic approach that includes the family and the wider community. The researchers argue that because the society has become 'abnormal' due to militarism and social dislocation, redress must be targeted at both the individuals and their environments.

APA

Stavrou, S., Stewart, R., & Stavrou, A. (2000). The Reintegration of Child Soldiers and Abducted Children: A Case Study of Palaro and Pabbo Gulu District, Northern Uganda. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/topics/peacekeeping-and-conflict-management/01-feb-2000-act-against-child-soldiers-in-africa.-a-reader-e-bennett-v-gamba-d-van-der-merwe-eds

Chicago

Stavrou, Stavros, Robert Stewart, and Amanda Stavrou. The Reintegration of Child Soldiers and Abducted Children: A Case Study of Palaro and Pabbo Gulu District, Northern Uganda. Institute for Security Studies, 2000. https://issafrica.org/topics/peacekeeping-and-conflict-management/01-feb-2000-act-against-child-soldiers-in-africa.-a-reader-e-bennett-v-gamba-d-van-der-merwe-eds.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Stavrou |first1=Stavros |last2=Stewart |first2=Robert |last3=Stavrou |first3=Amanda |title=The Reintegration of Child Soldiers and Abducted Children: A Case Study of Palaro and Pabbo Gulu District, Northern Uganda |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=February 2000 |url=https://issafrica.org/topics/peacekeeping-and-conflict-management/01-feb-2000-act-against-child-soldiers-in-africa.-a-reader-e-bennett-v-gamba-d-van-der-merwe-eds |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stavrou2000reintegration, author = {Stavrou, Stavros and Stewart, Robert and Stavrou, Amanda}, title = {{The Reintegration of Child Soldiers and Abducted Children: A Case Study of Palaro and Pabbo Gulu District, Northern Uganda}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2000}, month = feb, url = {https://issafrica.org/topics/peacekeeping-and-conflict-management/01-feb-2000-act-against-child-soldiers-in-africa.-a-reader-e-bennett-v-gamba-d-van-der-merwe-eds}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }