Civil war has ravaged Uganda for over 20 years, making it one of Africa’s longest-running conflicts.
Armed disputes among hostile ethnic groups, rebels, armed gangs, militias, and various government forces continue to devastate the country, economy and society.
Most ferocious among the groups is the Lord’s Resistance Army.
The LRA is a paramilitary group that has been accused of mass violations of human rights, including murder, torture, rape, mutilation, abduction of civilians and the use of child soldiers.
It is estimated that over 12,000 people have been killed in the conflict, and over 2 million people have been internally displaced.
Disease and malnutrition is widespread, and the incidence of HIV/AIDS is on the rise.
The United Nations estimates that over 25,000 children have been kidnapped since the conflict began (although, other estimates place the number at more than 66,000) and
have been used as child soldiers or sex slaves. War Child currently has two projects in Uganda.
War Child, in partnership with the local Acholi Education Initiative, has developed a community-based strategy in order to increase access to basic education in the Acholi region of northern Uganda.
War Child has targeted the project at child-mothers – many of whom were abducted and forced in sexual servitude by the LRA.
The project seeks to help child mothers reintegrate into their communities, despite the enormous challenges they encounter. The Girl’s Education Initiative has provided child mothers with scholarships and materials to help them succeed in school. The project provides child mothers with access to psychosocial support, as well as basic scholastic materials and support for their dependents. War Child believes that by providing basic education for child mothers, we are helping to curb the cycle of poverty that exists in the community. By reaching out to one child mother, we are helping her, her children and her siblings, and giving them an opportunity they otherwise would never get.
