Facing the Future – Ugandan child soldiers get ready to go home.

For 19 years a senseless war has raged in northern Uganda between the rebel group Lords Resistance Army (LRA) and the government. The LRA small and without proper funds have no chance of ever wining, but they have caused great suffering for the local Acholi people, who are paradoxically the ones they claim to be fighting to free.

With no popular support the LRA raid the local villages for food and children, who they abduct and force to become their wives and soldiers. Approximately 24.000 children, some as young as 8 years old, have been stolen from their families and indoctrinated into the LRA.

The children are treated terribly, if anyone tries to run away or is too weak to keep going, their own comrades are forced to put them to death. If any children refuse to carry out the killing, they themselves are under threat of death.

These photos were taking of child soldiers in Gusco rehabilitation centre. It is run by a local NGO, with support from Save the Children. This is where they are brought after they are either captured or run away from the rebels. They spend an average of 3 weeks in the centre while their families are traced, after which they return home.

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