Rituals in the Reintegration of Female Ex-Child Soldiers in Northern Uganda

This book foregrounds the place of ritual in the reintegration of female ex-child soldiers in Northern Uganda. These rituals, both Christian and traditional Acholi, are performed upon the return of child soldiers, and witnessed by family and community. Based on extensive fieldwork, the book aims to give voice to girls (now women) who were abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army during the insurgency of the 1980s and 1990s. Through interviews and first-person narratives, author Christine Mpyangu documents the traumatic impact of abduction and conflict on child soldiers, how this affects their return to civilian life, and how ritual can help in rebuilding broken lives.

“This is a powerful and important book that documents the lived experiences of female ex-child soldiers in Northern Uganda with remarkable clarity. By analysing Acholi rituals of reconciliation and reintegration, Christine Mbabazi Mpyangu provides an essential contribution to scholarship on conflict recovery, gender, and cultural healing.” —Christopher Kavanagh, Oxford University, Centre for the Study of Social Cohesion

“This book advances scholarship in the field of child protection and champions an environment that is safe for the growth and development of children.” —Eddy J. Walakira, Professor of Social Work (Children & Youth), Makerere University

“The study brings new and deep knowledge about rituals and the Acholi context, addressing social, cultural, and psychological aspects of reintegration. Moreover, the book is beautifully written with compassion and great respect, providing a moving account of dignity.” —Ragnhild Dybdahl, Associate Professor of Global Mental Health, University of Bergen