Children Born of War in Northern Uganda

Among the many fallouts arising from systematic wartime rape is the reality of children conceived from sexual violence. The scope of this population remains largely unknown, and research into how children born of wartime sexual violence and their mothers fare within their societies is only recently emerging. To date, little is known about the specific psychosocial consequences for these children. Drawing on the voices of the children themselves, this chapter traces the realities and perspectives of 60 children born in Lord’s Resistance Army captivity in northern Uganda. Born of war, these children are deeply affected by the social upheaval that brought about their conception. Privileging children’s voices, the chapter highlights their lives in the post-war context. Findings reveal the profound stigma and marginalization that these children endure, alongside struggles with issues of identity, belonging, and their perceived needs. The chapter also reveals participants’ use of resistance to counter negative perceptions of them by their families and communities.