Reintegration Programme for Female Returnees in Northern Uganda

Between 2016 and 2017, Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice partnered with the Justice and Reconciliation Project (JRP) and the Women’s Advocacy Network (WAN) to implement a community-based Reintegration Programme for young women formerly abducted and enslaved by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in northern Uganda.

The programme responded to long-standing stigma, exclusion, and barriers to belonging faced by female returnees and their children born as a result of rape. Its core aim was to support reconciliation within families, clans, and communities, recognising that reintegration is a collective and relational process.

What we did

The Reintegration Programme worked directly with female returnees, their children, family members, clan leaders, and community elders to rebuild trust and restore social ties. Activities included:

• Facilitated reconciliation processes between women and their families and clans
• Support for children to be formally recognised within paternal families and clans
• Community dialogues with cultural and traditional leaders
• Radio talk shows across conflict-affected sub-regions to challenge stigma and promote acceptance
• Survivor-centred advocacy linking community reconciliation with broader justice and reparations efforts

The programme was grounded in earlier research and advocacy by Women’s Initiatives and partners, including consultations with over 500 women in conflict-affected districts and sustained engagement around Uganda’s Peace, Recovery and Development Plan (PRDP).

Results and outcomes

In 2016, more than 400 people participated in the Reintegration Programme, including clan leaders, family members, female returnees, and children. The programme supported:

• The reconciliation of 13 formerly abducted women with their families and clans
• The reintegration of 19 children into paternal families, supporting access to land, identity, and education
• 13 family reunifications involving women and children affected by LRA-related violence

The programme also contributed to increased awareness and willingness among local leaders to address the specific needs of women and children affected by the conflict. An independent evaluation documented positive shifts in attitudes, knowledge, and community engagement around reintegration and reconciliation.