Skip Navigation

Journal of Refugee Studies 2007 20(4):641-661; doi:10.1093/jrs/fem036
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Amone-P’Olak, K.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© The Author [2007]. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Coping with Life in Rebel Captivity and the Challenge of Reintegrating Formerly Abducted Boys in Northern Uganda

Kennedy Amone-P’Olak

Department of Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, University Medical Centre, Groningen, NL-9700 VB, Netherlands

k.p.amone{at}med.umcg.nl

In this qualitative study of 134 formerly abducted adolescent boys at four rehabilitation centres in Northern Uganda, the boys described their lives in rebel captivity and coping strategies and suggested ways of reintegration. They witnessed, endured and participated in hideous atrocities while in rebel captivity. Vigilance, absolute obedience, and cooperation with their captors; prayer and hope; denial, blaming others, constant preparedness to flee; use of traditional medicine; and resilience and perseverance, were some of the coping strategies they employed while in captivity and during escape. Once out of captivity, they suggested a reintegration agenda sensitive to their economic wellbeing and social relations in the context of their culture and tradition. They proposed psychosocial activities, vocational and entrepreneurial skills training, provision of credit facilities, and an education system that recognizes their background and needs. However, all these should be viewed in the context of huge resource limitations and the continuing conflict.

Key Words: abduction • captivity • coping • reintegration • Northern Uganda

MS received December 1, 2005 ; revised MS received February 1, 2007
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.