The people of Uganda, a country in eastern Africa, have reached the end of a 23-year-old war. But truly understanding the consequences of this conflict and the trauma it has caused the country’s northern region, especially the impact on the children, is only beginning.

This complex conflict was rooted in British ‘divide and rule’ colonialism, then perpetuated by subsequent Ugandan governments. In 1989, after former president Milton Obote’s government was overthrown, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), led by Joseph Koney, initiated an armed struggle against current President Yoweri Museveni’s government. The LRA soon began terrorizing the northern Acholi civilian population as a means to obtain supplies, maintain attention and challenge the Ugandan government.

Although the LRA initially gained support from local people who had grievances against the current Ugandan administration, their brutal tactics eventually isolated their base of support. The LRA then turned to abducting children, forcing them to become soldiers or sex slaves. During the peak period of attacks, villagers and their children sought refuge nightly in the security of town centers, walking up to 10 kilometers every day to sleep on sidewalks, in hospitals, tents, and parks, waking before dawn to return to their homes and schools.

The government of Uganda responded to this crisis by forcing the region’s population of 2 million people into internally displaced people’s (IDP) camps. Originally viewed as refuges from LRA attacks, the camps were vulnerable and inadequately equipped. One report cited an estimated 1,000 people died weekly due to poor health and sanitation provisions alone. Conditions in camps still open remain appalling.

A series of peace talks have been held between the LRA and the Ugandan government since 2006, mediated by members of the South Sudanese government and supported by representatives of the United Nations. While the LRA, now in neighboring Congo, appears to consist of less than two thousand combatants, the government has been unable to completely halt their activities. Yet, for now, peace has fallen over northern Uganda. However, the conflict has slowed down Uganda’s development efforts, costing the poor country’s economy $100 million annually.

The consequences of the war cannot be overstated. An estimated 66,000 children were abducted from towns and camps, changing the landscape of their lives forever. Tens of thousands of civilians were maimed or killed by the rebel LRA. Over half a million people from the Northern region are still living in IDP camps, where they endure disease, malnutrition, post-war trauma, and lack access to educational or economic opportunities.