[DEBATE] : CCS Seminar, Tuesday: Child soldiers in Uganda by David Manyonga

[Patrick Bond]

Seminar: David Manyonga, Regional Coordinator for the United Movement to 
End Child Soldiering
Topic: Against Child Soldiering in Uganda
Date: 6 November
Time: 12:30-14:00
Venue: CCS Boardroom

Uganda has one of the highest numbers of child soldiers. For nearly 21 
years, a multilayered conflict has plagued Northern Uganda. The conflict 
between the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda 
(GoU) has impacted most harshly on the civilian population, especially 
the children. Indeed children in Northern Uganda bear a tremendous 
burden in this conflict: over 20,000 children have been abducted to 
serve as soldiers, sex slaves, and porters. Much as the war is winding 
down and prospects of peace are bright, an entire generation is growing 
up dislocated from the cultural grounding and economic opportunities of 
their traditionally land-based society, confined indefinitely to 
internally displaced persons (IDP) camps or marginalized resettlement 
communities.

Today, there is nowhere where the human disgrace of child soldiering is 
more prevalent than in Northern Uganda. However, much as the child 
soldiering phenomenon in Uganda has attracted the world’s attention, the 
practical process of rehabilitating and reintegration of former child 
soldiers into society are still wanting. The recovery journey shall not 
be easy, hence the need for civil society, government and the 
international world to join hands in the processes.

Using the presenters’ field insights the presentation reviews some of 
the challenges in addressing the problem of child soldiering in general 
and proposes possible solutions and strategies to ending child soldiering.

To be presented by David Manyonga, the Regional Coordinator for the 
United Movement to End Child Soldiering

****

David Manyonga is a civic and public affairs specialist with broad, 
institutional, NGO, and community-based communications, training and 
peace building experience. A former Senior Information, Education and 
Communication Officer with the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council 
and Program Assistant for Africa University's Information and Public 
Affairs Office, David Manyonga holds a Masters Degree in Peace and 
Governance from Africa University's Institute of Peace, Leadership and 
Governance (IPLG), Master of Arts degree in Human Rights and Development 
from Kampala International University, A Bachelor of Arts degree from 
the University of South Africa.

David has traveled widely throughout Africa - to 14 countries in East, 
Central, West and Southern Africa - and is familiar with a wide array of 
sub-Saharan cultures and contexts. Manyonga serves jointly as UMECS 
Regional Coordinator and IPLG Program Coordinator. He leads UMECS' 
research and regional programs.

UNITED MOVEMENT TO END CHILD SOLDIERING
www.endchildsoldiering.org

In response to the global scourge of child soldiering, the wars that 
perpetuate child soldiering and the poverty and displacement created by 
war, United Movement to End Child Soldiering (UMECS) was established to 
address the needs of communities, children, youth and women affected by 
war and grassroots organizations serving the needs of children and youth.

Anchored in Uganda, our geographic focus is Great Lakes Region and 
Southern Africa. What distinguishes us from other organizations is our 
programs are community-based, our staff comes from the same communities 
in which we work and our major goals combine upliftment of youth through 
education, peace building and community development.

In Northern Uganda, a war has devastated the lives of people steeped in 
strong traditions from once land rich communities, displacing millions 
to squalid Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps where hunger stalks 
children. Murder of civilians, rape and mutilation are weapons of war 
and abducted children are the soldier of choice. Up to 60,000 children 
have been abducted, many of whom have been forced to commit unspeakable 
atrocities in their own communities.

Our Programs

• Sponsor former child soldiers and formerly abducted children and youth 
living in IDP camps in Northern Uganda war zones in secondary schools 
and higher education, with counseling, guidance, mentorship, and other 
services

• Build capacity and provide service to grassroots organizations serving 
children, women and communities in Northern Uganda’s war zones

• Combine peace building, community development, and land management 
activities in conflict-affected communities

UMECS is a (501) (c) (3) tax-exempt non-profit organization and a 
registered Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Uganda

P.O. Box 66296, Washington, DC 20035-6296
Tel: 202-263-7240
info at endchildsoldiering.org
www.endchildsoldiering.org