By Tolit Ivan
More than 30 former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel fighters are known to have committed suicide within the past three years as a result of traumatic experiences they went through while still in the bush, according to a report by the War Victims and Children Networking, a community based organization operating in the districts of Gulu, Amuru, Nwoya, Pader, Kitgum, Lamwo, and Omoro.
According to experts a traumatic experience is a shocking, dangerous event that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope, causing significant emotional, physical, and psychological distress, often involving threats to life, injury, or violence.
LRA abductees are known to have experienced profound and multifaceted trauma resulting from systematic physical and psychological abuse, forced perpetration of violence, sexual assault, and social marginalization upon return.
According to Simon Opige, the Chairperson of the Greater North Association of former LRA fighters and Victims, most of their members are battling mental health illness coupled with the difficult life upon return thus leading suicide tendencies.
In response Dr Kenneth Omona, the State Minister for northern Uganda acknowledged the problem saying government is going to find a way of supporting the Ex-LRA soldiers to cope with traumatic experiences they are going through.
Addressing this complex trauma requires multidimensional interventions that combine economic support with accessible, culturally appropriate mental healthcare and efforts to rebuild social ties, according to experts.
