Browsing by Author "Ochen,Patrick"

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    An Inquiry into the Lived Experiences of Child Soldiers within the Lord's Resistance Army Insurgency in Amuru District, 1987-2024
    (EAST AFRICAN NATURE & SCIENCE ORGANIZATION, 2025-07-14) Ochen,Patrick; Odong James Bosco; 0kello, Simon; Alidri,Agatha
    Focusing on the heavily impacted region of Amuru District, this research delved into the lived experiences of former child soldiers conscripted by the LRA from 1987 to 2024. The study’s specific objectives were to: (i) examine the recruitment and abduction strategies employed by the LRA in Amuru District,(ii) investigate the experiences encountered, and (iii) assess the psychological and social effects of these experiences on child soldiers. Based on a qualitativeapproach and phenomenological design, the study used in-depth interviews,participant observation and Focus Group Discussions to collect the requireddata. The LRA leaders used systematic indoctrination and forced recruitment,instilling fear and dismantling social structures. The experiences included forced participation in violent killings often against their own communities, inhuman punishments, physical abuse, starvation and constant threats of death. Despite demonstrating remarkable resilience, many former child soldiers continue toface significant obstacles, including social stigma and economic hardship. The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) strategically abducted children, using violent tactics to ensure dependency. The group systematically dismantled their identities through abuse and ritualised violence, inflicting lasting psychological trauma and social stigma. After the conflict, these former child soldiers face a difficult reintegration, with their trauma fueling a cycle of violence and poverty that destabilises entire communities. A multi-pronged mental health approach for addressing the complex trauma experienced by former child soldiers. Combat social stigma and rejection through structured, community-wide sensitisation and reconciliation initiatives, develop accelerated learning programs to build foundational literacy and numeracy skills, and commission and fund longitudinal studies that track the well-being of survivors and their families over time.
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    Beyond Modern Science: Ryemo Gemo (Chasing Away Evil Spirits), Tradition and Faith during the COVID-19 Pandemic among the Acoli in Northern Uganda
    (EAST AFRICAN NATURE & SCIENCE ORGANIZATION, 2025-05-14) Alidri,Agatha; Okello,Simon; Ochen,Patrick; Tukupe, Ochan Demas; Aure, Onek Richard
    Background: This was a historical study of the Ryemo Gemo tradition among the Acoli people of Northern Uganda, and its implications in the context of the COVID- 19 pandemic. It explored strategies indigenous people adopted for epidemic control and prevention anchored on their tradition and belief systems passed, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The study adopted the qualitative approach and ethno-historical design. It explored community meanings, beliefs, values, practices and lived experiences of Ryemo Gemo during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The study was conducted in Gulu City, and the districts of Gulu, Omoro, Lamwo, Kitgum and Agago, where the ritual of Ryemo Gemo was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data was collected using Key Informant interviews, one-on-one interviews and six Focused Group Discussions. A sample size of 63 participants based on the data saturation point, and their knowledge and experience of Ryemo Gemo, was selected using the snowball and networking approach. They included: Cultural leaders, elderly persons, spiritual mediums, and health workers. Findings:Gemo was a calamity brought by bad spirits. The spirits acted as an early warning system, foreseeing and informing the people through spirit mediums of a looming calamity. Whereas Gemo was a calamity sent by bad spirits, others argued that COVID-19 was not a Gemo as it was man-made. Ryemo Gemo fostered a sense of identity, unity, and shared values, principles and practices. It promoted cultural continuity and connection between the living and the dead. Conclusion: Ryemo Gemo reflects the Acoli spirituality, beliefs and collective approach to managing calamities, reinforcing community bonds and cultural continuity.
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    Street Language and Social Survival in Gulu City: Insights from Aguu, the Socially Excluded Youth
    (EAST AFRICAN NATURE & SCIENCE ORGANIZATION, 2025-01-07) Omara,Christopher John; Alidri,Agatha; Okello,Simon; Ochen,Patrick; Kabwijam, Patrick
    This paper examines the role of street language as a survival skill among the street children ‘Aguu’, a socially excluded youth in Gulu City, who continuously face stigmatization and discrimination in the community. The study used a qualitative research approach and historical design, involving participant observation, life history interviews and in-depth one-on-one oral interviews as data collection methods. Key findings from recent studies indicate that, over time, street language has emerged as a significant marker of social identity, particularly among marginalized and alienated groups. This linguistic phenomenon is especially prevalent among the youth, often derogatively referred to as "Aguu" by mainstream society. The study argues that street language fosters unity and identity among its speakers, acting as a form of resistance to societal exclusion. The study also contends that the culture of the youth, urbanization and post-conflict recovery have intensified and extended linguistic perspectives and forms of street communication, as economic and social transformations that reshape language use in Gulu City. This paper maintains that street language plays a crucial role as a means of identity and resilience for the socially excluded youth in Gulu City, as it allows them to navigate life on issues related to security, relationship-related inclusion, daily needs, conflict resolution, employment and medical needs. The paper concludes that the experiences of street children in Gulu City illustrate their resilience, adaptability, and determination to survive amidst systemic exclusion and societal neglect. Accordingly, the study recommends community-based support systems in order to create safe spaces and support networks for street children, provision of accessible and affordable mental health care and substance abuse counselling, as well as collaborative inclusive language and reduced stigma efforts to humanize experiences of these children, and foster greater community empathy and understanding within Gulu City. Above all, the study argues that both social institutions and government agencies should abandon the use of the term 'Aguu' to refer to street children, as it serves as a primary mechanism of social exclusion. This term, which has been adopted by both society and governmental bodies, carries derogatory connotations and reinforces the marginalization of these individuals.
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    The Silent Impact of Pandemic:
    (EAST AFRICAN NATURE & SCIENCE ORGANIZATION, 2025-10-20) Alidri,Agath; Kayeny,Emily Uramba; Anicia,Filda; Apio,Winnie; Ochen,Patrick; Kabwijamu,Patrick; Okello Simon; Nyamungu,Proscovia; Giramiya,Esther; Musaasizi Richard; Tumanye Samson; Awor, Susan; Atube, Francis; Okumu,Charles
    From a gender perspective, this study investigated the consequences of COVID-19 on adolescent and youth reproductive health in Acholi Sub-region, Northern Uganda. The study aimed to: i) analyse the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on adolescent and youth reproductive health and gender relations, ii)explore treatment-seeking behaviours among adolescents and youth, iii) equip health workers with skills to address reproductive health challenges, and iv) enhance their capacity to conduct gender-sensitive research during crises. A qualitative approach and longitudinal design was used, employing one-on-one interviews, community engagement sessions, radio talk shows, and observations. The study involved participants from Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, Reproductive Health Uganda, outreach programs, and urban neighbourhoods, including adolescents, youth, health workers, and key informants. It was conducted across Gulu City, Gulu District, Obongi District, and Adjumani District, encompassing 34 schools, the Northern Uganda Youth Development Centre, Gulu Juvenile Prison, and Gulu University. Findings indicated a significant increase in gender-specific challenges, including a rise in teenage pregnancies, unwanted pregnancies, early marriages, and crossgenerational sexual relationships. Male adolescents faced psychological stressdue to unemployment and the inability to fulfil societal expectations, while female adolescents disproportionately experienced reproductive health risks. The study concludes that the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted Ugandan youth's reproductive health, with adolescent females experiencing more disempowerment and risky behaviours. The study recommends implementation of targeted and gender-sensitive interventions, strengthening collaboration among health workers, adolescents, youth groups and community leaders, promotion of mental health empowerment programs, as well as continued strengthening of health system responsiveness to youth needs