Paul was 13 years old when he was abducted by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). He lived as a soldier for eight months before escaping.

Becoming a Soldier
"After we were abducted, I moved with them [further north] to Kitgum, then to Teso [central Uganda]. We walked hundreds of kilometres. It took about a month. Then they said I was not a prisoner any more, I was their soldier.

"To make you 'their soldier,' they cane you rigorously with a machete until you are so hurt and angry that you could kill somebody. When you are caned like that, you don't get medicine, you stay like that until you heal.

"They do it like they are joking. They say they are making you a soldier. They say they are chasing the spirit of mercy and of staying-at-home out of you. I was told not to be afraid or worry.

"After that, I was trained how to shoot and clean a gun. I wasn't given a gun though because there weren't enough.

Escape
"While running from government soldiers, I had to stop. I was unable to walk any more. The rebel solider I was running with said, 'I will have to kill you.'

"He cut me on the head with a machete and he left me unconscious. Somehow, God kept me alive. I was there the whole night. The next morning a woman found me. She helped me back to her home, gave me some food, then took me to the government soldiers.

Recovery
"They took me to a hospital, where I stayed for a month. I was given clothes, soap, and food. Staff members counselled and talked to me. It helps to talk about my story.

"I've since gone back to school. When I leave school, I'd like to be a driver. I've done enough walking."

What You Can Do
Encourage our government to take stronger actions in support of peace in Uganda. Click here to download a letter you can send to the foreign affairs minister.