Children on the Front Lines Since 1994 the Sudan-backed LRA has abducted more than 12,600 children in its guerrilla war against Uganda's government. Joseph Kony, the group's leader, combines animism, Christianity, and Islam to support his guerrilla war. Former soldiers say he promises protection for soldiers through witchcraft rituals. He threatens soldiers, saying that a deserter's family will be hunted and killed. And abductions are rationalized as a form of salvation for the abductee.
Children are favorite targets of rebels because they are easy to abduct and intimidate.
Children do not demand payment and they are less likely than adults to flee. Most girls are given as wives to LRA military heroes, but they also may be forced to fight. Acayo fights her own harrowing memories. The commander asked me whether I would still fear to kill next time, and I had no answer. The guilt haunts me, even though the family has forgiven me.