Boy soldier - Norman Okello

Uganda's civil war with Joseph Kony's Lord'sResistance Army has raged since the 1980s, claiming over 100,000 lives anddisplacing around 1.5 million people. Kony's rebel force, who combine religiousmysticism with extreme brutality, have abducted tens of thousands of children:their child soldiers. Their insurgency continues to this day, though most of usknow little about it.

Norman Okello was only twelve when he wasabducted by the LRA. In captivity, he was subjected to a ruthless trainingregime aimed at turning him into a killing machine free from conscience andfear. Forced to commit unspeakable acts of violence, Norman struggled not justto stay alive but to hold on to the last shreds of his humanity. When hefinally escaped the clutches of the LRA, he faced his next ordeal: trying toreintegrate into a society that feared and despised him.

Harrowing, heart-rending and enlightening in equalmeasure, Boy Soldieris above all a story of survival andredemption against unbelievable odds.

Norman Okello is a former child soldier from northern Uganda, abducted at the age of twelve and forced to become a soldier in what was one of the most notoriously violent rebel forces in the world. He is now a family man who owns his own farm and serves the public as a civil servant. Having overcome hardship and hatred, his life now centres on helping others and serving his community.