Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Uganda. Lawrence fled to Tanzania from his native Rwanda after the Genocide. He returned in 1996 only to be imprisoned for seven years. Released seven years later, he returned to his wife and two children, only to have his house burned down as they slept. As he tried to escape the plastic tarpaulin sheeting that is used as roofing fell onto his back. He suffered third-degree burns to his back and arms and spent four months in hospital. His wife and children were killed in the attack.

Gulu, Uganda. Grace hides behind some mosquito netting at her home. Symbolic of how trauma affect’s central Africans, Grace never managed a smile, until she hid behind a piece of netting at her home. She now attends the Living Hope program, which provides a place to develop skills that enables women to start businesses, properly care for children and give comprehensive care for HIV. She has not only learned to forgive her attackers mentally but is learning skills that help her to move forward in her life.

Kampala, Uganda. Aiden Waswa in his crib at Watoto Orphanage in Suube. Abandoned at birth the police took him to Suube, on the outskirts of Kampala, at age one he already receives trauma re-habilitation.

Nakivale, Uganda. Teenage boys from various war-torn regions in central Africa, compete in a 'pick up' game of football. Sport is seen as a welcome relief from the daily monotony of life in the settlement and a positive outlet for those dealing with psychological issues. Many arrivals to Nakivale feel they have little or nothing to live for. These people are living in a permanent state of limbo. Not able to repatriate for fear of death, unable to immigrate and re-settlement abroad as remote as a lottery win.

Gulu. Uganda. For many victims, solace is found in faith and the Bible points to forgiveness as a means to overcome past hurt. Faith is an important component to many that have been affected by conflict. While not addressing any psychological issues, learning to ‘forgive’ and move forward in life is an important step in the process. 

Nakivale, Uganda. Children take it upon themselves to stage a  rally, protesting  the increasing violence in the camp towards women. Approximately 400,000 reports of rape are recorded annually against women in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Many flee the DRC after becoming victims of rape and find themselves in refugee settlements in neighbouring Uganda but as the settlements grow, so does crime and sexual violence toward women within the camp is becoming a worrying issue. 

Nakivale refugee settlement, Uganda. Like many women from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Juliette Kurungi fled across the border into Uganda after her brutal rape and the murder of her two year old twins. Dealing with constant bleeding as a result of the rape, she harboured thoughts of suicide and seven years later still cries herself to sleep at night.

Gulu, Uganda. Grace Achiro resides in Gulu, Northern Uganda and is part of the Living Hope centre for women who have been affected by war. Abducted at age 11 she was made a wife of a 60-year-old commander of the LRA. In her 14 years as a ‘bush wife’ to commanders of the LRA she was beaten, raped, shot and tortured.

Nakivale, Uganda. Under the shade of an acacia tree, a Somalian woman waits her turn to collect food rations in Nakivale's base camp. Adding to the trauma and psychological issues already lived with, these refugees also have to contend with not being able to have there physiological needs met.

Gulu, Uganda. Kenneth Banya is a man that has perpetrated many acts of evil. One of Kony’s commanders for the duration of the LRA war in Uganda and South Sudan, he was responsible for thousands of deaths, and rape across northern Uganda. A self-confessed “man of the devil, focused on bloodshed” he claims to have found God and after “a lot of finger pointing because I was in the bush with the LRA”, he sits openly, without fear of reprisal, amongst fellow parishner’s on Sundays service in Gulu.