UGANDA October 30, 2003

THE HIDDEN WAR: THE FORGOTTEN PEOPLE

WAR IN ACHOLILAND AND ITS RAMIFICATIONS FOR PEACE AND SECURITY IN UGANDA

Human Rights & Peace Centre (HURIPEC) Faculty of Law, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda www.huripec.ac.ug Tel: (256)-41-532-954

Liu Institute for Global Issues 6476 NW Marine Drive Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2 Canada www.ligi.ubc.ca Tel: (1)-604-822-9957

Partners

Afrika Study Centre, Mbale Human Rights Focus, Gulu District NGO Forum, Gulu Acord, Gulu CPA, Gulu

Norwegian Refugee CouncilHURINET, Kampala

ABETO, KampalaCPAR, Gulu

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. FOREWORD........................................................................................................................................ 1 II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................. 5 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 5 2.2 Background ........................................................................................................................................ 5 2.3 Causes and complicating factors to the conflict................................................................................. 6 2.4 The Role of Sudan and the United States........................................................................................... 8 2.5 Reconciliation .................................................................................................................................... 8 2.6 Recommendations .............................................................................................................................. 9 2.6.1 Involvement of the International Community ............................................................................ 9 2.6.2 The Holding of the National Conference ................................................................................. 10

2.6.3 Embarking on Resettlement and Socio-economic rehabilitation ............................................. 10 2.6.4 Embarking on Community Reconciliation processes. ............................................................. 11 2.6.5 Further research ....................................................................................................................... 11

III. BACKGROUND TO THIS RESEARCH........................................................................................ 12 IV. EMBARKING ON RESEARCH..................................................................................................... 15 4.1 The first and second phases of the research ..................................................................................... 15 4.2 Methodology .................................................................................................................................... 16 4.2.1 Literature review ...................................................................................................................... 17 4.2.2. Community interviews ............................................................................................................ 17 4.2.3 In-depth interviews and dialogue ............................................................................................. 17 4.2.4 Focus group discussions........................................................................................................... 17 4.2.5 Interviews with stakeholders.................................................................................................... 17 4.2.6 Meetings and seminars ............................................................................................................. 17 V. WHAT DO ALREADY WE KNOW?.............................................................................................. 19 5. 1 The Historical Roots ....................................................................................................................... 19 5.2 The Post Colonial Experience .......................................................................................................... 21 5.3 The Real Significance of the ‘Luwero Triangle’ war....................................................................... 24 5.4 Continuation of Enemy Images........................................................................................................ 30 VI. THE REBELLION IN ACHOLI ..................................................................................................... 33 6.1 Transformations in the Conflict ....................................................................................................... 33 6.2 The War of the Generals .................................................................................................................. 33 6.3 Lakwena and the Peasant Rebellion................................................................................................. 36 6.4 The Joseph Kony War...................................................................................................................... 41 6.5 Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces..................................................................................................... 47 VIII. CAUSES, GOVERNANCE, AND THE DYNAMICS OF THE CONFLICT ............................. 50 7.1 Causes of the Conflict ...................................................................................................................... 50 7.2 Governance ...................................................................................................................................... 55 VIII. FACTORS COMPLICATING AND COMPOUDING THE CONFLICT................................... 59 8.1 The economic factors. ...................................................................................................................... 59 8.2 Social and Cultural Factors. ............................................................................................................. 65

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8.3 Political Factors................................................................................................................................ 68 8.4 Religion, Myth, Witchcraft and Metaphysics. ................................................................................. 69 8.5 Witchcraft of the State ..................................................................................................................... 74 8.6 Witchcraft and the Church ............................................................................................................... 75 8.7 External Factors ............................................................................................................................... 78 8.7.1 The Sudan Factor ..................................................................................................................... 78 8.7.2 The U. S. Support and the September 11 ................................................................................ 81 8.7.3 “Operation Iron Fist”............................................................................................................... 86 8.7.4 Arms Trafficking..................................................................................................................... 90 8.7.5 The Land Issue ......................................................................................................................... 93 8.7. 6 Abductions of children ............................................................................................................ 94 8.7. 7 Internally Displaced Persons’ Camps ..................................................................................... 96 8.7.8 Law Enforcement Agencies ..................................................................................................... 99 8.7.9 The Judicial System ............................................................................................................... 103 8.7.10 Internal Actors...................................................................................................................... 107 8.7.11 The Position of the Uganda Government ............................................................................. 110 IX. CURRENT INTERVENTION EFFORTS .................................................................................... 113 9.1 Traditional Leaders and Elders ................................................................................................. 113 9.2 Acholi Religious Leaders Peace initiative ................................................................................ 115 9.3 District Peace Teams................................................................................................................. 116 9.4 Civil Society Initiatives............................................................................................................. 116 9.5 Presidential Peace Team-PPT ................................................................................................... 119 9.6 The Umbrella “Oduru Kuc” ...................................................................................................... 121 9.7 Assessment of the peace process by the public......................................................................... 121 9.8 Resettlement of Former Rebels and Abducted Children........................................................... 125 9.9 International Humanitarian Agencies........................................................................................ 127 9.10 United Nations ........................................................................................................................ 129 X. REHABILITATION AND LONG-TERM RESETTLEMENTSTS............................................... 131 10.1 The UPDF Resettlement Policy .............................................................................................. 131 10.2 The Government Rehabilitation Policy-NUSAF .................................................................... 136 XI. RECONCILIATION...................................................................................................................... 139 XII. THE WAY AHEAD..................................................................................................................... 141 12.1 International Involvement ....................................................................................................... 142 12.2 The National Conference ........................................................................................................ 146 12.3 Economic and Social Rehabilitation ....................................................................................... 149 12.4 Community Reconciliation ..................................................................................................... 150 XIII. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH........................................................... 153 XIV. CONCLUSION........................................................................................................................... 155 APPENDICES ..................................................................................................................................... 156

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