| dc.description.abstract | Despite intense programmatic efforts by the Great Lakes Region
(GLR)to reduce wars/conflicts by the regional frameworks,
organizations, governments and various agencies through several
approaches, there is still a tendency of relapse of conflicts
due to lack of or inadequate peace-building promotion. This
study, therefore took to address a case of the nature and causes
of conflict and its implications for peace building in the great
lakes region. Given the specificity of conflicts, this study
uses the case of LRA conflict in northern Uganda not as a true
picture of conflicts of the region but to establish the nature
and causes of conflicts and how they imply for peacebuilding.
The study addresses the LRA conflict in Acholiland, Northern
Uganda which erupted in 1986.
It is primarily focused on the
causes, nature and trend of the conflict and seeks to explore
strategies for peace building in Northern Uganda.
A qualitative research approach was employed with a case study
research design (case of the LRA war) to four affected districts
of Gulu, Amuru, Nwoya and Kitgum of Acholiland, in Northern
Uganda where the conflict had severe impact. Through key
informant interview and questionnaire it sought out information
from 30 respondents out of the targeted sample size of 52.
In doing so, it was found that, the historical violence,
discontent, power struggle and political and economic inequality
are the factors that kick-started the conflict. The nature of
the conflict characterized of the Uganda National Liberation
Army (UNLA) under Tito Okello (RIP) and the NRM/A rebels under
their leader YoweriMuseveni that resulted in the overthrow of
the former government in 1986, as well as the human rights
violations inflicted on defeated UNLA soldiers and affected
Acholiland communities. The conflict is viewed as a struggle for
political power and control between North and South deep rooted
regional divide and the historical violence right from the
country’s independence in 1962.
The conflict has been far
reaching and include destabilization of the region, the
displacement of up to 1.8 million people, the killing and
mutilation of tens of thousands of civilians, and the abduction
of even more civilians, mainly children, for recruitment in the
LRA forces and what seemed to be the benefits to both fighting
parties. In the long run, the effects have retarded development
efforts in Acholi land including in other regions of the
country.
This study concludes that the government needs to enhance its
commitment to the implementation of peace accords. With the help
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of the International Community, the government could establish a
Truth and Reconciliation to address the various human rights
violations that have plagued the North of the country since the
war started. There is also the need to prioritize development
efforts in Northern Uganda to address economic disparities with
other regions of the country; revisit resolving the conflict
amicably in the context of traditional “Matooput” justice system
widely practiced in Acholi land, preaching of love for one
another and extending of amnesty by the GoU to the rebels. All
these measures could help promote national accountability and
reconciliation in Uganda as a whole. Finally, the long-term
process of reconstruction and reconciliation in Uganda is seen
as depending crucially on the Ugandan people’s understanding of
their own history which will lead to strategic peace building
and lasting peace. This therefore calls for further research on
strategies towards it. | en_US |
