Transcript NATIONAL RECONCILIATION & TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE AUDIT

NATIONAL RECONCILIATION
&
TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE AUDIT
BRIEF 6 : PADER
DISTRICT
BEYOND JUBA PROJECT
www.beyondjubaproject.org
2011 -2012
BRIEF 6: Pader District
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
Main objectives of the
NR&TJ Audit
To document community perspectives on
post-independence armed conflicts across
Uganda
To
identify and assess the outstanding
reconciliation and transitional justice needs
related to each of these conflicts

BRIEF 6: Pader District
Methodology
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
Three field teams comprising four researchers and one videographer
visit twenty-one selected districts equally distributed over the Northern,
Southern, Eastern and Central regions in Uganda.
In each district, concerned civil society organisations are contacted.
The teams conduct Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with four different
groups namely adult women, adult men, youth and representatives of
civil society and local government.
There are fifteen participants in each FGD and the discussions take the
whole day. FGDs are split into two parts, and follow a simple structure:
The morning is spent ‘Looking Back’, at conflicts, their causes, their
impacts, and the stakeholders involved, while the afternoon is for
“Looking Forward” at the possible justice mechanisms that could be used
to address the legacies of conflicts identified – as well as sending
messages to key persons and institutions.
In the course of each FGD, key informants are identified for further
consultation. Findings are recorded on flip charts, through near-verbatim
note taking, and on audio- and video recorders.
Preliminary Findings are presented initially in these Briefs. The final
output will be a Compendium of Conflicts in Uganda, supported by video
documentation
BRIEF 6: Pader District
Focus Group Discussion Guide
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
PART 1: LOOKING BACK
Conflict Timeline
(national/regional/district/village)
A. Is Uganda at peace?
B. What were the
Causes behind the
conflicts you have
identified?
C. What were the
D. Who were the
Impacts?
Stakeholders?
Victims
- Perpetrators
- Beneficiaries
- Bystanders
- Spoilers
- Peacebuilders
-
BRIEF 6: Pader District
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
Focus Group Discussion Guide
PART 2: LOOKING FORWARD
WELCOME BACK
- Reminder of purpose of
A. How does it feel to be talking about the history of
this country?
second half: from looking back
to looking forward
RECONCILIATION
B. 1. What does JUSTICE
mean to you?
2. Has JUSTICE been done
to the stakeholders? How
do you think justice can be
done? What would you like
to see in the following
processes?
TRUTH-TELLING
PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT
REPARATIONS
TRADITIONAL JUSTICE
AMNESTY
PROSECUTIONS
MEMORIALIZATION
CHANGES IN LAW / INSTITUTIONS
C. What Messages do you
have for key persons and/or
institutions?
BRIEF 6: Pader District
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
District Information
Located in northern Uganda, Pader
and Agago districts are bordered
by Lamwo district to the north,
Kaabong district to the east, Otuke
district to the south and Gulu
district to the west. Pader and
Agago Districts were created in
2009 out of Kitgum District. The
land area of both districts is 6,929
square km. The main economic
activity is crop farming. The
average life expectancy is 37 years
only. It should be noted that at the
time of carrying out this study,
Pader and Agago Districts as we
know them now were less than a
year old thus the research covered
both districts. The majority of the
inhabitants are Acholi, followed by
Langi and a small number of
Itesots.
Accessed at
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bsw9fKc0A6w/TNwg89BAzSI/AAAAA
AAAAFI/1z4b-pgdYF4/s1600/map.JPG
BRIEF 6: Pader District
PADER DISTRICT MAP
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
Accessed at
http://www.prdp.org.ug/manage/photos/acholi-Pader%20District%20Administrative%20boundaries.jpg
BRIEF 6: Pader District
INTRODUCTION
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
This field brief is based on data collected from Pader and Agago
districts from 13 to 17 September 2011. Focus Group Discussions
(FGDs) were held with women, men and youth in Patongo Town and with
civil society organisations and Local Government representatives in
Pader Town Centre. Key informant interviews were held on the outskirts
of Patongo Trading Centre and at the Pader NGO Forum office. The
primary findings below reflect views expressed in all the FGDs and key
informant interviews.
The field brief herein reflects conflict perspectives and opinions as
narrated by the FGD participants and are not necessarily those of the
Refugee Law Project (RLP) or its funders. This field brief was written by
Lyandro Komakech with valuable input from Annelieke van de Wiel and
Kari Griffiths, all of the RLP.
BRIEF 6: Pader District
LOOKING BACK
Past
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
BRIEF 6: Pader District
IS THERE PEACE IN UGANDA?
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
Please remember that this brief reflects community perspectives on national issues.
BRIEF 6: Pader District
Conflicts Timeline: National Level
1960 1962
1966
1971
1979 1981 1985 1986
1989
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
2012
Anglican/Catholic conflict (pre-Independence and after):
The introduction of different religions into Acholiland caused conflicts, especially between
DP/UPC
(1960 to date):
CatholicsConflict
and Protestants.
Both groups started running negative propaganda in newsletters
Participants
identified
the
introduction
of political Catholics
parties influenced
by religion
suchdivision
as the
like “Mewa
” for Protestants
and “Lobo-mewa”
. This reinforced
social
Obote
I administration
(1962-1971)
and Kabaka for
crisis (May 1966):
Democratic
Party
(DP) and
the Ugandatwo
People’s
Congress
(UPC) as responsible for conflicts
through
making
marriage
religions
taboo.
The
alliance
between
the between
UPC and the
the Buganda
King’s
party, Kabaka Yekka (KY) was
between
Catholics
and
Protestants which
continue
to
Uganda’s
politics. DP is largely
Amin’s
coup
and
reignThis
of terror
(25impact
January
1971
1979):
the firstmilitary
Government
aftersubsequent
Independence.
alliance
resulted
in
the -Palace
Coup of
supported
by Catholics
while the
UPC
is supported
by
Protestants.
This
problem
exists in
The
1971
coup
ousting
Obote
and
installing
Idi
Amin
as
Head
of
State
was
1966, which
later
became
known as the Kabaka crisis. The crisis followed aidentified
power as a
Liberation
war
(11
April
1979):
other
parts ofmajority
the world
Britain
has historically
hadto
a political
influence.
Theoffollowing
conflict.
of where
Acholi
and
Langi
were
deemed
have
been
support
Obote
struggle The
in which
Sir
Apollo
Milton
Obote,
the
Prime
Minister,
wanted
toinbecome
theand
Participants
also
mentioned
the
Liberation
War
of
1978-79
where
Kikosi
Maalum
the
songs
were
sung
by
participants
in
the
focus
group
discussions
to
highlight
the
political
Aftermath
of
the
Liberation
War:
Christian/Muslim
conflict
(1979-85):
and
Idi
Amin
feared
they
would
revenge
against
him.
For
that
reason,
Idi
Amin
turned
against
executive
leader of
Government
insteadtwo
of the
Kabaka.
Subsequently,
the Kabaka
Front
for
National
Salvation
(FRONASA),
armed
groups
led by David
Ojok
to
divide
between
the
parties:
“Muni
oyube
me
nyono
wii
wa”
literally
meaning
“itOyite,
was
aloyal
design
The
active
role
played
by
Muslim
countries
like
Libya
in
defending
Amin’s
regime
and
the
the
Langi/Acholi
in
the
army
and
brutally
murdered
a
large
part
of
serving
Acholi
and
Langi
fled into
exile
in England
after
his
palace(1981-89):
was heavily
overrunsupported
by the national
led by
Obote
and
Yoweri
and
bymeaning
thearmy,
Tanzania
People’s
Federal
Democratic
Movement
of
Uganda
by the Europeans
toMuseveni
sitto
on Muslims
us”respectively
and
“kwon
pa
DPthe
pe acamo”
literally
“I cannot
share
favouritism
extended
resulted
in
targeting
of
Muslims
for
revenge
by
officers
and
soldiers.
Obote’s
army
chief
Idi worked
Amin
Dada.
Defence
Force
(TPDF)
together
to form (FEDEMU),
the
Uganda
National
Liberation
Frontprimarily
(UNLF).
The
Federal
Democratic
Movement
of
Uganda
a
group
that
was
based
food
with
the
DP”.
The
last
phrase
illustrates
how
party
politics
could
even
divide
families
Christians
after
the Military
fall of IdiCoup
Amin.
General
Okello
(1985):
Their
aimTito
was
to overthrow
Amin’s
Government,
which they agitated
succeeded
on Uganda,
11 April
in
Buganda
and
comprised
of Buganda
fundamentalists
forina doing
federal
members
who
used
to
sit
together
to
share
food.
In
1985,
Obote
was
deposed
by
his
own
army
generals
who
had
lost
confidence
in
him
due to
1979.
incorporating
an autonomous Buganda Kingdom. FEDEMU was vehemently opposed to
the way he managed the NRA/Museveni insurgency in Luwero. The Acholi generals also
Obote and formed a fighting alliance with Museveni’s National Resistance Army (NRA) to
thought Obote was more loyal to his Langi tribesman, as he had attempted to appoint his
fight Obote’s Government. When Museveni assumed power with FEDEMU integrated in the
own tribesman Major Opon Acak as Chief of Staff over other senior members like Tito Okello
NRA, they moved up north and started terrorising civilians. FEDEMU killed people in Bucoro
Lutwa and Basilio Okello. The coup shattered the alliance between the Acholi/Langi in the
and Namukora as well as raping men in what became known as ‘Tek Gungu’ (‘Forceful
army and led to an escalation of ethnic violence which to date has never been resolved.
bending’ or rape by a fellow man). These acts also took place later in Alero and Koch Goma
Sub-Counties in what is now Nwoya District, as well as other areas in Kitgum District.
Please remember that this brief reflects community perspectives on national issues.
BRIEF 6: Pader District
Conflicts Timeline: National Level (Cont.)
1986
1987
1988
1989
1995
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
2011
2012
NRA take-over and rise of Uganda People’s Democratic Army (1986-88):
After the NRA toppled the short-lived Tito Okello Government and established itself in Acholiland,
The “Trinity” wars (1986 – to date):
violence continued. Some NRA soldiers used the new situation to settle old scores against the
In 1945 a spirit possessed a man called Severino Lukoya and in 1982 he started practicing what
Acholi
and Mobile
committed
atrocities
Holy
Spirit
Forces
(1986 – against
1987): them as revenge for alleged atrocities committed by the
the spirit instructed him to do. The spirit was called “Lakwena” and later possessed his daughter
Acholi/Langi
dominated
government
army,
the Battle
of instead
Luwero.they
Manyused
Acholi
soldiers
The
Holy Spirit
Mobile Forces
(HSMF)
didthe
notUNLA,
to useinany
bullets;
stones
to
Alice
Auma who
started a (1987):
movement of healing people using water. In 1982, Tito Okello
The Almighty
God Movement
were deeply
suspicious
of the motives
the Government.
Some
took upmedium.
arms again
joined
attack
enemies.
Alice Lakwena
operatedofthrough
the power of
a spiritual
She and
made
her
consulted
spirit
but in 1986
it is Lukoya,
believedcontinued
that Okellowith
ignored
Alice’s
instructions
and
The father Alice’s
of Alice
Lakwena,
Severino
similar
movements
based
onwas
the
the Lord’s
Uganda
Democratic
(UPDA),
startingwere
a guerrilla
war.
were
first
attack Resistance
onPeople’s
Christmas
Eve(1987):
in 1986Army
in Kitgum
and people
convinced
thatInitially
she wasthey
going
to
The
Army
overthrownofbyspirits
Museveni’s
forces after
shortly
thereafter.
Six months
later
(August
– September
1986),
command
immediately
Alice
Lakwena’s
Holy
Spirit
Mobile
Forces
were
defeated.
successful
and
forced
theto
NRA
to withdraw
the countryside
andinretreat
to theHis
towns
of from
Gulu
overthrow
the
Government
ofbeMuseveni.
Shefrom
isbegan
claimed
have sought
the spiritual
powers
Joseph
Kony,
who
claims
Alice’s
cousin,
histomovement
early
1987.
movement
Alice
Auma,
through
her (1989):
spiritual
medium
known
as
Lakwena,
emerged
withgenerously
a group referred
to
He
borrowed
cattle
and
money
from
people
and
promised
to
repay
them
once
his
Force
Obote
Back
Again
and Kitgum.
Butby
thespirits
UPDA
failed
to to
defeat
thehim
NRA
decisively
and
many
UPDA
soldiers
deserted,
river
Niledriven
in Pakwach
andthat
was
set
liberate
the
people
of God.
The
Holy
Spirit
Mobile
Forces
was
also
spoke
through
and
preached
that
he
had
been
sent
by
God
to
as
the Holy
Spirit
Mobile
Forces,
marking
the
beginning
of the
Trinity
Wars.
The
was
movement
power
Kampala.
At the
that
time
inObote
Acholiland,
anybody
who
claimed
they
could
Another
rebel
group
thatinin
was
mentioned
wasnumbers
Force
Back
(FOBA)
that
wasgroup
formed
by
returning
toseized
their
villages.
This
swelled
of
inAgain
the
villages,
creating
unrest
and
were
however
defeated
Busoga,
in eastern
Uganda
bythose
Museveni’s
NRA
forces.
destroy
all
evil
forces.
The
Lord’s
Resistance
Army
(LRA)
would
not
tolerate
any
other
form
of
West
Nile
Bank
Front
(1995):
directed by
theGovernment
spirit Acak
not toand
useAggrey
weapons
in followers
warfare
as
Alice
claimed
her
spirit
was
supreme.
overthrow
the
would
easily
find
as
people
in
the
region
felt
marginalized
Brigadier
Smith
Opon
Awori
in
1989
with
the
objective
of
fighting
for
the
return
the formation
of
insurgent
groups
that identified
operated
under
theWest
bigger
umbrella
of
the
UPDA,
worship
such
as splinter
indigenous
beliefs
as he declared
witchcraft
and
sorcery
evil.
He
said
he
had
Another
episode
of conflict
that
participants
was
the
Nile
Bank
Front
(WNBF)
Participants
thought
of
the
connection
between
Severino
Lukoya,
Joseph
Kony
and
Alice
and
tired
of
Government
vengeance.
Despite
this,
participants
noted
that
this
movement
never
to
power
Obote.
This
group
operated
in
eastern
Uganda,
specifically
in
Mbale
and
Tororo.
‘Walk
to
Work’
protest
and
teachers’
strikes
(April
2011
to
date):
but had
own
identity.
identity
reflected
by their
activities
and
in
the
names
come
to their
teach
the
Acholi
toTheir
follow
thearound
Tenwas
Commandments.
Kony’s
movement
later
became
insurgency
that
they
was
started
1995
by Colonel
Juma
Oris,
former
officer
in they
the
Lakwena
as
a
“Holy
Trinity”,
with
Severino
asGovernment
the taken
father,
Kony
as
the
sonabut
and
Lakwena
as
the
gained
momentum.
Insaid
August
1988,
Severino
was
prisoner
by
Kony
later
he
escaped
However,
some
members
said
that
it
was
a
creation
to
create
fear
and
taint
Participants
noted
that
due
to
the
deliberate
increase
in
prices
of
commodities
in
the
country
gave themselves.
There
was
“Ci-lil”
(Go group
and spread
the like
rumours
[to NRA]),
“Cel-ibong”
(Shoot
and
Lord’s
Resistance
Army
(LRA)
and
the
NRA
HSMF.paragraphs:
Initially
Kony
started
Ugandan
Army
(UA)
of
Idi
Amin.
The
wasin
founded
in opposition
to
the
Government
of
Holywas
Spirit.
The
trinity
components
arefought
explained
detail
in Alice’s
the
following
captured
by the
NRA.
He
served
several
years
in prison
but was
later
pardoned.
stature
and
reputation
of
Obote.
and
inflation,
youth,
political
leaders
from
the
opposition
parties
and
teachers
resorted
to
feel [theinNRA
see
whether
they
are dead])
and
“Agoyo-ayaro”
(Smash
NRA]
fighting
Gulusoldiers
where
hewas
would
employ
similar
magical
battle
as and
Alice
but[the
later
he
President
Museveni
andto
primarily
composed
of former
UAtactics
soldiers
officers.
Their
striking
and
protesting
to express
their
disappointment
with
the the
Government
in power.
took
completely).
of the
members
of
these
groups
supported
Pece
Peace
Accord
with
the
adopted
more
conventional
guerrilla
tactics
and
resorted
toThe
violence
and
looting
of
foodThis
from
the
objective
wasSome
to bring
back
deposed
dictator
Idi Amin.
WNBF
also
incorporated
former
place
all
over
the
country
and
2011
has
been
branded
a
year
of
demonstrations.
The
major
NRA
in
1988
and
demobilized,
while
others
joined
the
“Trinity
Wars”.
civilian population.
members
of the Uganda National Rescue Front I (UNRF I), itself a rebel group comprised of UA
victims of this conflict were children and women.
personnel that had been demobilised in January 1986.
Please remember that this brief reflects community perspectives on national issues.
BRIEF 6: Pader District
Conflicts Timeline: Regional Level
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
While the LRA conflict was explicitly viewed as a national conflict, participants also discussed what they
considered regional conflicts. They said the major regional conflicts experienced are inter-ethnic conflicts over
land, and Karimojong cattle raids. All these inter-ethnic conflicts remain unresolved as reconciliation between the
different regions/tribes has not happened. Participants noted that during the LRA insurgency the Karimojong
extended their raids from the eastern part of Uganda to west Acholi with ease because of the complete absence
of protection by the NRA.
1906
1972
1979
2006
2012
Acholi vs Lango conflict (1906):
Participants cited British colonial official General Bwana Tong who was District Commissioner
Acholi/Langi vs Kakwa (1972):
for Lango as primarily responsible for increased tensions between the two ethnic communities.
Another conflict identified by participants was that between the Acholi/Langi and ethnic
They
explained that
in 1906,
General
Bwana Tong’s
bodyguard
from Bunyoro was killed by the
Karimojong/NRA
cattle
rustlers
vs neighbouring
regions
(1979 to date):
Sudanese people of Kakwa(Amin’s tribe). Women explained that since Amin had targeted and
Langi.
incident
later compelled
Bwana
to crossover
to cattle
Acholiraids.
whereHowever,
he mobilized
the
Before This
1979,
the Karimojong
had only
usedTong
spears
during their
in 1979,
killed
several in
Langi
and Uganda,
Acholi people
accusing
them
of – being
sympathisers of Obote, his
Land
conflicts
northern
Acholi
Sub-Region
(2006
to
date):
Acholi
Chiefs to raided
wage war
Langi and
as revenge
forguns
his bodyguard’s
death.cattle
In doing
this,
the
Karimojong
the against
Moroto the
Armoury
acquired
leading to violent
raids
in
downfall
prompted
the twofrom
tribes
to seek revenge
against
the (IDP)
Kakwa.
As
communities
returned
Internally
Displaced
Persons
camps
to
their
villages,
some
he sowed the
of discord among
the AcholiIn
and
Langi.
More
recentconflicts
events such
as border
Karamoja
andseeds
the neighbouring
communities.
1986
when
armed
in the
region
people
resettled
on
land
which
did
not
belong
to
them
while
others
forgot
the
exact
delineation
of
disputes a
and
military
coups have raiders
further deepened
the distrust
theentered
two tribes.
reached
peak,
the Karimojong
took advantage
of thebetween
unrest and
the region to
their land boundaries, especially the children whose parents died in the war. During Amin’s
raid cattle. According to the participants, cattle were not only taken by the Karimojong raiders
regime, land belonged to the state but that changed with the 1995 constitution. Chapter 15,
but also by the NRA.
Article 237 states that “land now belongs to the citizens of Uganda.” Participants stated that “the
colonialists introduced money which made some people especially the chiefs sell off their land
which was wrong.” Participants further noted that “Acholi culture used to take land as property
that belongs to God not human beings”.
Participants emphasised that the major perpetrators of land conflicts have been the LC II courts, elders and clan
leaders. Most land conflict cases submitted in court never receive due attention or are never decided due to
corruption. Lack of awareness about the Land Acts by Government representatives and other actors has also
been reported as part of the problem. As a result of a lack of awareness and education, many people in the
countryside are ignorant about the current land laws.
Please remember that this brief reflects community perspectives on national issues.
BRIEF 6: Pader District
Conflicts Timeline: Village Level
1989
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
2012
Gender based violence (1989 to date):
Another conflict mentioned by participants is gender based violence which is widespread at the
Domestic violence (1989 to date):
community level in Agago. Women said this is because during the LRA conflict many people were
Traditionally, a man was the bread winner in a home. But in 1989 when people went to the IDP
forced into IDP camps and a number of organizations started conducting sensitization meetings
camps things changed. During that period, men lost their power and property. In the camps it
about the rights of women. This was not received well in the community due to the conservative,
was the women who were given the relief food and property and not the men. The men would
patriarchal society that exists in this area where men have a stronger voice, demand respect and
then sell the relief items given to women to get more money. As a result, men became powerless
privileges, and are viewed as the head of the household. The sensitization led women to boldly
and the majority resorted to beating their women to show their power. It was also reported that
reject the indigenous practice of inheritance that meant that as widows they could not inherit
some women have misinterpreted their rights to manipulate men. This has led to family
property. The issue of inheritance was regarded as one of the biggest causes of conflict. It was
breakdowns and an increase in the number of neglected children on the streets.
also noted that women are also victims of gender injustice in terms of access to property,
underpinning numerous property ownership conflicts between men and women, and orphans
and elders.
Please remember that this brief reflects community perspectives on national issues.
BRIEF 6: Pader District
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
Causes & Impacts
Power struggles
CAUSES
Poverty
Favouritism and
marginalisation
Bad governance/lack
of democracy
Colonial army recruitment
policy
Loss of livelihoods
Impacts
Cultural degeneration
Income disparity
School drop outs
Deterioration of morals
Domestic violence
High crime rate
Please remember that this brief reflects community perspectives on national issues.
BRIEF 6: Pader District
CAUSES OF CONFLICTS
National level
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
Power struggles: Participants mentioned power struggles as the cause of many conflicts
in Uganda, demonstrated by the numerous coup d’etats from 1971 to 1986.
Colonial army recruitment policy: Colonial rule and its policy of recruiting young men of
northern tribes into the army widened the ethnic and regional divisions in Uganda and
sowed the seeds for tribal rivalries. Soon after Independence, this rivalry began to
undermine the political stability of Uganda.
Favouritism and marginalisation: Participants mentioned favouritism and marginalisation
by political leaders as another cause of conflict in Uganda. They cited Obote’s Lango
Development Master Plan, which unfairly prioritised development in Obote’s home
region, as a recipe for chaos and typical of post-Independence Uganda. The Master Plan
had two prongs: first, the Lango boundary was to be extended into the neighbouring
tribes of Acholi and Kumam, and, secondly, Obote promoted his kinsmen in the army
such as Major Smith Opon Acak to the rank of Army Chief of Staff over more
experienced senior officers like Tito Okello and Basilio Olara Okello. The Master Plan
resulted in a power struggle in the military that culminated in the 1985 military coup
against Obote and contributed to deepening tensions between the Acholi and Langi.
Bad governance/lack of democracy: Participants mentioned bad governance as a cause
of conflict in Uganda. They said that lack of democracy has been at the centre of all
conflicts experienced in Uganda to date. An old man in Patongo stated that the deliberate
exclusion of the Catholic dominated DP from participation in the post-Independence
Government amounted to ignoring democracy, and demonstrated bad governance on the
part of the UPC Government.
Please remember that this brief reflects community perspectives on national issues.
BRIEF 6: Pader District
CAUSES OF CONFLICTS (CONT.)
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
Deterioration of morals: Members mentioned the deterioration of morals as a cause of conflict
today. They said young people are no longer respectful of elders and do not listen to them
which makes it difficult to control their actions and stop them from joining rebel groups or to
make them return from the bush once they have joined. Another issue members mentioned
was alcohol abuse which is responsible for domestic violence. Alcohol abuse by men increased
due to redundancy while in the IDP camps. Another cause of domestic violence and separation
is HIV/AIDS. It creates problems in relationships as parties blame each other for their infection.
Cultural degeneration: Participants also blame cultural degeneration for the rampant conflict in
Uganda. This is because traditional African culture, including traditional conflict resolution
mechanisms, was distorted by Europeans who introduced alien values leading to increased
conflicts in the region. Participants attributed the rampant land disputes to the weakening of
the cultural institutions.
Poverty: Participants said that widespread poverty has caused many conflicts and has incited
people to join rebellions. They further added that gender based/domestic violence is also
caused by poverty since men in the IDP camps would steal household food to sell to get money
for alcohol.
Poor economic management: Members said that poor management of the economy was the
cause of the recent spate of demonstrations experienced around the country, known as the
’Walk to Work’ campaign. There were also strikes by teachers and other civil servants. Idi Amin
also managed the economy badly as it collapsed during his reign. The wide income gap
between the rich and the poor in Uganda was also mentioned as a cause of conflict. Members
also mentioned the unequal distribution of wealth among people and regions making people
rise against the Government.
Please remember that this brief reflects community perspectives on national issues.
BRIEF 6: Pader District
CAUSES OF CONFLICTS (CONT.)
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
Religious rivalry: Rivalry for power by the two main religions in Uganda
introduced by the Colonialists (i.e. Catholics and Protestants) was noted
by participants to be behind conflicts. The Catholics were marginalised
and have had to fight for their space in the political arena in Uganda.
Religion/Bad spirits: Participants also said that bad spirits caused the
trinity wars that Joseph Kony, Severino Lukoya and Alice Lakwena fought
in the name of the Almighty God and the Holy Spirit.
Please remember that this brief reflects community perspectives on national issues.
BRIEF 6: Pader District
IMPACTS OF CONFLICTS
(CLICK once!)
Negative
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
Loss of livelihoods: People lost livelihoods and as a result lived in abject poverty
and starvation
Income disparity: There has been a widening gap between family incomes in
northern Uganda and elsewhere in Uganda
School drop outs: Some children were abducted and forced to join rebel forces,
and others were forced into IDP camps causing them to drop out of school
High crime rate: The degeneration of moral values in the IDP camps combined
with general insecurity caused by the various conflicts has led to a high crime rate
Domestic violence: Murder of spouses as a result of domestic violence has
become a problem due to moral degeneration in IDP camps
Land conflicts: When people returned from the IDP camps they found other
people had occupied the land they used to live on resulting in conflicts over that
land
Tribal conflicts: Tribal conflicts, especially between Acholi and Lango, have
become prevalent in the region as a result of the conflicts listed above
Alcoholism: As men were disempowered in the IDP camps, it led to an increase in
alcohol consumption and abuse
Erosion of cultural values: The movement of people from their homes into IDP
camps led to a decline in cultural values. In addition the British also contributed to
the destruction of traditional institutions and values
Politicisation of conflicts: For political reasons, the conflict in northern Uganda is
deliberately portrayed as an Acholi issue and all the Acholis are branded rebels.
Participants wondered why Government did not want to declare Acholiland a
disaster zone during the war, but was quick to declare Ankole region a disaster
zone when the region experienced a cattle disease outbreak
The Elders died in the conflict. This was compared to libraries being burnt since
elders used to be the source of knowledge and societal memory.
Please remember that this brief reflects community perspectives on national issues.
BRIEF 6: Pader District
(CLICK once!)
IMPACTS OF CONFLICTS
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
Positive
Increased access to social services: Interventions by various
stakeholders in the region have led to access to health centres,
water and other amenities
Increased wealth of business people: As a result of the
various wars in this region, business people who sold supplies
to soldiers and rebels benefited thus growing their wealth
Perception of development: The war has positively changed
the development outlook and community perceptions of
development issues.
Please remember that this brief reflects community perspectives on national issues.
BRIEF 6: Pader District
STAKEHOLDERS
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
Spoilers
Peace Builders
Conflicts
Beneficiaries
By-standers
Victims
Please remember that this brief reflects community perspectives on national issues.
BRIEF 6: Pader District
VICTIMS
STAKEHOLDERS
(CLICK once!)
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
The participants identified the following victims:
The Acholi community suffered in the hands of
the LRA, UPDA, HSMF, Severino Lukoya (Rubanga
Won), the NRA, UNLA and UPDF
Moderately rich people in the country became
victims during Amin’s regime as he randomly
murdered them
Acholi soldiers were massacred in Moroto and
Makindye barracks during Amin’s regime
Communities bordering the Karamoja region are
victims of the Karimojong raids
Widows and orphans whose husbands and
parents died in the war were denied access to land
by their relatives
The Youth were targeted for abduction to become
child soldiers.
Please remember that this brief reflects community perspectives on national issues.
BRIEF 6: Pader District
PERPETRATORS
The key perpetrators of the violence identified in the districts of Pader and Agago are:
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
(CLICK once!)
Witchdoctors have been central in the escalation of
the conflict through their spiritual revelations
The NRA/UPDF have been accused of various
massacres, e.g. the Bucoro incident as well as rape of
men (Tek gungu)
The military was partisan, always suspicious of the
local population in IDP camps and failed to protect the
communities from rebel attacks
The Insurgents (LRA/HSMF/UPA) were responsible for
the deaths of many innocent civilians
Regime leaders in Uganda have been manipulating
the concept of democracy to suit their selfish interests
International arms dealers responsible for the
consistent supply of arms to Government and
insurgents
The Karimojong raided cattle from neighbouring
districts
LRA and UPDA collaborators linked information to
both sides.
Please remember that this brief reflects community perspectives on national issues.
BRIEF 6: Pader District
BY-STANDERS (CLICK once!)
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
The bystanders of the conflict include:
The US Government as one of the super
powers was not directly involved yet it has been
engaged in many other conflicts worldwide.
The Government of Uganda which did not act
in
accordance
with
the
community’s
expectations when the Karimojong raided the
Acholi cattle. The Government also referred to
people of northern Uganda as ‘grasshoppers
eating themselves in a bottle’
The international community which kept on
watching the war escalate without doing
anything
Religious leaders who initially looked on as the
situation unfolded though they intervened later
President Museveni who deliberately refused
to endorse the 7th Parliament resolution
declaring northern Uganda a disaster zone
Please remember that this brief reflects community perspectives on national issues.
BRIEF 6: Pader District
Spoilers
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
(CLICK once!)
The media in Uganda who were not
adequately informed on the subject
matter, and as a result misled the
public on sensitive issues
The Government of Uganda which
did not try to resolve the conflict by
peaceful means
The Government of Sudan from
whom the LRA were receiving arms for
over a decade.
Please remember that this brief reflects community perspectives on national issues.
BRIEF 6: Pader District
Beneficiaries
(CLICK once!)
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
Among the beneficiaries of the conflicts, the following were emphasised by
participants:
The business community in northern Uganda
operated on super profits for a long time during
the conflict period
Government officials responsible for the
procurement of military hardware
UPDF officers who spent money without
disclosing what they were using the money for
whilst in northern Uganda
Acholi in the Diaspora who were granted
asylum in Europe and America
Community members today are benefiting
from recovery programs like PRDP, NUSAF II
The Government of Uganda who used the
situation in northern Uganda to seek financial
support from the international community
Non-Governmental
Organisations
and
Community Based Organisations who received
enormous funding during the conflict period
and in the post-conflict recovery phase.
Please remember that this brief reflects community perspectives on national issues.
BRIEF 6: Pader District
PEACE BUILDERS(CLICK once!)
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
Peace builders during the numerous conflicts included:
Religious leaders like Archbishop John Baptist Odama
and Retired Bishop Baker Ochola whose work continues
to present
Radio presenters of Radio Mega whose programmes
centre around peace
Civil society groups that engaged in advocacy and
humanitarian issues such as Pax Christi and St. Egidio
Traditional leaders such as Paramount Chief David
Onen Acana
Government and President of South Sudan provided
the venue for the peace talks
International organisations like the UN and EU
Sponsored the peace talks
Local media such as Radio Waa and Radio Maria
Personalities like Betty Bigombe worked tirelessly to
initiate the peace talks
Local artists like Dida Moses (RIP), Bosmick Otim, Yiboyo Lukeme group, Rasta Cobra, Jeje Kakab (RIP), Obol
Simple Man, Otim alias Twongweno composed songs
about peace
Traditional institutions in Acholi like the Ker Kwaro have
been at the forefront in resolving conflict in the north.
Please remember that this brief reflects community perspectives on national issues.
BRIEF 6: Pader District
LOOKING FORWARD
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
Future
BRIEF 6: Pader District
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF UGANDA
Many participants felt betrayed when talking about the
history of Uganda, and said that no Government has even
attempted to correct the past mistakes that were made at
Independence. The colonial policies of division along
ethnic and tribal lines, investment and centralization of
power in the Buganda Kingdom, using the north as a
labour reserve for the plantations and army, and the
marginalisation of the north, all contributed to widening
the ethnic and regional divisions in Uganda. This has
greatly undermined the country’s political stability.
Participants insist that unless all these structural causes of
conflict are addressed, conflicts will continue.
Please remember that this brief reflects community perspectives on national issues.
BRIEF 6: Pader District
PERSPECTIVES ON JUSTICE
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
According to the participants, justice has not been
done to the affected Acholi communities who are the
main victims of the conflict. To date nobody has
benefited from reparations, perpatrators have not been
held accountable, and there have been few attempts at
reconciliation. In addition, the conflicts have not been
resolved as Kony and the LRA still remain at large in
DRC and Central African Republic. Most of the
communities that have been displaced continue to live
in perpetual fear of the resumption of hostilities. The
people affected want the Government to design
effective measures that can break the cycle of
violence and bring about sustainable peace.
Please remember that this brief reflects community perspectives on national issues.
BRIEF 6: Pader District
TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE MECHANISMS
Truth-Telling
Participants emphasised that talking
openly about the issues in the various
conflicts should act as the basis for any
reconciliation effort in Uganda
There is need to establish a framework
that
outlines
acknowledgement,
forgiveness and reparation procedures
and to document the legacies of conflict
Acknowledgement should be made part
of the truth-telling process. Participants
also said that the acknowledgement
should come from all the stakeholders
involved in the conflict to the victims. This
should be part of the truth-telling that
operates through a new arrangement like
a Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
This would then guarantee a proper
amnesty process.
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
Prosecution
The Government should put in place
measures to fast-track litigation in the
courts of law, especially on the issue of
land conflicts to get rid of the current
backlog of land cases
Government should be taken to court
for defaulting on their duty to protect
civilians and their property during the war
in northern Uganda
Prosecution should be comprehensive
covering both the Government army
perpetrators with command responsibility
and the suspected LRA commanders.
Please remember that this brief reflects community perspectives on national issues.
BRIEF 6: Pader District
Traditional justice should play a key
role in the reconciliation process
because its processes provide for
effective acknowledgement of conflict
legacies
The traditional justice system in
Acholi known as mato oput should be
strengthened to complement the
formal justice system
There is a challenge with the
applicability of mato oput beyond
Acholi. Where many tribes are
involved, the formal law should take its
course. However, the principles of
mato oput should be extracted to
inform a national framework on
reconciliation and transitional justice
Members also brought in the concept
of Gomotong (bending of spears) as
another form of traditional justice.
Gomotong has precedents of resolving
conflicts such as the conflict between
Pajule and Patongo in the 1800s.
Reparation
Traditional Justice
TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE MECHANISMS
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
Participants
recommended
that only certain things such as
livestock and heavy equipment
such as cars that were burnt
should
be
compensated,
because not everything can be
compensated
An independent body should be
set up to document and
compensate the community for
the property lost during the
conflict
Orphans and widows should be
supported with education in
terms of
scholarships and
bursaries
There should be Government
programmes to rebuild the lives
of the people who suffered as a
result of conflict.
Please remember that this brief reflects community perspectives on national issues.
BRIEF 6: Pader District
TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE MECHANISMS
The majority of the participants
viewed amnesty as very essential
in facilitating the return of
abducted children as well as
fighters of the LRA. However,
there were strong voices to the
effect that amnesty must be made
conditional on truth-telling as this
would create opportunities for
effective acknowledgement by
the perpetrators of the wrongs
they committed against the
community.
Please remember that this brief reflects community perspectives on national issues.
Amnesty
Reconciliation
Participants called
for a
national
stakeholder
conference/forum to address
the
issue
of
national
reconciliation in Uganda. They
also suggested that traditional
justice should be allowed to
play a role in the reconciliation
process because it effectively
acknowledges
the
conflict
legacies
Having a national language
like Kiswahili or English would
help better to unite the people
of Uganda.
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
BRIEF 6: Pader District
TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE MECHANISMS
(CLICK once!).
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
Truth-Telling
The army should stop provoking communities in Acholi and should engage in more
community dialogue to encourage cooperation between the community and army
The number of military personnel in northern Uganda should be decreased, especially
the Local Defence Units. The regular army should also be made more professional
Jobs should be provided to unemployed youth as they may otherwise trigger more
conflicts
The retirement age should be reduced to 50 years to enable the absorption of young
people into the public service as the Government is failing to create jobs
The retirement benefits need to be paid promptly to motivate public servants to retire
and leave early
There should be community service instead of jail sentences as it offers better
deterrence to offenders and rehabilitates them back into society
Vocational studies should be provided for inmates in prison so as to offer prisoners
skills that they could use once they are released from prison
There is need to recruit and train professional police officers as opposed to integrating
local defence units into the force.
Police and Army should be separate, and both should ensure that they stick to their
constitutional mandates
The number of judges should be increased to administer justice effectively. One
participant said that formal justice delivery in Pader is totally blocked as there are not
enough judges
The education infrastructures in conflict affected areas need to be redesigned to enable
effective learning. Participants noted that a special education plan is needed to enable
orphans, children and returnees in northern Uganda to benefit and catch up with the rest
of the country.
Please remember that this brief reflects community perspectives on national issues.
BRIEF 6: Pader District
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
MESSAGES TO LEADERS/INSTITUTIONS
The following were the key messages the participants sent to the different stakeholders in
the various conflicts:
To Yoweri Museveni:
Please seek forgiveness
and resolve the conflict
through dialogue.
To Joseph Kony:
Please enough is enough:
accept to talk and sign the
Final Peace Agreement
Please ask for forgiveness
from people. Come home, go
to communities, and accept
what you did wrong, then the
community will forgive you.
To all Leaders
You should be conscious
of your steps and avoid
creating more conflicts.
Please remember that this brief reflects community perspectives on national issues.
BRIEF 6: Pader District
RECOMMENDATIONS
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
(CLICK once!).
The Government should put in place measures to speed up litigation on
land matters to get rid of the current backlog of land cases. It was noted
that this delay makes the people take the law in their own hands
The Government and other stakeholders must build the capacities of
lower courts to be able to deliver justice on land matters, and provide
effective funding to avoid magistrates and judges being compromised by
bribes
Government should review the legal framework surrounding child
rights, and should emphasise education, health, food and clothing.
Parents should be allowed to teach their children traditional practices
that will shape their attitudes to life and work in the future
All leaders should respect and promote democratic governance in
Uganda. Fundamental rights and freedoms must be defended and
elections should be managed by a truly independent Electoral
Commission.
Please remember that this brief reflects community perspectives on national issues.
BRIEF 6: Pader District
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
The RLP is very grateful for the contributions made by different
organisations towards the success of the National Reconciliation &
Transitional Justice Audit Research in Pader and Agago Districts. We
would like to thank the Pader NGO Forum for mobilising civil society
representatives as well as hosting the civil society and Local
Government FGD. We are also very grateful to Rwot Louis Ongiya of
Patongo for his photographic memory of Acholi oral history, which
helped shape the discussion of the conflict timelines.
Finally, our greatest appreciation goes to all our FGD participants and
interviewees for sparing a whole day to actively participate in the
discussions and to the Swedish International Development Agency and
the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for providing financial support
for this research.
Presentation prepared by Opiny Shaffic, with inputs from Chris Dolan,
Annelieke van de Wiel, Moses Alfred Nsubuga and edits by Angella
Nabwowe.
BRIEF 6: Pader District
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FOR PICTURES & MAPS
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
Websites
http://img.ibtimes.com/www/data/images/full/2012/03/06/244414children-with-nodding-syndrome-are-prone-to-accidents-such-asdrowning.jpg
http://str8talkchronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Religiousleaders-pay-homage.jpg
http://infousa.state.gov/images/media_ctr.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3379/3643034155_700cfa53b5.jpg
http://www.zillow.com/blog/files/2009/01/north-front-main-kathleenandersen.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/Shona_wit
ch_doctor_%28Zimbabwe%29.jpg/300pxShona_witch_doctor_%28Zimbabwe%29.jpg
BRIEF 6: Pader District
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
BRIEF 6: Pader District
NR&TJ
Audit
2011 -2012
WATCH THIS SPACE FOR BRIEF 7: NAKASONGOLA DISTRICT