PEACEBUILDING NEEDS IN ACHOLI SUBREGION 1

Examining Peacebuilding needs in Acholi Subregion of Uganda

Moses Obete
(Student; MA Peace and Conflict Studies, 2019-2021)
Department of Religious and Peace Studies
Makerere University

Dr Samson Barigye
(Course Instructor)

November 20, 2020

The purpose of this paper is to examine the peacebuilding needs for the people of Acholi subregion of
Uganda following two decades of civil war.
PEACEBUILDING NEEDS IN ACHOLI SUBREGION 2

Introduction

Background

Since 1986, Northern Uganda has witnessed a war between the Ugandan government and a series of
rebel movements, principally the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) led by Joseph Kony (Roberts, et al.,
2009a). During the war period the LRA abducted, raped, murdered, mutilated, tortured, and sexually
enslaved thousands of people in the region (Olsen, 2007; Roberts, et al., 2009a). This led to the internal
displacement of close to 2 million people (Global IDP Database, 2005; IDMC, 2012). This further led
to breakdown in social systems, high rate of malnutrition, illiteracy, inadequate and limited access to
healthcare services, widespread diseases, and lack of access to safe water (Roberts, et al., 2009a;
Roberts, et al., 2009b; Olwedo, Mworozi, Bachou, & Orach, 2008; Nannyonjo, 2005). The resultant
traumatic experiences led to high rate of mental illnesses in the region (Muldoon, et al., 2014).

In 2006 after cessation of hostilities, the government supported by her partners started the return home
programs which later led to the disbandment of camps (Paul, 2007). Through the Peace, Recovery and
Development Plan (PRDP) 1, the government undertook several interventions including construction
of schools, health centers, roads and markets (Esuruku, 2011). Despite all these efforts, one study found
that the people’s perception remained low on many key areas including social relations, basic needs,
access to healthcare services, food security, literacy and livelihood opportunities (Pham, & Vinck,
2010). This justifies the fact that interventionists didn’t undertake proper assessment of peacebuilding
needs before bringing in the said interventions. It is against this background that this paper will attempt
to analyze the peacebuilding needs in Acholi subregion with a view to making recommendations for
strengthening peacekeeping and peacemaking in the region/country.

Definition

The term peacebuilding was first defined as “creating self-supporting structures that remove causes of
war and offer alternatives to war in situations where wars might occur” (Galtung, 1976). The term
gained publicity following the UN secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali 1992 Agenda for peace in
which peacebuilding was defined as “action[s] to identify and support structures which would tend to
strengthen and solidify peace in order to avoid a relapse into conflict” (Broutos-Ghali, 1992).

The UN Secretary General’s Policy Committee described peacebuilding as a range of measures

targeted to reduce the risk of lapsing or relapsing into conflict by strengthening national capacities at
all levels for conflict management, and to lay foundations for sustainable peace and sustainable
PEACEBUILDING NEEDS IN ACHOLI SUBREGION 3

development (Decision of the Secretary-General’s Policy Committee, May 2007, as cited in UN

Peacebuilding: An Orientation, 2010).

An overview of Peacebuilding

Barnett, et al. (2007) divides postconflict peacebuilding into three dimensions: stabilizing the post-
conflict zone (stability creation), restoration of state institutions, and socioeconomic recovery.
Activities within the first dimension reinforce state stability and discourage former combatants from
returning to war. This entails disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) and strengthening
the security sector through Security Sector Reform (SSR). The activities in the second-dimension aim
at building state capacity to provide basic public goods and increase state legitimacy. They include
rebuilding basic facilities, transportation and communication networks, utilities; Developing rule of
law systems and public administration; Building educational and health infrastructure; providing
technical and capacity-building assistance for institutions; and creating legitimate
(democratic, accountable) state institutions (ibid p.51).

Programs in the third dimension are intended to build a post-conflict society's ability to manage
conflicts peacefully and promote socioeconomic development. Its activities include economic
recovery; health and education; trauma counseling; Transitional justice and restoration; Community
dialogue; Building bridges between different communities; Increasing human rights; Gender
empowerment; Raising environmental awareness; Promoting economic development and healing of
relationships between groups or parties (ibid).

Peacebuilding in Acholi subregion

In this essay, I will use Barnett et al. (2007) dimensions of peacebuilding to analyze the interventions
done, identify what was not done, and come up with what needs to be done to ensure peacebuilding in
Acholi region.

From around year 2002, the government together with partner organizations undertook several
initiatives aimed at building peace in the region. There were deliberate attempts to improve the security
of the region. Several campaigns were launched to ask the combatants to come back home on amnesty
ground (Amnesty Act, 2000; Agger, 2012; Ogora, 2018). This led to the demobilization, disarmament
and reintegration of several combatants (Moore, 2013). As a result, several former combatants returned
home and were resettled (Cakaj, 2011). It is estimated that by 2013 the LRA were left with only about
85 senior fighters and less than 200 junior fighters recruited from DRC and CAR (Moore, 2013). The
PEACEBUILDING NEEDS IN ACHOLI SUBREGION 4

government also strengthened its security in the area through the creation of local defense units (ACCS,
2013). With nearly all the IDP camps abandoned and the former occupants resettled in their preferred
locations, for the first time in 2007, security in the subregion improved (Vinck, & Pham, 2009).

In its peacebuilding efforts, the state rebuilt its capacity to provide basic public goods and increase its
legitimacy. Key among them included the reconstruction of health and education facilities, and
transportation and communication networks. In addition to tarmacking Gulu-Kampala Highway,
efforts were made to create new sub counties and feeder roads were constructed to serve as security
roads and as link to subcounty headquarters. These roads however remained in poor state due to
inability of local governments to maintain them (Trade Promotion Strategy, 2012). Most sub counties
received new Health Centre II facilities. Deliberate reconstruction of basic infrastructures was done
under the Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP), Northern Uganda Reconstruction Program (NURP),
Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF) and PRDP (ACCS, 2013). The government further
developed capacities to handle human rights violation through Human rights commission but land
disputes remained more prevalent due to the cessation of land tribunals in 2004 (Esuruku, 2011). In
order to try the perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanities committed in Northern
Uganda, the government ratified and domesticated the Rome Statute in June 2010 by enacting
the International Criminal Court Act 2010, giving her full mandate to prosecute the crimes under Rome
statute if committed within Uganda (The International Criminal Court Act, 2010).

The above strides notwithstanding the region remained lacking proper capacities to handle human
rights violations with only four of its offices present in the whole of northern Uganda and only one
office in Acholi subregion (Human Rights Watch, 2005). The region also remained high on the land
dispute (ACCS, 2013). Rampant land disputes were reported as major conflict driver in the region. In
particular, land grabbing and lack of proper land dispute resolution mechanism were pointed (ibid).

Despite the numerous interventions, the subregion also registers lack of basic services and poor quality
of basic infrastructures such as roads, schools and hospitals, among others (ACCS, 2013). This too was
noted in the 11th Annual Report of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) to the Parliament
(UHRC, 2008). Whereas a strong commitment was made by the government and partners including
NGOs to revamp schools, hospitals and smaller administrative units, the region still registers low
technical and capacity-building assistance for those institutions (ACCS, 2013). Hickey (2003 as cited
in Esuruku, 2011) notes that the programs such as NUSAF and NURP did not yield much result in the
region due to high government corruption.
PEACEBUILDING NEEDS IN ACHOLI SUBREGION 5

In this second continuum of peacebuilding, therefore, interventions should include setting up

appropriate Land dispute resolution mechanisms, increasing human rights awareness campaign and
complaints handling desk, and rebuilding of essential social services such as education, food subsidies,
health care, police, job training and housing, community rehabilitation, policy research, and legal aid.
The state should also build its capacity to fight corruption and ensure that the local government has
capacity to provide smooth service delivery in their areas of jurisdiction.

In a bid to build the region’s ability to manage conflicts peacefully and promote socioeconomic
development several programs aimed at poverty eradication, community dialogue and environmental
awareness were undertaken. For instance, through objective 4 of PRDP 1, the government planned for
peace and economic recovery of northern Uganda. This included plans to increase awareness on the
opportunities available for increasing welfare, incomes and land rights; provision of psychosocial,
trauma and other counselling services; and establishing mechanisms for local intra/inter communal
conflict management.

On the other hand, objective 3 of PRDP 1 was dedicated to Revitalization of the economy. This was
envisioned to include re-activating productive sectors (agriculture and marketing). As such more funds
were allocated to it at the expense of objective 4 which covers Peace Building and Reconciliation. As
a result, PRDP 1 failed to effectively “address the legacies of decades of war, such as decimated
infrastructure, displacement or psychosocial trauma, through the reconstruction of infrastructure,
institutions and communities” (ibid). Both Pham, et al. (2009) and ACCS (3013) agree that a
considerable number of the former abductees experienced mental challenges and also had difficulty in
relationship upon returning home. More effort should, therefore, be geared towards psychosocial
support.

The program further came short of promoting Transitional justice and restoration of victims;
community dialogue between various groups (e.g. investors and locals; and planners/implementers and
locals or local government); and gender empowerment (ACCS, 2013). To promote lasting peace in the
region, interventions should deliberately target these critical areas. It must however be noted that some
of the gaps in PRDP 1&2 were addressed in PRDP 3. Since PRDP 3 is still active up to 2021, it becomes
premature for this paper to make a comprehensive assessment of its successes.
PEACEBUILDING NEEDS IN ACHOLI SUBREGION 6

Recommendation for peacekeeping and peacemaking in the region/country

The United Nations define peacekeeping as: “[…] a technique designed to preserve the peace, however
fragile, where fighting has been halted, and to assist in implementing agreements achieved by the
peacemakers” (UN, 2008, as quoted in Tshiband, 2010).

Tshiband (2010) avers that, peacekeeping is a strategy used in conflict management with the aim of
maintaining the stability obtained through peacemaking and prevent the escalation or new outbreaks
of violence. Peacekeeping has evolved to include activities such as the protection of civilians (POC),
administration of humanitarian assistance and the re-establishment of the rule of law.

Peacemaking is a political process involving diplomatic negotiations and mediation leading to peace
agreements (Carrière, 2010 as cited in Tshiband, 2010). The political transactions of peacemaking are
meant to secure peace agreements, peacekeeping and peace enforcement create a safer environment by
limiting violence, paving the way for peace building activities aimed at tackling deep-rooted issues,
and act as a deterrent for those trying to disrupt peace, the ‘spoilers’ (Tshiband, 2010). In this section,
therefore, I will base myself on major activities of peacekeeping and peacemaking (which includes
diplomatic negotiations/mediations; maintaining security/stability; POC; administration of
humanitarian Assistance; and re-establishing rule of law) to make recommendations.

In order to strengthen peacemaking and peacekeeping in Acholi subregion, the following are
recommended:

In order to address the issue of perception of neglect through poor service delivery and marginalization,
the government should put in place an all-inclusive program that fosters development and waters away
the perception of marginalization. Further development programs be done in consultation with various
stakeholders including the intended beneficiaries. The programs should then be popularized through
media and informal campaigns in order to raise awareness and create trust in the processes.

The government, development partners, international and local NGOs, cultural and religious leaders
should work together to identify and provide humanitarian and special support to highly vulnerable
families. Particular attention should be drawn to families of the most disadvantaged such as those in
absolute poverty, those with children suffering from nodding disease syndrome (NDS), families headed
by children, very old persons and those with other forms of perennial illnesses.
PEACEBUILDING NEEDS IN ACHOLI SUBREGION 7

While the LRA rebels seem to be out of reach of Uganda, there is no guarantee that they cannot regroup
and return to cause havoc in the region. There is therefore need to re-engage them in diplomatic
negotiations leading to peaceful resolution of the conflict.

The government should maintain stability of the subregion through increase deployment of civil police
and involvement of the locals through the Local Council system in the security arrangement. The
Internal Security Organizations (ISO) should extend its coverage to the village level either through the
use of LC1 secretary for defense or a separate arrangement in which the said responsible officer reports
to the Parish Internal Security Officer (PISO).

It is noted that one of the drivers of conflict in the subregion is the scramble for natural resources in
general and land dispute in particular. There is, therefore, need to build capacity of lower-level local
council courts and area land committees to tackle natural resources and property conflicts in Acholi
subregion. The government should also recognize and engage traditional leaders in resolution of land
related and micro level disputes.

Conclusion

The LRA war lasted for over two decades and it left the legacies of war, such as decimated
infrastructure, displacement, psychosocial trauma, and breakdown in social services. Several
interventions were made through PRDP 1&2 but could not effectively address certain critical effects
of the war and associated conditions because of lack of involvement of the locals and corruption by
implementers. Owing to this, conflict drivers in Northern Uganda continue to manifest even with the
institution of PRDP. The government through PRDP 3 outlined plans to address socio-economic gap
between the north and the rest of the country. It is yet to be seen how successful this will be. The
government should however work towards addressing the root causes of the conflict by engaging
various stakeholders including the affected community in any plans to recover the region.

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