The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency in Uganda

Abstract

Uganda, a member of the East African community, has endured conflict within its borders for decades. Although there have been conflicts prior to contact with foreign powers, the postcolonial conflicts so far have exceeded what the country could contain within its borders. While the earlier conflicts pitted neighbouring communities against each other over space and power, the colonial and postcolonial conflicts have taken on different shades. During the expansion of British colonial rule, for example, a lot of resistance emerged in different parts. However, once they got hold of the different regions of present-day Uganda, they were able to suppress most of the conflicts. When the British passed the baton of leadership to Ugandans, the country took off in a positive direction. According to Patrick Rubaihayo (2005), soon after independence, the government embarked on transforming Ugandan society from colonial vestiges to a productive and free society. Social services, infrastructure, trade, and commerce were developed following the Uganda Peoples’ Congress (UPC) manifesto to fight ignorance, disease, and poverty.