Behind the Violence. The War in Northern Uganda

The document analyzes the war in northern Uganda as a dual conflict consisting of a multi-faceted rebellion against the NRM government and a violent insurgency by Joseph Kony's LRA. It argues that the LRA lacks popular support and is driven by apocalyptic spiritualism, while the government's military response and the arming of civilian militias have exacerbated instability. The authors recommend a shift toward civilian protection, a Truth and Reconciliation process to address historical injustices, and the extension of the Amnesty Act to encourage peace.

• The conflict in northern Uganda is characterized as two distinct but overlapping conflicts: a broad rebellion against the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government rooted in unresolved grievances, and a war with the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) which is driven by "Old Testament-style apocalyptic spiritualism" rather than conventional political insurgency.
• The LRA does not have popular support among civilians and is composed largely of kidnapped children. The authors suggest that the government's military strategy of attempting to destroy Joseph Kony has inadvertently supported his agenda by providing the violence required by his apocalyptic worldview.
• The protracted war has created a cycle where its consequences—including mass displacement and a perceived war economy—have become drivers for the conflict's continuation. Furthermore, the government-sponsored Arrow and Rhino militias in Lira and Soroti, involving over 20,000 armed civilians, are viewed as a long-term security threat to the country.
• The authors recommend several peace-building measures: establishing a Truth and Reconciliation process to address historical injustices in areas like the Luwero Triangle and West Nile, extending the Amnesty Act, and purging corruption within the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF).

APA

Lomo, Z., & Hovil, L. (n.d.). Behind the Violence. The War in Northern Uganda. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/research/monographs/monograph-99-behind-the-violence.-the-war-in-northern-uganda-zachary-lomo-and-lucy-hovil

Chicago

Lomo, Zachary, and Lucy Hovil. Behind the Violence. The War in Northern Uganda. Institute for Security Studies, n.d. https://issafrica.org/research/monographs/monograph-99-behind-the-violence.-the-war-in-northern-uganda-zachary-lomo-and-lucy-hovil.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Lomo |first1=Zachary |last2=Hovil |first2=Lucy |title=Behind the Violence. The War in Northern Uganda |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |url=https://issafrica.org/research/monographs/monograph-99-behind-the-violence.-the-war-in-northern-uganda-zachary-lomo-and-lucy-hovil |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{lomondbehind, author = {Lomo, Zachary and Hovil, Lucy}, title = {{Behind the Violence. The War in Northern Uganda}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.org/research/monographs/monograph-99-behind-the-violence.-the-war-in-northern-uganda-zachary-lomo-and-lucy-hovil}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }