UGANDA

COMPENDIUM OF CONFLICTS IN UGANDA
coup in 1986, in their view, was followed by huge nationwide impoverishment. They
stated that the NRA war and subsequent rebellions had dramatic impacts on economic
activities, productivity, and livelihood, and resulted in the destruction of some of the major
pillars of production (labour, entrepreneurs, capital and land). In addition, the insecurity
caused by the various rebellions hampered productivity and social fabric and resulted
in nationwide poverty. Furthermore, the current high level of corruption, especially at
the top levels of government, was said to be one of the major impediments to service
delivery in the country that further led to poverty. In Mbarara District, participants
indicated that poverty has driven women to obtain microfinance loans without consulting
their husbands. Many have failed to pay back the loans and have been imprisoned. In
Nakasongola and Mukono districts, it was said that many people turned to witchcraft for
commercial business ends, thereby causing conflicts in the community. 189 In northern
Uganda, people frequently resorted to begging and blamed their impoverishment on the
Government and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Youth throughout the visited districts
were said to be engaged in illegal enterprises, including theft, armed robbery, violence,
supporting strikes, smuggling and engaging in the black market. Others were said to have
resorted to drug and alcohol abuse as ways of coping with poverty and unemployment. 190
26. Museveni’s “Cold War” (1986 – present)
189 Research conducted in Nakasongola and Mukono Districts
190 Research conducted in Mukono and Mbarara Districts
191 Research conducted in Arua District
192 Ibid
According to participants, there is an ongoing ‘Cold War’
against the people of Uganda by the current
regime, termed as ‘Museveni’s Cold War.’ 191
Museveni, they say, is fighting this war
through tactics of political domination
and by extending unequal education
opportunities, coupled with poor
education systems, economic
deprivation and inequality.
The amendment of the 1995
Constitution to lift term limits
was referred to as a tool of
domination, and the ethnic
composition of Parliament
and the Cabinet is seen
as evidence that Uganda is
progressively becoming a tribalist
entity. One respondent asked, “Is
Uganda a project for Banyankole
empowerment?” 192 She added, “Why
is it that all ministers who matter are his
relatives, friends and in-laws, while the rest
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