UGANDA

36. Theft and robbery (Ongoing)
NATIONAL CONFLICTS
Participants revealed that theft and robbery are among the major causes of insecurity in
Uganda, especially in urban centres and communities affected by armed conflicts. The
rise of these unlawful acts in the country has largely been attributed to the alarming
poverty that forces individuals, especially youth, to engage in armed robbery, theft and
other illegal enterprises. This problem is manifested differently in each district, and local
communities have different ways of referring to the perpetrators.
In conflict-affected communities such as northern and eastern Uganda, participants
explained that various factors have prompted some youth to illegally acquire guns for
robbery, and in some cases to disguise themselves as rebels. These include processes
of militarisation that occurred during past conflicts, the unsuccessful disarmament,
demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) process of former fighters, porous state borders,
and continuing hardships after conflicts. The robbers in northern Uganda were referred
to as boo kec, which means ‘greens are bitter’; in other words, ‘we want to eat meat’. 223
In Mukono, armed robbers are termed ‘abe miitalibwa’, which means ‘iron bar hit
men’ for the weapon they use in assaulting people. Participants said that Government
does not care about these gangs, as long as they do not threaten their regime. 224
One participant in Mbarara District revealed that,
“For us we don’t have rebels like Joseph Kony in Gulu; we
have our own rebels who rob, kill, rape, loot us. They are very
deadly, and I don’t know where they get their guns from.
These rebels are thieves and thugs that must be dealt with if
we don’t want another Kony to be formed here in the district,
because they are rampant and are getting organised.” 225
37. Conflict between Government forces and unarmed civilians (2011 –
present)
Participants revealed that, despite the fact that the incumbent Government claims credit
for the restoration of rule of law and democracy, Government military operatives have
perpetrated violence against the civilian population on several occasions, especially
during and after recent elections. 226 Immediately after the 2011 national elections, for
example, participants nationwide recounted processes by which popular dissatisfaction
with the Government led to the formation of pressure groups such as ‘Walk to Work’
protesters. 227 Activist For Change organised public rallies and held press conferences to
discuss national grievances and the need for political and economic reforms.
223 Research conducted in Gulu District
224 Research conducted in Mukono District
225 Research conducted in Mbarara District
226 Human Rights Watch (2012) World report 2012: Uganda country report. [Internet], January. Avaliable
from: [Accessed 5 September
2012]
227 Research conducted in Hoima District
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