UGANDA

WEST NILE
NORTHERN CONFLICTS
The Coming of Colonial Masters and Missionaries
Collaboration, Resistance and Conflict
In this section on northern region conflicts, we visit each sub-region and look at
them in three phases: pre-Independence, post-Independence and recent times,
starting with the colonial time in the West Nile region.
39. Suppression by the British and the Killing of the Madi Chief (19 th Century)
In the quest to weaken the tradition of West Nile and consolidate British colonial
administration in the sub-region, the British attacked the Madi cultural institution with
the arrest and disappearance of Chief Aliko. Today, Chief Aliko is still regarded as the
Paramount Chief by some participants from Adjumani. 230 Participants emphasised that,
prior to the abolition of Kingdoms by Milton Obote in 1967, this act of violence by the
British was one of the most significant attacks on peace, stability and tradition in West Nile.
It is widely believed by participants that the illegal arrest and disappearance of Chief
Aliko by the British marked the final disintegration
and collapse of the Madi cultural institution.
To date, the people of West Nile
continue to demand a truth telling
exercise pertaining to the arrest and
disappearance of Aliko as well as an
apology and compensation from
the British Government. 231 The
participants blamed the British
more than Obote for attacking
and weakening their traditional
institutions and leadership,
though currently, efforts are
being made for its revival. One
female participant said;
“The whites killed our
traditional chief who did
not pass on traditional
leadership/power to the
young ones”. 232
The participants indicated that they
wanted to see the grave and the body of
their Chief Aliko.
230 Research conducted in Adjumani District
231 Ibid
232 Ibid
113