UGANDA

ACHOLILAND
NORTHERN CONFLICTS
The coming of Colonial Masters and Missionaries;
Collaboration, Resistance and Conflict
Acholiland went through several conflicts before Uganda attained Independence.
These conflicts were with neighbouring tribes and in insurrection against the
British colonialists.
53. Conflict between Madi and Acholi (Pre-Independence)
According to participants, during the pre-colonial period, the Madi and Acholi lived
together peacefully and interdependently as neighbouring communities, bound by
trade and inter-tribal marriages. Hunting was a widespread economic activity at
the time, and the Acholi bought numerous spears from the Madi for both hunting
and security purposes. Later, however, when disagreements emerged between the
two tribes (the precise cause of which is unclear), fighting seemed inevitable. 297 The
297 This historical data is also described in Merkx, J. (2005) Refugee identities and relief in African borderland:
a study of northern Uganda and Southern Sudan UNHCR Working Paper No.19 UNHCR. p. 19.
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