UGANDA

COMPENDIUM OF CONFLICTS IN UGANDA
and was overthrown by Museveni’s forces shortly thereafter. Six months later (August
– September 1986), Alice Auma, as the spiritual medium for Lakwena,
emerged as the leader of a group known as the Holy Spirit Mobile
Forces, marking the beginning of the Trinity Wars. The Spirit,
whom Alice claimed was supreme, directed the group not to
use weapons in warfare. Participants thought of Severino
Lukoya, Joseph Kony and Alice Lakwena as a ‘Holy
Trinity’, with Severino as the Father, Kony as the Son
and Lakwena as the Holy Spirit. 320
63. Holy Spirit Mobile Forces (1986 –
1987)
Alice Lakwena
operated as
a spiritual
medium,
using her
professed
healing powers
to attract
a following
in Gulu
and Kitgum
Districts. 321
Claiming to have
obtained her
spiritual powers
from the River
Nile in Pakwach,
Nebbi District,
she planned on
liberating the
people of God
from the National
Resistance Army
and on seeking
revenge on behalf
of the Acholi for
the atrocities
c o m m i t t e d
by soldiers during the conflict in Luwero Triangle. In the beginning, the Holy
Spirit Mobile Forces (HSMF) used stones and prayers to fight the NRA instead of
bullets because of their belief in supernatural protection. Lakwena’s opposition
to Museveni’s Government expanded when she absorbed a significant number
320 Ibid
321 Research conducted in Gulu and Kitgum Districts
146