UGANDA

EASTERN CONFLICTS
led by Peter Otai, 397
who was responsible for
coordinating logistics
and other support from
sympathetic members of
the diaspora. 398 The UPA
is said to have been led
by Major General Moses
Eregu, also known as ‘Papa
1’ or ‘Hitler’. 399 The UPF
was primarily made up
of former (Iteso) soldiers
from the Special Forces
of the Uganda National
Liberation Army (UNLA),
as well as numerous exsoldiers
of the former
Milton Obote and Tito
Okello Lutwa Government
armies.
An overwhelming majority
of the participants justified
their initial support for
the UPF/A by referring to
the prevalent insecurity
in the Teso sub-region at
that time. This was caused
by Karimojong, who had
intensified their raids of
Iteso cattle while also raping women, looting, and killing innocent civilians. In addition,
the participants of all the FGDs indicated that the National Resistance Army (NRA),
following their take-over in 1986, contributed to the insecurity as they perpetrated many
human rights violations in the Teso sub-region, including rape, torture, killing civilians
and former soldiers, abduction and massacres. 400 The prevailing insecurity inspired
former UNLA soldiers and other able-bodied men to launch the UPF/A rebellion that
fought the NRA from 1987 to 1992.
397 UPF was not another rebel group. It was the name that was given to the groups of civilian supporters at
grass-root in Soroti who were providing logistical support to the UPA such as: food, drugs, clothes and
information to the fighters
398 Ibid
399 Ibid
400 Lindemann, S. (2011) Just another change in guard? Broad-based politics and civil war in Museveni’s
Uganda. African Affairs, 110(440). pp. 387-416.
179