UGANDA

EASTERN CONFLICTS
population they once terrorised as one of the major remaining challenges. 404
The following is based on an extract of Professor Justin Epelu-Opio’s
book Teso War: Causes and Consequences, which deals with the causes
of the UPA war, as well as strategies to bring the war to an end, from an
eye witness perspective.
In Teso region, the militia created by the Obote II Government to counter
the Karimojong cattle raids was disbanded some time in 1986. Some
militia members were retained and absorbed into the NRA rank and file.
However, the youth responded eagerly to inciting statements by the
Resident District Commissioner’s, who claimed, for example, ‘that the
Government wanted to sell their land to foreigners’. This contributed to
the emergence of a war that led to massive destruction of infrastructure
and poverty. People lost sense of direction.
The government employed various ways and means of ending the war,
besides the military approach. This included a peace mission including
three ministers from Teso sub-region. While conducting their mission in
1987 the ministers were abducted by the rebels. One minister managed
to escape after about 3 months in captivity. The second ended up being
shot dead by the fleeing rebels. The third one was rescued by the NRA
and is still alive.
Other attempts by the Government to end the rebellion were a general
amnesty, granted throughout the country, a presidential pardon and the
establishment of internally displaced peoples’ camps (as in northern
Uganda). In Teso specifically, the Government set up security committees
chaired by Members of Parliament. Although these measures resulted
in the surrender of some rebels, the insurgency persisted.
Finally, the Government set up a Presidential Commission for Teso in
September 1990. It was chaired by Prof. Epelu-Opio Justin. The President
gave the Commission four terms of reference. The first and main one
was “to find ways of ending the war in Teso for GOOD.”
The Presidential Commission for Teso preached and encouraged the
idea of reconciliation between the Government and the Teso people on
one hand and the ex-rebels and the people who had been traumatised
by the war on the other. It was successful in ending the rebellion. The
Commission organised seminars and workshops besides organising
cultural events across the region. Families were able to meet and discuss
the pros and cons of the war. The ex-rebels were integrated in their
communities without any problem. Their relatives forgave them for the
atrocities they had committed in their remit areas.
By April 1992 the Teso war ended soon after the capture of the infamous
Ram nicknamed “Commander Ausi”. This ram had accompanied the
rebels during the rebellion and was revered by them.
404 Research conducted in Soroti DistrictMountain Rwenzori
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