UGANDA

COMPENDIUM OF CONFLICTS IN UGANDA
Territory/Polity
of Ethnic Group/
Sub-region
Ethnic Group Member
(singular)
Ethnic Group
Members (plural)
Language of Ethnic
Group
Buganda Muganda Baganda Luganda
Bugisu Mugisu Bagisu or Gisu Lugisu
Tooro Mutoro Batooro Lutoro
Teso Etesot (M) / Atesot (F) Iteso Ateso
Acholiland Acholi Acholi Acholi
Karamoja Karimojong Karimojong Ngakarimojong
Rather than the commonly used term ‘Decentralisation’ the Compendium of Conflicts
uses districtisation. This term reflects the reality that the creation of more districts does
not necessarily lead to decentralized power and decision-making (even though this is
the official aim of the decentralisation/districtisation policy).
Transitional Justice is another term that not every reader might be familiar with. Kofi
Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations, described transitional justice as;
“The full range of processes and mechanisms associated with
a society’s attempts to come to terms with a legacy of largescale
past abuses, in order to ensure accountability, serve
justice and achieve reconciliation. These may include both
judicial and non-judicial mechanisms, with differing levels
of international involvement (or none at all) and individual
prosecutions, reparations, truth-seeking, institutional
reform, vetting and dismissals, or a combination thereof.” 2
More views on transitional justice, at times pushing the boundaries of the mainstream
understandings of it, are covered in part C of this Compendium.
2 United Nations Security Council. (2004) The rule of law and transitional justice in conflict and post-conflict
societies (Report of the Secretary General, S/2004/616 United Nations Security Council) [Internet],
August. Available from: [Accessed on January 18, 2012]
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