UGANDA

COMPENDIUM OF CONFLICTS IN UGANDA
elections. 774 In another
example, a statue in Tororo
fuelled tension between
the Jopadhola and the
Iteso, leading to violent
protests. 775 A controversial
monument in Kitgum with
inadequate information
about those who had
died deepened rather
than alleviated pain. 776
Finally, participants in
Nakasongola and Hoima
noted that the practice
of honouring war heroes
in places like Kampala, far
away from the locations
where the violence
had occurred, made
local communities feel
overlooked and caused
them to harbour negative
feelings toward the
memorialisation effort. 777
Way Forward
Along with warnings
about memorialisation
practices to avoid,
participants offered
several suggestions on how constructive memorialisation process might be implemented.
They indicated two general categories of actors necessary in such an effort. First, the
involvement of local community members was emphasized, so that memorialisation is
rooted in the location where past events took place. 778 Women in Hoima noted that this
should extend beyond church-based memorialisation to include the entire community.
Others argued that locals should be consulted because they have records of those who
died, such as in the landslides in Bulambuli District. 779 In a related way, some participants
asserted that the people themselves are living memories, implying that they must be
meaningfully included in the memorialisation process. 780
774 Research conducted in Mukono and Hoima Districts
775 Research conducted in Tororo District
776 Research conducted in Kitgum District
777 Research conducted in Nakasongola and Hoima Districts
778 Research conducted in Hoima and Lira Districts
779 Research conducted in Bulambuli District
780 Research conducted in Gulu District
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