UGANDA

COMPENDIUM OF CONFLICTS IN UGANDA
made up 48.7% of Uganda’s total population. 52 This demographic factor is considered
a conflict risk indicator, both in academic literature and by the participants of the NRTJ
Audit. The Ugandan Minister of Finance recently said that
“…Uganda risked experiencing a ‘demographic disaster’
if the high population growth rate is not matched by the
provision of social services.” 53
This concern was also expressed by participants across the country. They were alarmed
by what they perceived as a large and increasing group of young, unemployed people.
They pointed to violent criminal gangs such as the Abe Miitalimwa (Ironbar hitmen) and
the no longer active Boo Kec 54 as examples of youth who are capable and energetic, but
see their ambition to lead productive lives quashed by a lack of opportunities to work.
Participants all around Uganda could remember times when they had seen youth joining
rebellions, and were worried that this might happen again. In Tororo, a senior citizen
remembered the countless youth who joined Alice Lakwena when she reached Tororo.
He explained “When you are recruiting, you look for the disgruntled people who are
52 United Nations Statistics Division (2014) Uganda [Internet] Available from: [Accessed 27 May 2014]
53 Bwambale, T. (2012) Uganda has the youngest population in the world. New Vision [Internet], 14
December. Available from:
[Accessed 27 May 2014]
54 For more information, see conflict number 68 in this Compendium
46