UGANDA

THEMATIC ISSUES
soldiers and insurgents has, in the view of participants, contributed to the prevalence of
armed violence and conflict in Uganda. According to participants, those who are used to
the gun find it difficult to give it up and reintegrate into society, especially in the context
of a lack of economic opportunities. In northern Uganda, the case was made that the
northern conflict could partially be attributed to the fact that former UNLA soldiers who
returned to northern Uganda were not prepared to give up their military lifestyle. Even
though the Amnesty Commission was mandated in 2000 to assist former rebels with
DDR, it was said that when they returned to their societies they did not receive sufficient
support. This has contributed to the prevalence of guns in society, armed criminality,
ex-combatants’ belligerent attitudes, and the risk that armed conflict might return to
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the region.
64 Research conducted in Kitgum District
65 See also: Advisory Consortium for Conflict Sensitivity (2013) Northern Uganda Conflict Analysis Report.
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