UGANDA

COMPENDIUM OF CONFLICTS IN UGANDA
decay of rule of law
was facilitated by
the suspension of
the Constitution and
an accompanying
economic collapse
that further crippled
Ugandan society. 133
The effects of the Amin
regime continued to
impact the political and
social landscape of the
country even after his
eventual overthrow by
the Uganda National
Liberation Army and
the Tanzanian People’s
Defence Forces in
1979. 134
16. Conflict Between West Nilers and Langi/Acholi (1971 – present)
Deadly conflict emerged between the peoples of West Nile (the Lugbara, Kakwa, Madi,
Alur and Nubian tribes), and those from the Acholi and Langi sub-regions immediately
after Amin toppled Obote’s government in 1971. Amin regarded the Acholi and Langi as
supporters of Obote, and for that reason he turned against them and brutally murdered
or exiled a large number of soldiers and officers, as well as prominent politicians and
civilians. 135
The slaughtering of Acholi and Langi Obote loyalists 136 by Kakwa and Lugbara tribes
pitted the Acholi and Langi against those from West Nile, causing hatred and a desire
for revenge between these various ethnic groups. 137 This conflict continued even after
the overthrow of Amin in 1979. During both Obote II and Tito Okello’s governments
the people of West Nile suffered revenge violence during which many were killed and
exiled in revenge for atrocities committed by Amin 138 against the Acholi and Langi tribes.
The conflict between these ethnic groups remains unaddressed to date. According to
133 Research conducted in Adjumani District
134 Ward, K. (2001) The armies of the lord: Christianity, rebels and the state in Northern Uganda, 1986-1999.
Journal of Religion in Africa 31 (2) p. 192; World Vision. (2001) Peace and Reconciliation for the Children
of War. p. 14
135 Refugee Law Project (2004) Working paper no. 11: Behind the violence: Causes, consequences and the
quest for justice
136 Minorities at Risk Project (2004) Chronology for Acholi in Uganda [Internet] Available from: < http://www.
unhcr.org/refworld/docid/469f38ea1e.html> [Accessed 18 September 2012]
137 Uganda - Military rule under Amin (1990) Mongabay [Internet] December. Available from: [Accessed 18 September
2012]
138 Research conducted in Adjumani District
80