Northern Uganda Messenger Post

The social processes and transformations that created one Acholi elite group after the other can be divided into two; internal and external. The external ones were those imposed by the colonial governments, while the internal ones were induced by social differentiation, inequalities, conflicts and aspirations native to Acholi society. For instance, when the colonial government dethroned traditional chiefs and foisted clerical chiefs in their place, it created latent social animosities and conflicts between royal clans and clans of appointed chiefs who used colonial patronage to develop a cadre of civil servants from their own clans and elite networks that sidelined the aristocratic lineages. Nursing the grudge for their rights to rule by the will of ancient temporal and spiritual traditions, the royal clans actively supported nationalist anti-colonial movements against the British and their clerical collaborators who had usurped their power. Therefore, after independence, former margin...

The US, Britain and Europe: Imperialist Competition to Own and control peace Initiatives and processes in northern Uganda The moderate, democratic and liberal coalition at KM (which included progressives from the old Acholi establishment as well as radical groups) found itself under siege from an army of critics. Detracted and mired in defending and trying to justify itself, KM was paralysed and left with self-doubts, despite the overwhelming support of the majority of Acholi people at home and a critical mass in the diaspora. KM's critical problem was that it sought to be the voice of the Acholi people and for every Acholi to have a stake in its work. Therefore, rather than deal with a critical mass, KM sought unanimity or at worst consensus, which was something difficult to achieve, given the stratification and aspirations of the social dynasties outlined above. But unable to completely undermine and discredit KM, they either directly or through malleable proxies founded new org...