Memorialisation discourses in northern Uganda A study on motivations, ambitions and expectations of memorialisation Marieke Martens January 2021 Master’s thesis ii iii Memorialisation discourses in northern Uganda A study on motivations, ambitions and expectations of memorialisation Marieke Martens Student number: 1007426 Supervisor: dr. ir. M. van Leeuwen January 2021 Human Geography – Conflicts, Territories and Identities Centre for International Conflict Analysis and Management (CICAM) Nijmegen School of Management Radboud University, Nijmegen iv v Acknowledgements I wish to thank a number of people whose support has been invaluable at different stages of the research and writing process. First of all, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my supervisor Mathijs van Leeuwen for his guidance and flexibility throughout the entire process. Whenever I felt stuck or lost, his helpful feedback and positive spirit during our Skype meetings helped me get back on track. I also wish to sincerely thank the staff of the National Memory and Peace Documentation Centre (NMPDC) in Kitgum for their hospitality. Thank you for sharing your insights and taking me along in your work and activities. Even though I could not finish the research I had come for, the short stay at the NMPDC has been of great value – both for this research and for me personally. Thank you Marianne for raising my interest in the topics for this thesis. I am also very grateful to Sara and Machteld for their support throughout the entire research process, including the many times we worked together, the advice, and of course the amazing present that made the countless pomodoro sessions much more enjoyable. My gratitude also goes out to my other ‘pomodoro partners’ – in particular Evelien, Anne and Josephine – without whose company and support writing this thesis during the pandemic would have been a much more difficult and lonely effort. Finally, I would like to specifically thank my parents for their infinite support throughout my studies, not least during these final months of writing my thesis. Thank you for the necessary distraction during the breaks and offering me the space needed to finish this project the past months. vi vii Abstract In post-conflict societies, memorialisation – meaning a range of processes to remember and commemorate – is increasingly considered to have a role in reconstruction and peacebuilding efforts. However, the impact of memorialisation in such societies is variable and can include negative effects. We nevertheless see that people often have particular expectations about its functioning and contribution. In contrast to previous studies that have mostly examined practices of memorialisation in post-conflict settings, this study focuses on such understandings of the assumed role of post-conflict memorialisation. Through a case study of northern Uganda, it analyses the assumed roles that are ascribed to memorialisation by different actors and how their prevalence can be understood within the broader post-conflict context. The study is based on an analysis of news articles from the most prominent Ugandan news agencies, which include perspectives of a range of actors such as cultural and religious leaders, government officials, civil society actors and civilians affected by the conflict. The study shows that a distinction can be made between assumed roles of memorialisation that are based on supposed inherent values of remembering and commemorating, and others that are based on more instrumental values of memorialisation in northern Uganda. The different roles – analysed through an examination of motivations, ambitions and expectations – also reflect emphases on different aspects of the circumstances and needs in the aftermath of the conflict between the Lord’s Resistance Army and the Ugandan government. Furthermore, it was found that even when different actors promote similar roles of memorialisation, the actual motivations for promoting them can differ significantly. In practical terms, the study calls for people working on post-conflict memorialisation to take into account diverse perspectives on memorialisation that can exist within a given setting, and to shape memorialisation initiatives in such ways that they provide space for their use for multiple purposes. Key words: memorialisation, expectations, motivations, northern Uganda, news articles viii ix Contents Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................... v Abstract .................................................................................................................................... vii Contents ..................................................................................................................................... ix Acronyms .................................................................................................................................. xi 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1 2. Northern Uganda: a brief introduction ................................................................................... 7 2.1 Historical background ....................................................................................................... 7 2.2 The Lord’s Resistance Army ............................................................................................ 9 2.3 Responses to the LRA insurgency and major developments in the conflict .................. 11 2.4 Aftermath of the conflict: consequences and reconstruction efforts .............................. 14 3. Theoretical framework ......................................................................................................... 17 3.1 Memorialisation studies .................................................................................................. 17 3.2 Functions of post-conflict memorialisation .................................................................... 19 3.3 Politics of memorialisation ............................................................................................. 23 3.4 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 26 4. Research design .................................................................................................................... 27 4.1 Methodological approach ............................................................................................... 27 4.2 Case study ....................................................................................................................... 28 4.3 Data collection ................................................................................................................ 29 4.4 Analysis .......................................................................................................................... 33 5. Findings: assumed roles of memorialisation in northern Uganda ........................................ 35 5.1 Remembering, honouring and praying ........................................................................... 35 5.2 Emotional healing and relief ........................................................................................... 38 5.3 Future-oriented: education and prevention ..................................................................... 40 5.4 Generating revenue through ‘dark tourism’ ................................................................... 45 5.5 Memorialisation as a platform ........................................................................................ 48 5.6 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 53 x 6. Conclusions and discussion .................................................................................................. 55 6.1 Conclusions and discussion ............................................................................................ 55 6.2 Reflections on the research process ................................................................................ 60 6.3 Recommendations for future research ............................................................................ 61 6.4 Implications and recommendations for praxis ................................................................ 62 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................. 65 Appendix A: Maps ................................................................................................................... 73 Appendix B: List of news articles ............................................................................................ 75 xi Acronyms AAR Agreement on Accountability and Reconciliation ARLPI Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative CAR Central African Republic CSO Civil Society Organisation DRC Democratic Republic of Congo GoU Government of Uganda HSM Holy Spirit Movement ICD International Crimes Division ICRC International Committee of the Red Cross IDP Internally Displaced Persons IGF Irene Gleeson Foundation JLOS Justice, Law and Order Sector LC Local Council LRA Lord’s Resistance Army NGO Non-Governmental Organisation NMPDC National Memory and Peace Documentation Centre NRA National Resistance Army NRM National Resistance Movement NTJP National Transitional