‘KUC’ (PEACE): ITS IMPLICATIONS AND APPLICATION AMONG THE ACHOLI COMMUNITIES OF PALARO AND ATIAK CLANS BY CHRISTOPHER ORINGA Reg No. 2008/HD03/11994U B.A, (SMM Sciences and Praxis of Human Development) CUEA, Diploma (Sciences and Praxis of Human Development) Tangaza College- Nairobi A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTERS OF ARTS PEACE AND CONFLICT STUDIES OF MAKERERE UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF LIBERAL AND PERFORMING ARTS, DEPARTMENT OF RELIGION AND PEACE STUDIES NOVEMBER 2011 DECLARATION I, Christopher ORINGA, do hereby declare that this dissertation is my original work, and that it has neither been submitted nor is being submitted in any other University or higher institute of learning for the award of any Diploma, Degree or any other qualifications. Christopher ORINGA Reg. No: 2008/HD03/11994U Signature: _______________________________________________ Date____________________________________________________ i APPROVAL This dissertation has been submitted for examination with the approval of the supervisor. DR. MUSANA PADDY Signature:------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date:-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The production of this dissertation has not been my work alone. My reservoir of ideas came from many sources. Here I mention a few of those who have gone an extra mile with me. First, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to my supervisors, Dr. Musana Paddy and Dr. Ernest Okello Ogwang for their support that shaped this work. My father, Ladit Rwot Edward Oywelo Picho, whose lifelong work as elder’ at the chief’s palace, Ker Kal Kwaro, and as Rwot of Ariya for many years provided a wealth of experience to this work. Support from these Rwodi of Lamogi, and Koro, Rwot Martin Otinga Otuke Otto Yai, and Rwot Jimmy Ochan Luwala, and other people whose names do not appear here, have greatly shaped the work of this thesis. Thank you, “living encyclopaedias”. Dr. Zachariah Wanakacha Samita deserves much credit, he inspired me and supported my studies at Tangaza College (Catholic University of Eastern Africa), which provided foundation upon which this work is built. I thank Willy Brand Nyeko, Richard Opio Ongom, Alice Namataka, Tadewos Beyene for the immense inspirational support. My deep indebtedness also goes to scholars whose ideas I have extensively used. After all this, am I satisfied with what has been achieved? No – there is always more to do in understanding Acholi cultural wisdom and connecting it to peace building. iii DEDICATION This work is dedicated to my little angel - . Emmanuel Gary MOGI iv LIST OF ABBREVATIONS FGD Focus Group Discussion HSMF Holy Spirit Mobile Force ICC International Criminal Court IDP Internally Displaced People’s LRA The Lord’s Resistance Army MAP Medical Assistance Programs NGOs Non Governmental Organisations NRA National Resistance Army NUTI Northern Uganda Transition Initiative PSC Protracted Social Conflict UGX Uganda Shillings UNITA National Union for the Total Independence of Angola UNLA Uganda National Liberation Army UPDA Uganda People Defence Army UPDF Uganda People Defence Force USAID United State Agency for International Development SPSS Statistical Package for Social Scientists v LIST OF TABLES Table 7: Stages of Conflict Escalation ..................................................................... 28 Table 1: The number and categories of respondents selected for the study ............. 33 Table 2: Results of Test–Retest procedure ............................................................. 35 Table 3: Participants in the interview ...................................................................... 42 Table 4: Educational background of respondents .................................................... 43 Table 5: Some sources of knowledge about ‘Kuc’ among Acholi ........................... 44 Table 6: Malpractices with potential to disrupt ‘Kuc’ (peace) ................................ 49 Table 8: The common types of conflicts in Acholi community ............................... 57 Table 9: Killing a community member .................................................................... 59 Table 10: Stealing from the community .................................................................. 64 Table 11 : Malicious Damage of properties ............................................................. 66 vi LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Distribution of the respondents by age bracket ........................................ 43 Figure 2: Respondents views on killing outside the community ............................. 60 Figure 3: Respondents views on Witchcraft ............................................................ 63 Figure 4: Serious Fighting with crude weapons ....................................................... 65 Figure 5: Respondents views on having sex with the step mother .......................... 66 Figure 6: Respondents views on wife battering ....................................................... 67 Figure 7: Respondents views on chopping off people’s arms.................................. 68 vii TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION…………………………………………………………………….i APPROVAL .............................................................................................................. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................................................................................... iii DEDICATION ........................................................................................................... iv LIST OF ABBREVATIONS ......................................................................................v LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS ......................................................................................... viii ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................... xi CHAPTER ONE ........................................................................................................ 1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION .................................................................................. 1 1.0 Introduction to the study ..................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background of the Study ..................................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the Research Problem ..................................................................... 2 1.4 Definition of key Terms ...................................................................................... 3 1.5 Objectives of the Study ....................................................................................... 3 1.6 Research Questions .............................................................................................. 4 1.7 Significance of the Study ..................................................................................... 4 CHAPTER TWO ....................................................................................................... 5 LITERATURE REVIEW............................................................................................5 2.0 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Concepts of Peace ................................................................................................ 5 2.2 Elements of the Concept of Peace........................................................................ 8 2.3 Understanding Conflict ...................................................................................... 10 2.4 Peace from a Socio-Cultural Perspective ........................................................... 10 2.5 Theories of Conflict ........................................................................................... 11 2.6 The nexus between ‘Kuc’ (peace), traditional rituals and small-scale conflict . 14 2.7 Traditional Rituals that Trigger Conflicts .......................................................... 14 2.8 Traditional Rituals that Support Conflicts ......................................................... 15 2.8.1 Initiation Rites ................................................................................................. 15 2.8.2 “Goyo Laa” Ceremony ................................................................................... 16 2.8.3 Rituals of Reconciliation ................................................................................. 16 2.9 Traditional Mediation Ceremonies .................................................................... 17 viii 2.9.1 “Gomo Tong” Ritual ....................................................................................... 17 2.9.2 “Mato Oput” Ceremony ................................................................................. 18 2.9.3 “Stepping on an Egg and Pogo” Cleansing Ceremony ................................... 20 2.10 The Concept of Conflict Management ............................................................. 21 2.11 Traditional Ritual Approaches to Conflict Management ................................. 22 2.12 Theory of Conflict Resolution ......................................................................... 27 CHAPTER THREE...................................................................................................31