Understanding War and Its Continuation: The Case of Northern Uganda Christopher Gerald Dolan Development Studies Institute London School of Economics & Political Science University of London Submitted for the degree of PhD 2005 Abstract This thesis addresses the question of why, when almost everyone says they wish it would end, suffering such as that in northern Uganda continues. I argue that, contrary to popular presentations, the situation is not primarily one of war between the Lord’s Resistance Army and the Government of Uganda, but instead a form of mass torture, which I call Social Torture. The principal victims are the population within the ‘war zone’, particularly in ‘protected villages’ for the internally displaced, where tactics and symptoms typical of torture, including violation, dread, disorientation, dependency, debilitation and humiliation, are widespread. The most visible perpetrators are the Government and LRA, but a range of less visible actors are also involved, not least donor governments, multi-lateral organisations, academics, churches and NGOs. In many instances these can be regarded as complicit bystanders; like doctors in a torture situation, they appear to be there to ease the suffering of victims, but in reality they enable the process to be prolonged by keeping the victim alive for further abuse. This serves a number of inter- linked economic, political and psychological functions for perpetrators and bystanders alike, and is underpinned by psychological and discursive processes of justification, most importantly the idea that this situation is first and foremost a ‘war’ between the LRA and the Government. In short, in a situation such as northern Uganda, means and ends are inverted: rather than torture being a tactic with which to prosecute war, here war is the guise under which Social Torture is perpetrated. War continues because Social Torture is not addressed. Given that those who in principle have the most power to do so are implicated in Social Torture themselves, the focus has to shift from the intentions of visible perpetrators to the responsibilities of a far wider range of actors. 2 Acknowledgements There is no way to adequately acknowledge the multiple ways in which different people at different times have contributed to this work over its long gestation, and not all of them can or would wish to be named. This includes many people in the ‘protected villages’ who welcomed me, a researcher, with the words ‘go and tell people out there what is happening to us here’. With this piece I am trying to discharge the task you gave me. Among those who can be (and I hope will also wish to be) named, I would include all my colleagues in ACORD Gulu at the time, not least Rosalba Oywa for her moral and practical support, Sunday Abwola for our work with the military, Andrew Olweny for guiding me around Kitgum district, and Christopher Ojera for suggesting that we hold the 1999 conference on research findings in Gulu rather than anywhere else. The Hon. Omwony Ojok I thank both for a number of lengthy conversations and for galvanising numerous people to attend the conference and thereby raise it to another level than that foreseen. For bringing their personal skills, analyses and suggestions to bear on our data collection and methodologies I am indebted to: Latim William, David Okiya, David Okello, Anna Okwir, Odoch Athii, Stella Atim, Jude Ogik, Ongwech Otim Patrick, Kinyera Fred, Alice Jean Ochola, Oola Timothy, Oola Ben, Okwera Santo, Oringa Robert, Opio James, Obol Alex Okot, Oyera Martin Leko, and the late Odoko Amida Martin of Odek. Most particularly, for helping to put the show on the road and keep it running both when I was there and when I was absent, I have only praise and admiration for my colleague and friend, Komakech Charles Okot. For saving my life when malaria was just about to take it in June 1998, I can never say enough thanks to the late Dr Matthew Lukwiya of Lacor Hospital, and similarly to Okello Vincent, who looked after me unstintingly throughout that period. For spending ten days telling me his experiences in the LRA, I shall always remember and respect the late Yakobo Engena. To Father Carlos who has the courage to speak out my thanks also. For back-stopping me from London throughout the fieldwork, many thanks to Judy el Bushra, who subsequently also took the time to read through rough drafts and discuss even rougher ideas. In this regard Niki Kandirikirira and Jeff Handmaker also deserve special mention; nobody does it better. Others who provided ongoing support and encouragement throughout include Judith Large, Barbara Harrell-Bond, Effie Voutira, Faisa Loyaan, Ian Swartz, Shamani Shikwambi and my brother Phil Dolan. Tim Allen provided numerous insights, challenges and suggestions and opened my eyes to a wide range of literature, for which I am deeply thankful, as I am to Thi Minh Ngo for both moral and practical support. Last but by no means least, David Keen has stayed with this project for the long haul and has been, in the deepest sense, an intellectual inspiration to me. 3 Table of Contents 1Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... 2 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................... 3 Table of Contents ....................................................................................................................... 4 List of Tables, Charts & Diagrams......................................................................................... 10 List of Illustrations................................................................................................................... 11 List of Acronyms...................................................................................................................... 13 Map of ‘Protected Villages’ in which fieldwork was conducted ...................................... 15 Chapter 1 - Introduction ......................................................................................................... 16 The Mainstream Discourse of today’s wars..................................................................... 17 Building Blocks of a Counter-narrative............................................................................ 20 Impacts.............................................................................................................................. 26 Actors ................................................................................................................................ 27 Benefits and Functions.................................................................................................... 29 Justifications..................................................................................................................... 30 Elaborating a model of Social Torture .............................................................................. 31 Overview of the thesis ........................................................................................................ 37 Chapter 2: The Research Process ........................................................................................... 42 Introduction.......................................................................................................................... 42 Institutional setting.............................................................................................................. 43 Contextual Challenges ........................................................................................................ 44 Conceptual challenges ........................................................................................................ 46 Horizontal segmentation or vertical linkages? ........................................................... 47 Acknowledging Peoples’ Agency ................................................................................. 48 Ethical Considerations ........................................................................................................ 49 Methods adopted................................................................................................................. 50 Composition of the research team ................................................................................ 50 In-depth key informant interviews............................................................................... 54 Audio-visual data............................................................................................................ 56 Media Monitoring ........................................................................................................... 57 4 Research integrated with programming – the use of focus groups ......................... 58 Dealing with findings ..................................................................................................... 59 Discussion and Conclusions .............................................................................................. 62 Subjectivity and Objectivity........................................................................................... 65 Chapter 3 - An overview of the situation in northern Uganda ......................................... 67 Introduction.......................................................................................................................... 67 The build-up to war .......................................................................................................