Militarism in Uganda

Uganda as a country has a long history of militarism and militarisation as a method of governance. The early formation years before the colonial era point to a long history of inter tribal wars and conflicts that pitted tribes against each other in the fight for territorial acquisitions and slaves. These were largely years of conquest where the largest tribal groupings of the time, the Banyoro and Baganda fought constant wars, annexing smaller tribes. During these wars, women, young girls and boys were always taken as captives and subjected to various forms of atrocities.

Militarism got so entrenched in Uganda’s affairs to the extent that for three decades after 1979, Uganda has been through severe forms of military violence and armed conflicts. The 1986 military campaign that brought the current NRM government into power stretched over a five year period of guerilla war which was followed by another long civil war from 1986-2006 by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in Northern Uganda.  Both military campaigns used horrific tactics that included forced abduction and conscription, mutilation, torture, rape and sexual assault. The primary victims of the conflict were civilians, and especially women and children. These were either sexually gang raped, killed, maimed, forced to become wives of rebel officers while majority of the men and boys were forced to join the rebel ranks.- (Isis-Wicce, The 2^nd Annual Peace Exposition in Uganda,  CONCEPT NOTE)

Can ICTs play a big role in combating Violence against Women in Uganda?

ICTs can play a very big role in combination violence against women and in Uganda, WOUGNET is taking lead in making use of ICTs such as internet, TV, mobile phones, radios and digital cameras to highlight VAW such as rape, victimisation & harassment.

Short message services have been used to participate in the global campaign such as the 16days of activism against Gender based violence. This is an initiative run by WOUGNET through which individuals; especially women have used the telephone to contact local police and other authorities to intervene in situations of violence against them. By providing opportunity for women to access timely help and enforcement, mobile phones can play a critical role in avoiding bureaucracy and exhibit a potential for addressing Gender based violence but most especially violence against women.

By Maureen Agena