Holy Spirit Movement
Encyclopedia
The Holy Spirit Movement (HSM) was the Uganda
n rebel group led by Alice Auma
, a spirit-medium who claimed to receive direction from the spirit Lakwena. Alice, an ethnic Acholi, was purportedly directed to form the HSM by Lakwena in August 1986. Technically the Holy Spirit Movement is the political wing of Alice's organization and the Holy Spirit Mobile Force is the military wing, but there was no real separation of functions and the titles are used interchangeably.
After gathering a small group of followers, Alice convinced the rebel Uganda People's Democratic Army
(UPDA) to put some of their troops under her command in November 1986 . In November and December 1986, the HSMF achieved two unexpected victories over government National Resistance Army
forces. These victories brought widespread popular support, including among other northern ethnic groups besides the Acholi, and attracted new recruits to the HSM. Much of the popular support was the result of a strict but fair set of guidelines given to followers that governed the relationship of HSM rebels with the populace, which created a positive impression compared to the government or other rebel groups that were often seen to be abusing their military strength.
The Holy Spirit Movement fought as a regular army - taking and controlling territory, as well as holding pitched battles with NRA forces - but had a number of practices that outsiders found bizarre. Spiritual "controllers" were integrated into each unit. Along with duties such as tending to Alice Auma while she was possessed, they smeared blessed oil on combatants that was supposed to stop bullets if the combatant's soul was pure. Stones were blessed so they would explode like grenades, and combatants walked into combat in cross-shaped formations while singing hymn
s. While the HSM suffered a number of horrific defeats, particularly when defending NRA soldiers had machine guns to fire upon the hymn-singing formations walking towards them, these methods were, according to some accounts, surprisingly effective.
The alliance between the Uganda People's Democratic Army
and the HSM quickly fell apart. By early 1987 the UPDA was attempting to capture the civilian resource base of the HSM by terrorizing Lakwena’s supporters into submission. Despite continued conflicts with other rebel groups, the HSM began an offensive in August 1987 with the objective of retaking Kampala
and initiating a paradise on earth. By November 1987, it had extended its forces far into regions where it had no popular support. After suffering a series of defeats, the shaken HSM was decisively defeated fifty miles from Kampala in a forest battle in which the NRA used overwhelming artillery
support.
The Holy Spirit Movement left in its wake a number of smaller rebel groups that mimicked its chiliastic message (The doctrine stating that Jesus will reign on earth for 1,000 years). Most of these groups soon fell into banditry, disbanded as members drifted away, or were defeated by government forces or other rebel groups. However, one of these groups eventually became the Lord's Resistance Army
, which continues to operate in Acholiland.
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n rebel group led by Alice Auma
Alice Auma
Alice Auma was an Acholi spirit-medium who, as the head of the Holy Spirit Movement, led a millennial rebellion against the Ugandan government forces of President Yoweri Museveni from August 1986 until November 1987...
, a spirit-medium who claimed to receive direction from the spirit Lakwena. Alice, an ethnic Acholi, was purportedly directed to form the HSM by Lakwena in August 1986. Technically the Holy Spirit Movement is the political wing of Alice's organization and the Holy Spirit Mobile Force is the military wing, but there was no real separation of functions and the titles are used interchangeably.
After gathering a small group of followers, Alice convinced the rebel Uganda People's Democratic Army
Uganda People's Democratic Army
The Uganda People's Democratic Army was a rebel group operating in northern Uganda from March 1986 to June 1988.In January, 1986, the government of Ugandan President Tito Okello was overthrown by the rebel National Resistance Army under the command of Yoweri Museveni, which took the capital city...
(UPDA) to put some of their troops under her command in November 1986 . In November and December 1986, the HSMF achieved two unexpected victories over government National Resistance Army
National Resistance Army
The National Resistance Army , the military wing of the National Resistance Movement , was a rebel army that waged a guerrilla war, commonly referred to as the Luwero War or "the war in the bush", against the government of Milton Obote, and later that of Tito Okello.NRA was supported by Muammar...
forces. These victories brought widespread popular support, including among other northern ethnic groups besides the Acholi, and attracted new recruits to the HSM. Much of the popular support was the result of a strict but fair set of guidelines given to followers that governed the relationship of HSM rebels with the populace, which created a positive impression compared to the government or other rebel groups that were often seen to be abusing their military strength.
The Holy Spirit Movement fought as a regular army - taking and controlling territory, as well as holding pitched battles with NRA forces - but had a number of practices that outsiders found bizarre. Spiritual "controllers" were integrated into each unit. Along with duties such as tending to Alice Auma while she was possessed, they smeared blessed oil on combatants that was supposed to stop bullets if the combatant's soul was pure. Stones were blessed so they would explode like grenades, and combatants walked into combat in cross-shaped formations while singing hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
s. While the HSM suffered a number of horrific defeats, particularly when defending NRA soldiers had machine guns to fire upon the hymn-singing formations walking towards them, these methods were, according to some accounts, surprisingly effective.
The alliance between the Uganda People's Democratic Army
Uganda People's Democratic Army
The Uganda People's Democratic Army was a rebel group operating in northern Uganda from March 1986 to June 1988.In January, 1986, the government of Ugandan President Tito Okello was overthrown by the rebel National Resistance Army under the command of Yoweri Museveni, which took the capital city...
and the HSM quickly fell apart. By early 1987 the UPDA was attempting to capture the civilian resource base of the HSM by terrorizing Lakwena’s supporters into submission. Despite continued conflicts with other rebel groups, the HSM began an offensive in August 1987 with the objective of retaking Kampala
Kampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
and initiating a paradise on earth. By November 1987, it had extended its forces far into regions where it had no popular support. After suffering a series of defeats, the shaken HSM was decisively defeated fifty miles from Kampala in a forest battle in which the NRA used overwhelming artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
support.
The Holy Spirit Movement left in its wake a number of smaller rebel groups that mimicked its chiliastic message (The doctrine stating that Jesus will reign on earth for 1,000 years). Most of these groups soon fell into banditry, disbanded as members drifted away, or were defeated by government forces or other rebel groups. However, one of these groups eventually became the Lord's Resistance Army
Lord's Resistance Army
The Lord's Resistance Army insurgency is an ongoing guerrilla campaign waged since 1987 by the Lord's Resistance Army rebel group, operating mainly in northern Uganda, but also in South Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, which continues to operate in Acholiland.