Uganda People's Army
Encyclopedia
The Uganda People's Army (UPA) was a rebel group recruited primarily from the Iteso
people of Uganda
that was active between 1987 and 1992. The UPA was composed mostly of former soldiers in the special forces of the Uganda National Liberation Army
and opposed the National Resistance Army
(NRA) government of Yoweri Museveni
, who took power in January 1986. Reaching a height after the widespread cattle raid by Karamojong
in 1987, the UPA rebellion was eventually ended through the mediation of the Teso Commission.
cattle rustlers
. The Home Guards proved to be highly effective and, following Amin's overthrow, was retained as people's militia." In the 1980-1986 Bush War
Iteso militia on occasion fought the rebel National Resistance Army
of Yoweri Museveni
alongside units of the regular Uganda National Liberation Army
and the Special Force, the paramilitary arm of the Uganda Police Force. Following the fall of Kampala
to the NRA in January 1986, defeated UNLA soldiers retreated in disarray to their northern home regions.
With this history, and the region's previous support for Milton Obote
, in mind, Special District Administrator (SDA) in Soroti
, Lt. Rwakatare-Amooti ordered the disbanding of the people's militia. Obalell Omoding lists this as the first mistake of the SDA, the others being: the decision to round up all security force personnel who had returned to their home villages and confiscate their weapons; a prohibition against moving livestock outside of the sub-region; and the apparent ability of senior NRA officers to flout this prohibition to make a profit by selling Teso livestock elsewhere.
The exact origin of the rebel movement is unclear. What appears clear is that the disbanding of the people's militia, as well as the Special Force, created a security vacuum along the border with Karamoja
, which Karamajong cattle raiders exploited to conduct raids into Teso. Despite the worsening security situation, the NRA remained focused on capturing potential security threats to its new authority. This in turn forced many former militia members, police officers and soldiers to go into hiding, or hide their weapons so they could be used for protection against cattle raiders.
, which was fighting the NRA government in the north.
Both the NRA and UPA were known for their heavy-handed tactics targeting civilians during the insurgency. Perhaps the most famous was the July 1989 case of 69 prisoners in NRA custody, who were locked in a railcar at Okungulo railway station in Mukura Sub-County, Kumi District
and apparently intentionally suffocated to death. In 1990, the Teso Commission was formed to seek an end to the conflict, an effort which bore fruit in 1992, when the insurgency ended.
, Museveni received a majority of the votes in the Teso region. In June 2003, more than 2000 former members of the UPA, under the command of Musa Ecweru
, then Resident District Commissioner of Kasese
and local MP John Eresu reportedly joined the national army as a paramilitary force to combat incursions by the Lord's Resistance Army
(LRA), a rebel group that had originated in the Acholi. The LRA had sought out former UPA fighters in the hopes that the would join their rebellion. Only after it became apparent that the Iteso were hostile to their presence did the LRA begin attacking the populace.
Iteso
The Teso are an ethnic group in eastern Uganda and western Kenya. Teso refers to the traditional homeland of the Iteso, and Ateso is their language.-Uganda:...
people of Uganda
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...
that was active between 1987 and 1992. The UPA was composed mostly of former soldiers in the special forces of the Uganda National Liberation Army
Uganda National Liberation Front
The Uganda National Liberation Front was a political group formed by exiled Ugandans opposed to the rule of Idi Amin with an accompanying military wing, the Uganda National Liberation Army . UNLA fought alongside Tanzanian forces in the Uganda-Tanzania War that led to the overthrow of Idi Amin's...
and opposed the 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...
(NRA) government of Yoweri Museveni
Yoweri Museveni
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is a Ugandan politician and statesman. He has been President of Uganda since 26 January 1986.Museveni was involved in the war that deposed Idi Amin Dada, ending his rule in 1979, and in the rebellion that subsequently led to the demise of the Milton Obote regime in 1985...
, who took power in January 1986. Reaching a height after the widespread cattle raid by Karamojong
Karamojong
The Karamojong or Karimojong, are an ethnic group of agro-pastoral herders living mainly in the north-east of Uganda. Their language is also known as Karamojong or Karimojong, and is part of the Nilo-Saharan language group.-History:...
in 1987, the UPA rebellion was eventually ended through the mediation of the Teso Commission.
Origin
In the 1970s, President Idi Amin Dada created Iteso Home Guard units specifically to protect the region from raids by KaramojongKaramojong
The Karamojong or Karimojong, are an ethnic group of agro-pastoral herders living mainly in the north-east of Uganda. Their language is also known as Karamojong or Karimojong, and is part of the Nilo-Saharan language group.-History:...
cattle rustlers
Cattle raiding
Cattle raiding is the act of stealing cattle.In Australia, such stealing is often referred to as duffing, and the person as a duffer...
. The Home Guards proved to be highly effective and, following Amin's overthrow, was retained as people's militia." In the 1980-1986 Bush War
Ugandan Bush War
The Ugandan Bush War refers to the guerrilla war waged between 1981 and 1986 in Uganda by the National Resistance Army against the government of Milton Obote, and later that of Tito Okello.-Events leading to the war:Following the Uganda-Tanzania War that removed Idi Amin in 1979, a...
Iteso militia on occasion fought the rebel 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...
of Yoweri Museveni
Yoweri Museveni
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is a Ugandan politician and statesman. He has been President of Uganda since 26 January 1986.Museveni was involved in the war that deposed Idi Amin Dada, ending his rule in 1979, and in the rebellion that subsequently led to the demise of the Milton Obote regime in 1985...
alongside units of the regular Uganda National Liberation Army
Uganda National Liberation Front
The Uganda National Liberation Front was a political group formed by exiled Ugandans opposed to the rule of Idi Amin with an accompanying military wing, the Uganda National Liberation Army . UNLA fought alongside Tanzanian forces in the Uganda-Tanzania War that led to the overthrow of Idi Amin's...
and the Special Force, the paramilitary arm of the Uganda Police Force. Following the fall of 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...
to the NRA in January 1986, defeated UNLA soldiers retreated in disarray to their northern home regions.
With this history, and the region's previous support for Milton Obote
Milton Obote
Apolo Milton Obote , Prime Minister of Uganda from 1962 to 1966 and President of Uganda from 1966 to 1971, then again from 1980 to 1985. He was a Ugandan political leader who led Uganda towards independence from the British colonial administration in 1962.He was overthrown by Idi Amin in 1971, but...
, in mind, Special District Administrator (SDA) in Soroti
Soroti
Soroti is the main municipal, commercial and administrative centre of Soroti District in Eastern Uganda, lying near Lake Kyoga. It is known for the rock formation near the town as well as a variety of Muslim mosques, Hindu temples, Sikh gurdwaras as well as several churches that meet in various...
, Lt. Rwakatare-Amooti ordered the disbanding of the people's militia. Obalell Omoding lists this as the first mistake of the SDA, the others being: the decision to round up all security force personnel who had returned to their home villages and confiscate their weapons; a prohibition against moving livestock outside of the sub-region; and the apparent ability of senior NRA officers to flout this prohibition to make a profit by selling Teso livestock elsewhere.
The exact origin of the rebel movement is unclear. What appears clear is that the disbanding of the people's militia, as well as the Special Force, created a security vacuum along the border with Karamoja
Karamoja
Karamoja sub-region, commonly known as Karamoja, is a region in Northern Uganda.-Location:The subregion, is located in northeastern Uganda and comprises the following seven districts:* Abim District* Amudat District* Kaabong District...
, which Karamajong cattle raiders exploited to conduct raids into Teso. Despite the worsening security situation, the NRA remained focused on capturing potential security threats to its new authority. This in turn forced many former militia members, police officers and soldiers to go into hiding, or hide their weapons so they could be used for protection against cattle raiders.
The insurgency
A massive series of cattle raids in 1987 resulted in the removal of nearly all of the cattle, the primary wealth store in the region. The prohibition against movement of livestock out of the region, which practically guaranteed that it would be stolen by raiders, thus came to be seen as draconian while the rumored flouting of this rule by NRA officers for personal gain was seen as yet another example of maliciousness on the part of the Museveni administration. The resulting outrage in Teso led to the organization of the former members of security forces into the rebel UPA under the command of Peter Otai, minister of state for defence under the second Obote administration (1981-1985). In the degree to which its membership was composed largely of professional soldiers, the UPA thus resembles the Acholi Uganda People's Democratic ArmyUganda 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...
, which was fighting the NRA government in the north.
Both the NRA and UPA were known for their heavy-handed tactics targeting civilians during the insurgency. Perhaps the most famous was the July 1989 case of 69 prisoners in NRA custody, who were locked in a railcar at Okungulo railway station in Mukura Sub-County, Kumi District
Kumi District
Kumi District is a district in Eastern Uganda. The largest town in the district is Kumi, and the district headquarters are located there. The district is named after the town.-Location:...
and apparently intentionally suffocated to death. In 1990, the Teso Commission was formed to seek an end to the conflict, an effort which bore fruit in 1992, when the insurgency ended.
Aftermath
In the 1996 presidential electionElections in Uganda
Uganda provides national elections for a president and a legislature. The president is elected for a five year term. The National Assembly has 292 members. 214 members are elected without party labels directly in single seat constituencies, while 78 members are elected from so-called special...
, Museveni received a majority of the votes in the Teso region. In June 2003, more than 2000 former members of the UPA, under the command of Musa Ecweru
Musa Ecweru
Musa Francis Ecweru is a Ugandan accountant and politician. He is the current State Minister for Relief and Disaster Preparedness in the Ugandan Cabinet. He was appointed to this position on 01 June 2006. In the cabinet reshuffle of 16 February 2009, and that of 27 May 2011, he retained his...
, then Resident District Commissioner of Kasese
Kasese District
Kasese District is a district in Western Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kasese, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:Kasese District is located along the Equator...
and local MP John Eresu reportedly joined the national army as a paramilitary force to combat incursions by 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...
(LRA), a rebel group that had originated in the Acholi. The LRA had sought out former UPA fighters in the hopes that the would join their rebellion. Only after it became apparent that the Iteso were hostile to their presence did the LRA begin attacking the populace.