Post-War social recovery in Northern Uganda: grassroots perspectives and non-governmental organisations

Okello, Angoma Sunday (2013). Post-War social recovery in Northern Uganda: grassroots perspectives and non-governmental organisations. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

From mid-2006 to 2010 grassroots perspectives of Acholi people in Northern Uganda followed Non-Governmental Organisations’ roles in post-war social recovery. For over 20 years of war between the Lord’s Resistance Army and Uganda Government, displacement and home-returns, Acholi people relied on NGOs.

This study explores how far NGOs can transform and rebuild social authority structure and support social reconciliation in Acholiland. Using a qualitative methodology, Acholi returnees’ views were triangulated with those of NGOs, Government officials and relevant actors following grassroots perceptions on roles NGOs played.

From this study, NGOs play participatory political and social roles at grassroots level; fail to address the root causes of conflicts. The contentious NGO roles involve a separation of inflated expectations from what is achievable. Social realities of Acholi people are in theory and ideally over-ridden by practical NGOs’ levels, typologies, activities, budgets, policies and codes of conducts. NGOs played key roles in the interlocution and encouragement of a discourse for rebuilding Acholi lineage-based authority without middle-class elites that links grassroots population.

With NGOs’ withdrawal from post-war reconstruction, Acholi remained in a weak social authority and loose social bonding with lesser meaning and reality of social reconciliation. With raised disappointments on NGOs, Acholi people are stuck between a rock and hard place in respective villages.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):