by David Otim
In October 2008, the U.S. Africa Command (Africom) became a fully unified command for the African region. A year later, Uganda hosted Africom’s humanitarian training program in East Africa.
The training brought together armies of five East African nations: Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda. The aim of this training was reportedly to equip East African military institutions with skills in humanitarian work.
There can be much discourse about the military fidgeting with humanitarian work, and whether Africa is really short of agencies that do humanitarian work or whether the misconduct of most African armies is due to the lack of such skills.
The Africom humanitarian training was conducted in northern Uganda, in the Kitgum district. For the last 23 years this region has been the center of gunfire between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels and the government of Uganda.
People in this region are so traumatized that they do not want to hear gunfire or see military personnel. In this region folks still experience phantasms of their dead; students hardly concentrate on studies because they “still hear” military boots walk towards their hostels to abduct them.
This part of the country is not the official training base for Uganda’s military forces. It is also close to Sudan and Somalia, two states that the U.S. has accused of providing hideouts for terrorist activity. There is also exploration of oil in the adjacent Amuru district–but that is a separate debate.
Much of Africa is young; most of these nations are less than 50 years old. Their independence was largely attained by military means. Most of the “big guys” acquire and maintain power militarily; and swiftly surround themselves with a military system.
For instance, Uganda now has more than 30 different paramilitary organizations. Even where elections are conducted, the long arm of the military is visible. Africom’s partnership with these armies should be very clear; otherwise many see it as being a partner in crime.
For Africom to meaningfully contribute to peacebuilding in northern Uganda and elsewhere, it must appreciate that military gear (boots, caps, shirts, gun power) has been a source of trauma for most communities.
Secondly, building roads and bridges (another thing Africom was seen doing in Pader district) does not necessarily bring peace to the communities; rather, the people here need a break from watching military talent and acrobatics.
When Africom does all these good things, but in military uniform, the likelihood for the villagers to be more affected by the sight of the military gear, rather than the good bridge, is high. For they know that military activity, legitimate or illegitimate is what left human skulls and bones scattered in their community.
For the people in northern Uganda, peace will need to begin in their bodies and minds before the availability of roads, bridges and an army full of skills in humanitarian work.
David Otim is a Program Officer for Mennonite Central Committee in Uganda.
