Effects of counterinsurgency on human security in Acholi land (1987-2007)

Abstract

This study will focus on investigating the Effects of Counterinsurgency on human security in Acholi land (1987-2007). It will be guided by two objectives namely: To examine the history of counterinsurgency operations in Northern Uganda and; To examine the effects of counterinsurgency operations on human security in Acholi land. This research deeply explores two theories that is to say: human security which cuts across economic, food, health, environmental, personal, community and political security, and; counterinsurgency which is a comprehensive military and civilian effort to defeat an insurgency for example Operation North, Operation Iron-fist and Operation Lighting Thunder that took place in Northern Uganda against the LRA rebels. The research is based on the Counterinsurgency Warfare Theory and Practice by David Galula. The theory first defines an objective for both the insurgent and the counterinsurgent as winning the support of the population. Although the objective is the same for both sides, the way each one conducts itself in the battle for the objective is completely different. The theory shows how the insurgency is built around a cause and the importance of defining and changing that cause to maintain support from the population. The insurgent can lie, cheat, and exaggerate to promote his cause and gain support, but the counterinsurgent must maintain his credibility and legitimacy. The assumption for counter insurgency in this theory are: the population; the pivotal point from which both sides should make their decisions; that a majority of the population is neutral and that only a small minority will be active promoters of the cause for either side; to find that minority and organize it to gain the support of the population against the insurgency; maintains that support from the population is conditional, that it is based on security (feeling safe); the country but must have a sufficiently significant force to win each area. Several researches have been conducted about insurgency and counterinsurgency but however, addressing the effects of counterinsurgency on the human security in the region has not been given much concern and this has left space that the study at hand intends to fill by addressing the effects of counterinsurgency on human security in the Northern Uganda. This research paper will adopt a qualitative study. The research is broken down into five sections namely: Section One which includes the introduction, origin, causes, and development of the LRA insurgency in Northern Uganda; Section two for the statement of the problem; Section Three which elaborates on Human Security; Section four which digs deep into the concept of counterinsurgency, and its effects on human security in Acholi land; Section five contains the conclusion and critical observation drawn from the study and the references.