General information
Part of Conflict: Uganda: Government
Date of first stated goals of incompatibility: 1986-08-01
Comment on date of first stated goal of incompatibility: When the Okello military junta was ousted by Museveni’s NRA in January 1986, the former army (UNLA) fled towards its home region, Acholi. Pursued by the NRA, they were eventually forced to cross the border into Sudan. Once in Sudan, they joined forces with former Acholi politicians as well as Obote and Idi Amin supporters and in March 1986 formed UPDA (Uganda People’s Defence Army) under the leadership of Basilio Okello. Even though some armed activities were launched immediately, the new group did not make any official announcements until August the same year, when they issued a statement, calling for a return to elected government and the implementation of the Nairobi peace accord, which had been signed by the Okello junta and NRA in December 1985.
Date of first use of armed force: 1986-08-10
Comment on date of first use of armed force: While incursions into northern Uganda from southern Sudan had become increasingly common throughout the spring and summer of 1986, the first time armed force was used after the August announcement (see comment on first stated goal of incompatibility) was around 10 August 1986. At that time a large invasion force of around 15 000 men crossed the border from southern Sudan and fighting erupted in Bibia and in Gulu. Both UPDA and NRA suffered numerous casualties and in the face of a large NRA counter-offensive UPDA was forced to withdraw. After this major attack UPDA’s fighters split into small groups, loosely organised in four brigades; two based in Kitgum and two in Gulu.
First Battle Related Death: 1986-08-10
Comment on First Battle Related Death: While incursions into northern Uganda from southern Sudan had become increasingly common throughout the spring and summer of 1986, the first time armed force was used after the August announcement (see comment on first stated goal of incompatibility) was around 10 August 1986. At that time a large invasion force of around 15 000 men crossed the border from southern Sudan and fighting erupted in Bibia and in Gulu. Both UPDA and NRA suffered numerous casualties and in the face of a large NRA counter-offensive UPDA was forced to withdraw. After this major attack UPDA’s fighters split into small groups, loosely organised in four brigades; two based in Kitgum and two in Gulu.
Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 1986-08-10
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: While incursions into northern Uganda from southern Sudan had become increasingly common throughout the spring and summer of 1986, the first time armed force was used after the August announcement (see comment on first stated goal of incompatibility) was around 10 August 1986. At that time a large invasion force of around 15 000 men crossed the border from southern Sudan and fighting erupted in Bibia and in Gulu. Both UPDA and NRA suffered numerous casualties – clearly exceeding 25 – and in the face of a large NRA counter-offensive UPDA was forced to withdraw. After this major attack UPDA’s fighters split into small groups, loosely organised in four brigades; two based in Kitgum and two in Gulu.
Conflict issues
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1986
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 689 |
| Best | 539 |
| Low | 539 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Uganda): n/a
Side B (UPDA): n/a
1987
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 42 |
| Best | 42 |
| Low | 42 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Uganda): n/a
Side B (UPDA): n/a
1988
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 14 |
| Best | 14 |
| Low | 14 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Uganda): n/a
Side B (UPDA): n/a
Peace agreements
Name of peace agreement: Gulu Peace Accord (Pece Peace Agreement)
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 1988-06-03
Comment of peace agreement: Full peace agreement
The agreement, which is sometimes referred to as Pece Peace Agreement, was signed in Pece Stadium in Gulu on 3 June 1988 after several rounds of meetings between the two parties.
The accord provided for an amnesty for the combatants, the integration of some 2000 former UPDA into the NRA, the release of prisoners of war, the resettlement of displaced people in the war areas and the rehabilitation of infrastructure destroyed by the war.
Regarding the incompatibility, i.e. who would govern Uganda, the agreement stipulated that a government endorsed by the people of Uganda would be established, that the Parliament would be expanded and that a Constituent Assembly would be organized to discuss a new constitution.
Signatories: On Behalf of the government of Uganda, President Museveni,
O Lt-Col. John Angelo Okello On Behalf of the Uganda People’s Democratic Movement
In the Presence of: Bishop Emeritus of Gulu
Comment of signatories: Dyadic agreement
The Gulu Peace Accord was signed by one of the rebel groups that had been fighting in Uganda since Museveni’s and NRA’s ascent to power. During 1988, the year of its signing, there were three other rebel outfits active in the country; UHSA (later renamed LRA), UPA and Lord’s Army, neither of which had participated in the negotiation process.
Third parties: Vincent Olanya
Comment of third parties role in peace agreement: Vincent Olanya, an Acholi elder, chaired at least the first round of talks.
Comment of Duration: The agreement is still valid since no fighting between the two parties has been recorded and neither side has withdrawn from it. However, the implementation process was beset by difficulties. While some parts of the accord, such as the release of prisoners of war and the integration of UPDA combatants into the NRA were implemented directly, others, like the development and rehabilitation projects, never materialized.
Full-text peace agreement
Dyad Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1986 Dyad Archive
Comment on Active: 1986 saw the end of the almost five year long conflict between the Ugandan government and NRA, oftentimes called “the bush war”. When the rebels captured Kampala on 26 January the defeated UNLA fled the capital. Withdrawing north, the former government army put up resistance in some areas in the east and north, but by March its resistance had more or less been stamped out.
When deploying throughout the north the formerly so well-disciplined NRA began committing human rights abuses. Many of the former UNLA soldiers who had hid in the region subsequently fled across the border into southern Sudan. Subsequently, about 15 000 former UNLA soldiers regrouped in Parajok in Eastern Equatoria, where they were joined by large numbers of Acholi youths fleeing NRA operations. A new organisation was formed, the UPDA (Uganda People’s Democratic Army), and in August the new group launched a large-scale invasion of the north. After the initial battles, UPDA divided into four brigades, two of which established bases in Kitgum and two in Gulu. Initially the rebels scored many successes and were able to push NRA from virtually all small towns and centers, forcing them to retreat to larger towns like Gulu. In the face of these military set backs, NRA’ abuses against the northern population increased.
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1987 Dyad Archive
Comment on Active: In 1987 the conflict between the government and the UPDA continued, albeit on a lower scale. This was mainly due to the fact that the rebels became significantly weakened during the year, with arms and ammunition dwindling and its fighters becoming increasingly demoralised. Another factor serving to weaken the UPDA was that its relationship with fellow Acholi rebel group HSM (Holy Spirit Movement) became increasingly confrontational early in the year. In late June HSM launched “Operation Coy” to flush out the UPDA from the north. During the two week-long operation numerous UPDA rebels were captured or killed and the group lost many commanders as well as fighters. Furthermore, yet another rebel group emerged in northern Uganda in 1987; UHSA, later to be renamed LRA. In November also this group launched an attack on UPDA, hitting the group’s headquarters near Pawel Owor.
In this context a majority of UPDA’s commanders viewed a negotiated solution as a good option and therefore responded positively when a peace mission visited the group’s headquarters late in the year.
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiations: While the government in June 1987 abandoned its strategy of total war and approved an amnesty for rebels who agreed to surrender, no substantial talks were held during the year. Behind the scenes preparation for such to materialize did take place, though, which Museveni’s brother, the NRAs Chief of Combat and Operations Maj. Gen. Salim Saleh, in charge of this exercise for the government side. Due to UCDP coding rules, such talks are not coded as negotiations.
Victory: NO
Terminated: YES
Type of termination: No or Low Activity
Date of termination: 1987-12-31
Comment on Termination: UPDA became increasingly weakened during 1987, with arms and ammunition dwindling and its fighters becoming increasingly demoralised. Many of the group’s senior commanders had been killed and the group was largely scattered. Another factor affecting UPDA negatively was its deteriorating relationship with fellow Acholi-rebel group the Holy Spirit Movement (HSM). While the two rebel movements initially cooperated and UPDA even provided HSM with its first fighters, the relationship turned sour in early 1987 and became increasingly confrontational. In late June HSM launched “Operation Coy” to flush out the UPDA from the north. During the two week operation numerous UPDA rebels were captured or killed and the group lost many commanders as well as fighters.
Thus, by 1988 – while still launching the occasional attack – the activity of UPDA was so low that it did not cross the 25 battle-related deaths threshold.
It should be noted that while the conflict between the UPDA and the government was terminated through low activity, a peace agreement was signed in 1988 (see comment on negotiations for the year 1988 as well as the peace agreement entry for that year).
1988 Dyad Archive
Comment on Active: The conflict between the Ugandan government and the UPDA was not active in 1988.
UPDA had become increasingly weakened during 1987, with arms and ammunition dwindling and its fighters becoming increasingly demoralised. Many of the group’s senior commanders had been killed and the group was largely scattered. Another factor affecting UPDA negatively was its deteriorating relationship with fellow Acholi-rebel group the Holy Spirit Movement (HSM). While the two rebel movements initially cooperated and UPDA even provided HSM with its first fighters, the relationship turned sour in early 1987 and became increasingly confrontational. In late June HSM launched “Operation Coy” to flush out the UPDA. During the two week operation numerous UPDA rebels were captured or killed and the group lost many commanders as well as fighters. Internal splits also weakened the rebellion. Attitudes towards the peace process with the government were mixed and on and 8 May the main faction of the rebels announced that they had voted UPDA’s high military commander Brigadier Odong Latek out of the overall command and replaced him with Lt Col Okello, the leader of UPDA’s delegation to the peace talks. They also distanced themselves even further from the political wing. Subsequently, on 3 June a peace agreement was signed between UPDA and the government and roughly 2000 former rebels joined the NRA. Those UPDA fighters opposed to the accord opted to join the group that was at the time called United Holy Salvation Army (later re-named LRA), under Joseph Kony.
Thus, by 1988 – while still launching the occasional attack – the activity of UPDA was so low that it did not cross the 25 battle-related deaths threshold.
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiations: After four months of preparations and trust building, negotiations between the government and the UPDA finally got underway in March 1988. They had been preceded by a government announcement in which the NRM declared a unilateral ceasefire. It is worth noting that these talks they were held between the military wings of both parties; neither the government nor UPDA’s exiled political wing UPDM were involved. However, for the part of the national armed forces, NRA, they had the blessing of the president; something that was not the case for the UPDA in relation to UPDM (for a comment on the relationship between the UPDA and UPDM, see “comment on name of warring party”). During the negotiations process, NRA was represented by the armys Chief of Combat and Operations, Maj. Gen. Salim Saleh, whereas UPDA’s delegation was led by Lt Col John Angelo Okello, Commander of UPDA Division One in Gulu, accompanied by Maj. Mike Kilama and Charles Alai. The group’s high military commander Brigadier Odong Latek was absent, something that would complicate matters further on.
The first round of talks commenced at Acholi Inn in Gulu on 17 March. After both sides had given their view of why the conflict had started, they proceeded to discuss jobs for ex-combatants, and the integration of UPDA soldiers into the NRA. Further talks were held the following day and then again on 20-21 March. These talks resulted in the parties agreeing on several principles; an immediate ceasefire would be declared and UPDA troops would receive cash ration allowances to signal the start of integration; recruitment into the NRA would be open to all UPDA soldiers; appointments to military rank made by any Ugandan head of state would be retained; and, finally, the two armies would together fight Joseph Kony’s and Severino Likoya’s rebel movements (UCDA – later renamed LRA, and Lord’s Army).
After this first round of negotiations internal squabbles erupted in both parties as to whether negotiations were the right way to go. Despite this, the ceasefire held and the relationship between the two parties became more stable as they began to cooperate on regional security issues. On 9 April a delegation of two UPDA representatives and six elders travelled from Gulu to meet Museveni. After the meeting the president issued a presidential pardon for all troops who surrendered. This was necessary since the amnesty declared the previous year had already expired. The meeting also produced an agreement on the issue of taxation. UPDA’s representatives had demanded that Gulu and Kitgum district be free of taxation for two years and Museveni agreed to this.
On 25 April talks continued, as Saleh flew to UPDA’s headquarters to meet Latek. No details of the discussions held area available, but upon returning from the talks Saleh spoke positively of the meeting and claimed that Latek was in favor if the peace process.
Despite Saleh’s and Latek’s meeting, UPDA’s internal problems continued and on 8 May the rebels announced that they had voted the latter out of the overall command and replaced him with Lt Col Okello, the leader of UPDA’s delegation to the peace talks. They also distanced themselves even further from the political wing.
On 3 June the Gulu Peace Accord was signed by Lt-Col. John Angelo Okello for the UPDA and the government.
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
