SUMMARY

The conflict between the Ugandan rebel group LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) and the self-defense militia the Arrow Boys was played out in the context of the intrastate conflict between the former and the Ugandan government. By 2003 the United Nations deemed the situation in northern Uganda as one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. The national army UPDA (Ugandan People’s Defence Army) had been fighting LRA for 18 years but had continuously failed to suppress the rebellion. The situation changed when Sudanese authorities agreed to let UPDA cross the border in search of LRA, which had previously been allowed to have rear bases on Sudanese territory. Rebel strongholds were subsequently destroyed and the rebels were forced to return to the northern parts of Uganda where they were more vulnerable to governmental attacks. By mid-2003, LRA activity was expanded into eastern and north-western Uganda and violence against civilians increased dramatically. As a response, local militias, among them the Arrow Boys, were armed and organized to defend the isolated villages.

Clashes between the two groups occurred when LRA forces attacked isolated villages under the protection of the Arrow Boys. Fighting was often brief and led to the pursuit of LRA rebels as they retreated. Indeed, LRA did often not expect resistance and were hence not prepared for heavy fighting. Although the tactics used by the two groups were different in terms of offensive and defensive strategies, both were based on the element of surprise. However, the Arrow Boys had an important advantage in the existence of a large network of informants which provided the militia with information about LRA movements.

The non-state conflict between the Arrow Boys and LRA is first included in UCDP data in 2003. At the beginning of October of that year, clashes between the two factions resulted in over 25 battle-related deaths.