Militarization, sustainable growth and peace in Uganda

Project summary

This project on militarisation, sustainable growth and peace in Uganda will examine the concept of militarisation in Uganda and its implications for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions. The rationale behind this project is to explore the current trend of militarisation in Uganda with a threefold aim: First, to better understand the militarisation phenomenon in Uganda and to analyse its scope and consequences; second, to contribute to theoretical conceptualisations of militarisation and militarism; and third, to increase the dialogue and awareness among private and public stakeholders in Uganda about how democratic accountability, protection of rights and state-building can be strengthened in an era of militarisation. The project comprises four themes as described in Appendix A, which are organised into the four work packages detailed below: Theme 1 on militarisation and development, Theme 2 on militarisation, institutions and human rights, underlying Theme A on the Ugandan military, its identity and practices, and overarching Theme B on regionalism. The project is a collaboration between the Human Rights and Peace Centre (HURIPEC) and the Centre for Resolution of International Conflicts (CRIC) at the University of Copenhagen and will run for four years. It will be conducted through an innovative multidisciplinary combination of methodologies, drawing on law, political science and sociology, and will be approached from a militarisation-versus-militarism perspective. The project aims to work closely with key public-sector institutions and encourage a participatory and collaborative approach with major stakeholders, including the military, police, parliament and judiciary. It will be implemented through field activities, multi-stakeholder seminars and research seminars, academic publications and disseminations, among other activities.

Outputs

Midterm report
The joint research project Militarization, sustainable growth and peace in Uganda is progressing well. A fruitful academic interdisciplinary collaboration continues to grow and develop between the Human Rights and Peace Centre at Makerere University and Centre for Resolution of International Conflicts at University of Copenhagen. The joint research team with people from law, development studies and international relations has conducted fieldwork in 18 districts located in the five regions of Uganda over a period of 66 days. A first draft project report was developed under the theme: ‘Militarisation and Development’. It currently comprises four chapters/sections on Land, Fisheries, Operation Wealth Creation and Forestry. Chapters on Mineral Resources and Wildlife are under review. A multistakeholder engagement was convened by HURIPEC and CRIC on 17th November 2021. It involved a debate on the role of militarisation on securing development and democracy in Uganda. A report from this event was published in June 2022 under the title “Uganda’s Big Debate: The Role of the Military in Development”. The two PhDs (at Makerere and Copenhagen University, respectively) are progressing according to plan and have received supervision at both the home university and the partner institution. Finally, draft academic chapters for edited book volume are past external review stage and in final editing stages.