Uganda: Key people and parties.
People
Yoweri Museveni: Museveni, the current President of Uganda, came to power in 1986 after waging a five-year long guerrilla war against Milton Obote. Although initially lauded by the international community for his work in growing the Ugandan economy, critics began to emerge after Uganda’s invasion of DR Congo in 1997-8, and more recently over the abolition of limits to the presidential term.
Joseph Kony: Kony is the notorious leader of the LRA who are fighting the Ugandan government. Wanted by the ICC for war crimes, which include the abduction of around 30,000 children. He allegedly wants to establish a state based on the biblical Ten Commandments, however, he remains elusive after 25 years.
Kizza Besigye: Besigye is the leader of the Forum for Democratic Change, a leading opposition party in Uganda.
Key parties and militant groups
National Resistance Movement (NRM): The current ruling political party and has been led by Yoweri Museveni since 1986. The NRM was the political wing of the milita group the National Resistance Army that overthrew Okello’s goverment in 1985. This was seen as a turning point for Ugandan politics.
Forum for Democratic Change: The main opposition party to the NRM and was founded in 2004, being made up of many former NRM party members and followers who became disillusioned with Museveni’s goverment and disagreed with constitutional changes, which allowed Museveni to be elected for a third term.
The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC): The UPC was founded in 1955 by Milton Obote and was the first political party in power after Independence. However, the Party performed poorly in the 2006 elections.
Uganda National Liberation Front: The Uganda National Liberation Front led the coalition that overthrew Idi Amin in 1979.
Image with thanks to Marie Havens, published under the Creative Commons Lisence
Uganda National Rescue Front: The Uganda National Rescue Front first formed to oppose Milton Obote during his second term, and later as a break away of the West Nile Bank Front that did not make peace with Museveni in 1996.
Peoples Redemption Army: The People’s Redemption Army is a rebel group based in Eastern DR Congo. The Ugandan government claims the group are supported by Rwanda, and have tried (unsuccessfully) to link them to the opposition leader, Kizza Besigye. The Rwandan president, Paul Kagame, claimed in 2006 that the PRA were a fictitious organisation.
West Nile Bank Front: The West Nile Bank Front is a group led by Juma Oris. They were considered defeated in 1997.
Allied Democratic Front: The Allied Democratic Front are a rebel group based in Western Uganda and DR Congo. Thought to have been largely defeated in 2003, there are claims that they have been trying to re-establish themselves in Ugandan territory.
Lord’s Resistance Army: The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) is a militant group that has been engaged in conflict with the Ugandan government for over 20 years. The group is led by Joseph Kony, and claim to be fighting for the establishment of a government based on the Ten Commandments. The LRA has committed numerous atrocities, and is particularly known for the abduction of children, who are forced to become rebels or concubines.
