The effectiveness of inter-governmental organizations in peace building in Northern Uganda: A case of UNDP in Gulu district

Abstract

The study focused on the effectiveness of inter-governmental organizations in peace building in Northern Uganda focusing on UNDP in Gulu District. The following objectives guided the study, to establish the peace building activities carried out by UNDP in Gulu District, to analyze the ways in which UNDP peace initiatives have been successful in Gulu District, to examine the challenges facing UNDP peace building initiatives in Gulu District and to identify the strategies for enhancing UNDP peace initiatives in Gulu District. The research study used the applied research design in which both qualitative and quantitative approaches were employed on a sample of 63 respondents. It was discovered that UNDP encourages peace negotiations between the government of Uganda and the opposition/ LRA so that peace can be given a foundation in the area. The organization has since 2003 been deeply involved in encouraging peace negotiations between LRA and the Ugandan government right from the Juba peace talks in 2007 and have over the years been encouraging the two parties to approach peace since the failure of operation iron fist which has instead been involved in only military efforts. The study revealed that UNDP is working with local and international partners to assist in making the world more peaceful by providing economic stability. UNDP has deployed preventive diplomacy and other forms of preventive action have defused many potential conflicts in the North of Uganda, particularly Gulu by ensuring that the government makes concessions to allow for amnesty for the rebels and work on ways to support the recovery from the war. UNDP brings together international donors, international financial institutions and the government. The United Nations Development Programme works to reduce and eventually eliminate light weapons, and halt the proliferation of landmines, small arms and light weapons. UNDP has not liaised well with the local leaders who have not encouraged all rebels to get out of the bush and they continue to be a threat, the local people have not embraced the work of the organization beyond relief assistance. There is a tendency among people to believe that UNDP and other agencies of the United Nations are meant to provide relief assistance alone. The study noted that 80.9% of the respondents had the challenge of language barrier because most local people in the affected areas speak Acholi and it is hard to get realistic research data. The study found out that UNDP continues to encourage mediation and negotiation efforts in order to ensure that either parties reach agreement. And also UNDP has been doing a lot in sensitization and awareness creation among the people in form of civic competence promotion as well as ensuring successful sensitization and awareness creation, and supporting the sustainability of democratic principles. The study recommended that there should be promotion of enduring and lasting peace in the area through support for basic safety and security, including mine action, protection of civilians, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, strengthening the rule of law and initiation of security sector reform, efforts should be advanced to support the political processes, including electoral processes, promoting inclusive dialogue and reconciliation, and developing conflict management capacity, there should be establishment of efforts to support the provision of basic services, there should be promotion of efforts to restore core government functions, in particular basic public administration and public finance, at the national and sub national levels as well as supporting economic revitalization, including employment generation and livelihoods particularly for youth and demobilized former combatants, as well as rehabilitation of basic infrastructure.