Uganda People's Democratic Army

For the armed forces of the Ugandan government with the acronym "UPDF", see Uganda People's Defense Force.

Uganda People's Democratic Army
Active	March 1986 – June 1988
Disbanded	June 3, 1988
Country	Uganda
Allegiance	Anti-government
Branch	Rebel army
Type	Insurgent organization
Role	Armed resistance, Acholi interests
Size	Several thousand
Garrison/HQ	Northern Uganda, Southern Sudan
Nickname(s)	UPDA
Engagements	War in Uganda (1986–1994)
Commanders
Military Commander	Brigadier Odong Latek
Political Leader	Eric Otema-Allimadi
Notable commanders	Justine Odong Latek (UNLA)

The Uganda People's Democratic Army (UPDA) was a rebel group that operated in northern Uganda from March 1986 to June 1988, representing one of the most significant armed challenges to the newly established National Resistance Army (NRA) government led by Yoweri Museveni. The organization emerged as part of the broader post-1986 insurgency in northern Uganda, reflecting deep-seated ethnic and political tensions following the NRA's victory in the Ugandan Bush War. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

History

In January 1986, the government of Ugandan President Tito Okello was overthrown by the rebel National Resistance Army (NRA) under the command of Yoweri Museveni, which took the capital city of Kampala. By March 1986, NRA forces had occupied the traditional land of the Acholi people in northern Uganda, from which President Okello came. The UPDA was established in May 1986 when exiled former Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) members, led by Brigadier Odong Latek, organized the rebel group at Nimule, Sudan. The organization consisted of both a military wing, the Uganda People's Democratic Army, and a political wing called the Uganda People's Democratic Movement (UPDM), which was led by Eric Otema-Allimadi, a former Prime Minister of Uganda. This dual structure reflected the group's attempt to present itself as both a legitimate political opposition and an effective military force. ^{[4] [5] [6]}

The formation of the UPDA was primarily driven by ethnic Acholi military leaders who felt marginalized by the new NRA government and feared persecution following their association with previous regimes. According to a Makerere University study, the UPDA was formally established in Juba in March 1986, with key Acholi military leaders meeting in Sudan in May 1986 to identify strategic locations throughout Gulu and Kitgum districts for their operations. ^[1] The group was largely composed of former army soldiers who had fled to Sudan following the NRA's victory, bringing with them significant military experience and knowledge of conventional warfare tactics. ^{[1] [3]}

The UPDA's military operations were characterized by conventional warfare tactics, distinguishing them from other insurgent groups that would later emerge in the region. The organization conducted coordinated attacks against government positions and engaged in direct confrontations with NRA forces throughout 1986 and 1987. However, their conventional approach proved increasingly difficult to sustain as government forces adapted their counter-insurgency strategies and the UPDA faced growing resource constraints and internal divisions. Many ethnic Acholis refused to accept the logical conclusion that resistance was futile and began to support the Holy Spirit Movement of Alice Auma, which promised a millenarian vision of earthly paradise or similar chiliastic groups that had sprung up, including the Uganda People's Democratic Christian Army led by Joseph Kony that would later become the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). ^{[7] [8] [6]}

Agreement and integration

After a year of increasingly desperate operations, including fierce battles among various Acholi rebel groups for resources and territorial control, the UPDA leadership recognized the futility of continued armed resistance. The group signed a historic peace accord with the NRA-led government on June 3, 1988, which called for an end to the conflict and the establishment of a democratic government. ^[9] This agreement was exceptional in the context of Ugandan insurgencies, as it represented one of the few successful negotiated settlements between the government and a major rebel group. ^{[9] [10] [6]}

The UPDA's legacy is significant in the history of northern Uganda, as it represented the first major post-1986 armed challenge to the NRA government and established patterns of insurgency that would continue to affect the region for decades. The political wing of the UPDA and the National Resistance Movement were excluded from the talks. While the UPDA co-founder Justine Odong Latek refused to accept the accord and joined the LRA, most of his officers realized that their military situation was hopeless and, by early 1989, the UPDA had ceased to exist. The group's eventual integration into the national army through the peace agreement also provided a model for conflict resolution that would be referenced in later peace negotiations with other rebel groups. ^{[4] [9]}

Structure

The UPDA had an high command, led by Justine Odong Latek . ^[11] At the time of its foundation, the UPDA was organized into two divisions, split into several brigades. ^[12] By 1987, the group claimed to have 15,000 members, including 1,000 Karamojong and Former Uganda National Army militants. ^[11] Though the group included many ex-UNLA veterans who had considerable combat experience, the UPDA units were usually much weaker than their respective names suggested. ^[13] The known units included:

• First Division - commanded by Lieutenant Colonel John Angelo Okello Okello, ^{[12] [14]} later Joseph Obonyo; ^[11] operated in Gulu area ^[12]
  • 50 Brigade ^{[14] [11]} - commanded by Captain Peter Okello; operated in southern Kitgum District ^[11]
  • 80 Brigade - commanded by division leader John Angelo Okello Okello ^[12]
  • 100 Spearhead Brigade - commanded by Major Mike Kilama; operated in Aswa County ^[12]
  • 115 Brigade - commanded by Captain Mark Lapyem; ^{[12] [14]} operated in Nwoya County ^[12]
  • 120 Brigade - commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Atochon Oliver North; based at Nebbi ^[12]
  • 130 Mobile Brigade - commanded by Major Walter Ochora ^[12]
• Second Division - commanded by Major Nick Kibwota; operated around Kitgum ^[12]
  • 60 Brigade - commanded by Captain Richard Nyeko in 1986; ^[12] transferred to First Division and led by Major Mazzoldi Lubangakene by 1987 ^[11]
  • 70 Brigade - commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Stevenson Ojukwu, ^[12] later Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Oydek ^[14]
  • 90 Brigade - commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Eric Odwar; ^[12] based at Oryebo near Namokora ^[15]

References

1. "Post-1986 Insurgency in Northern Uganda". Makerere University. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
2. "Uganda: Information on a rebel group called the Uganda People (People's) Democratic Army (UPDA) and its activities during the period 1988 to 1990, and on the extent of its human rights violations". Refworld. 1 February 1996. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
3. Lomo, Zachary; Hovil, Lucy (2004). Behind the Violence: The War in Northern Uganda. Institute for Security Studies. ISBN   978-1-919913-45-2.
4. "Uganda People's Democratic Army (UPDA)". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
5. Deibert, Michael (26 February 2012). "In northern Uganda, a difficult peace". Le Monde diplomatique. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
6. Mwakikagile, Godfrey (2012). Uganda: A Nation in Transition : Post-colonial Analysis. New Africa Press. ISBN   978-9987-16-035-8.
7. "Causes and consequences of the war in Acholiland (2002) | Conciliation Resources". www.c-r.org. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
8. Doom, Ruddy; Vlassenroot, Koen (1999). "Kony's Message: A New Koine? The Lord's Resistance Army in Northern Uganda". African Affairs. 98 (390): 5–36. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.afraf.a008002. ISSN   0001-9909. JSTOR   723682.
9. "Uganda Peace Agreements". Global Herald. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
10. Canada, Immigration and Refugee Board of (13 February 1996). "Information on a rebel group called the Uganda People (People's) Democratic Army (UPDA) and its activities during the period 1988 to 1990, and on the extent of its human rights violations [UGA22968.E]". www.ecoi.net. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
11. "Military structure of the Uganda People's Democratic Army". New African. No. 232–243. 1987. p. 13.
12. Lamwaka 2016, p. 60.
13. Cooper & Fontanellaz 2015, pp. 54–55.
14. Cooper & Fontanellaz 2015, p. 55.
15. Lamwaka 2016, p. 71.

Works cited

• Cooper, Tom; Fontanellaz, Adrien (2015). Wars and Insurgencies of Uganda 1971–1994. Solihull: Helion & Company Limited. ISBN   978-1-910294-55-0.
• Lamwaka, Caroline (2016). The Raging Storm: A Reporter's Inside Account of the Northern Uganda War 1986–2005. Kampala: Fountain Publishers. ISBN   978-9970-25-221-3.