Gender issues during post-conflict recovery: the case of Nwoya district, northern Uganda

Abstract

This study sought to investigate issues arising during the post-conflict recovery period in northern Uganda as differentiated by gender. The study was exploratory and descriptive, employing both qualitative and quantitative approaches, and the theoretical framework of Greenberg and Zuckerman (2004, 2009) predominantly guided it. The key finding was that needs of citizens during recovery varied by gender and the time that had elapsed since the conflict. A plethora of agencies participated in the post-conflict recovery efforts and many challenges affect the mainstreaming of gender issues into these programmes, especially in a patriarchal society such as the study area. In practical terms, during post-conflict recovery efforts, all stakeholders need to effectively consider analysis of need by gender in their programmes if sustainable PC-PPP (post-conflict, peace, participation and prosperity) is to be realised. This research has contributed to the continuous debate on, and search for, a gender-sensitive post-conflict recovery theory.

Keywords:

• gender
• needs
• post-conflict
• internally displaced persons
• returnees
• Uganda

Acknowledgements

This research was done with support from the Norwegian Agency for Development (NORAD) for capacity building and Makerere University, Uganda.

Notes

 1. Patriarchal traditions and war pave way for spread of HIV in northern Uganda [online], posted by Apophia, A. Available from: http://www.globalpressinstitute.org/print/656 [Accessed on 13 September 2011].

 2. Girl soldiers – the cost of survival in northern Uganda by Mindy Kay Bricker (2009) [online]. Available from: Women News Network, http://womennewsnetwork.net/2009/01/13/ugandagirlssoldier809 [Accessed 24 October 2011]. The site has more cases on the plight of women, especially the girl child.

 3. UN Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: Uganda Humanitarian Situational Report, 1–31 March, 2008.

 4. A recent political development has been the creation of Nwoya district, where Anaka sub-county is located, out of Amuru district. The research was conducted when Nwoya was a county in the Amuru district.

 5. UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) Uganda Consolidated Appeals Process, 2008. Available from: http://www.unfpa.org/emergencies [Accessed 13 October 2011). More information of UNFPA's work in emergencies can be retrieved from the same site.

 6. The action by ACORD (Agency for Corporation and Research in Development) played a pivotal role to end the impunity on sexual gender-based violence, including protecting the rights of women and girls survivors of sexual violence through appropriate training and sensitisation [online]. Available from: http://www.acordinternational.org/index.php/base/uganda [Accessed 13 October 2011].

 7. Resolve Uganda [online], 15 October 2007. Available from: http://resolveuganda.org/node/394 [Accessed 01 May 2008].

 8. Uganda's Poverty Eradication Action Plan has five pillars (Uganda Poverty Status Report, 2005).

 9. The World Bank uses this conceptual framework to address gender issues within its post-conflict reconstructions. For example, the analysis of the Bank's 2006 grants indicated that a mere 3% of these projects comprising 3.8% of funds target women specifically [online]. Available from: http://www.genderaction.org/images/Genderaction%20PCR%20June2007.pdf [Accessed 14 September 2011].

10. The (α) score was 0.82 – above the minimum acceptable level of 0.7 (Cavana et al. 2001, Pallant 2001, McMurry and Williams 2002). This was computed by the following formula: where K is the number of components (K-items or testlets), is the variance of the observed total test scores for the current sample of persons, and is the variance of component i for the current sample of persons. Both measures determined the clarity of the instruments and the accuracy of the findings, respectively.

11. The term ‘predominantly’ is used when more men (more than 70%) than women mentioned them, and for analytical purposes these are taken as male-specific needs and vice versa.

12. Editor (2010).

13. The northern part of Uganda, where the study was conducted has the highest percentages of males (17%) and females (35%) with no education, in comparison to other regions (ranging from 5.1% to 15%). More details can be obtained from ‘Child Protection and Recovery Strategy for Northern Uganda 2009–2011’ from the Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development.