Off the grid or just as strong as in 2012? The present state of the LRA

“To the people who have experienced the brutality of the LRA, this remains a war without an end. […] Their [the LRA’s] activities continue to fluctuate; there are moments when they scale up their abductions, and there are periods when the abductions gradually decline.”

The LRA captured global headlines during the “Kony 2012”-campaign. Since then, international attention has shifted elsewhere – but what is left of the LRA? Are they still as active as they used to be? Mr Oola describes the history of the LRA and its various metamorphoses. He then goes on to explain where the LRA is still active, and how the Ugandan army (UPDF) are fighting them. Mr Oola also describes the regional destabilization, the ivory trade, and the number of abducted children.

Stephen Oola works as Programme Manager Conflict, Transitional Justice and Governance at the Refugee Law Project of Makerere University.

The interview was recorded in Kampala on December 3, 2015, at the office of the Refugee Law Project.