Christianity, Politics and the Afterlives of War in Uganda

By Henni Alava

Book Description

In the aftermath of Uganda's devastating conflict between the Lord's Resistance Army and the government, questions emerge about faith's role in healing fractured communities. This scholarly exploration examines how Christianity navigates the complex terrain between spiritual ideals and political realities in post-war Uganda.

Through extensive fieldwork within Uganda's Catholic and Anglican communities, author Henni Alava reveals the intricate ways religious institutions both contribute to peacebuilding and remain constrained by the very social divisions they seek to heal. The research uncovers a profound paradox: while churches earnestly pursue reconciliation, they simultaneously find themselves embedded within the historical structures of violence and societal fractures that originally fueled the conflict.

Central to this analysis is the Acholi concept of "anyobanyoba," meaning confusion—a state that encompasses ambivalence, uncertainty, and the mixed-up nature of community affairs under the persistent threat of state violence. Rather than viewing this confusion as purely negative, Alava presents it as both a lived reality and a valuable lens for understanding the complexities of post-conflict society.

This work offers profound insights for anyone seeking to understand how spiritual communities grapple with their dual roles as agents of peace and participants in ongoing political tensions. It challenges readers to consider how faith communities might authentically engage with the messy realities of social transformation while remaining true to their spiritual calling for reconciliation and healing.