Alice Lakwena and the Holy Spirits: War in Northern Uganda, 1986-97 (Eastern African Studies)

In August 1986, Alice Auma, a young Acholi woman in northern Uganda, proclaiming herself under the orders of a Christian spirit, raised an army and fought the government's witches and sorcerers.BR> North America: Ohio U Press; Uganda: Fountain Publishers "In August 1986, Alice Auma, a young woman in northern Uganda, proclaiming herself under the orders of a Christian spirit named Lakwena, raised an army called the 'Holy Spirit Mobile Forces'." "With it she waged a war against perceived evil, not only an external enemy represented by the National Resistance Army of the government, but internal enemies in the form of 'impure' soldiers, witches and sorcerers. She came very close to her goal of overthrowing the government but was defeated and fled to Kenya." "This book gives an internal view of Alice's movement, based on interviews with its members and numerous of their own writings, examining in particular their perceptions of the threat of internal evil. It concludes with an account of the successor movements into which Alice's forces fragmented, including to 'Lord's Resistance Army', now actively involved in the civil wars of the Sudan and Uganda."--Jacket In August 1986, Alice Auma, a young Acholi woman in northern Uganda, proclaiming herself under the orders of a Christian spirit, raised an army and fought the government's witches and sorcerers. This text gives an internal view of Alice's movement, based on interviews with its members.