Uganda/Rwanda: Post-Conflict Transformation

Program Highlights

Students visiting an orphanage, which was founded by a mechanic in Rwanda, who took the genocide victims in and gave them shelter

Students in the Uganda/Rwanda: Post-Conflict Transformation program examine contemporary theories of conflict resolution, reconciliation, and redevelopment in the context of the long-running civil war in northern Uganda and the 1994 Rwanda genocide.

Program phases
In addition to a week-long orientation—introducing students to East Africa, the academic directors, and one another—the program consists of the following three distinct phases:

  • A month in Uganda in which students examine the situation in northern Uganda
  • A month in Rwanda focusing on the 1994 genocide and its aftermath
  • A month-long Independent Study Project, conducted in either Uganda or Rwanda 

Each phase exposes students to different perspectives on post-conflict transformation through interactions with a variety of individuals – from residents of internally displaced people’s camps and genocide survivors to government officials and experts on conflict resolution.

Exploring Gulu, Kampala, Kigali, and beyond
Students spend the majority of the semester in two main locations: Gulu, Uganda, and Kigali, Rwanda; the pre-ISP program period is divided more or less equally between the two countries.  To expose students to wider sections of both countries, students also spend shorter periods of time in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, and in rural areas of Rwanda such as Butare and Gisenyi or Kibuye at Lake Kivu. Each location provides unique learning opportunities and perspectives on conflict resolution, reconciliation, and redevelopment.

  • Gulu, Uganda. Students spend three weeks in Gulu, a hub for NGOs working in Uganda’s northern districts. Students attend seminars conducted by lecturers from Gulu University and from practitioners and experts in the field. During this period, students are introduced to theories of conflict, to the history of the conflict in northern Uganda, and to efforts by government and civil society organizations to promote peace, justice, and reconciliation. Lectures are supplemented with field visits to NGO offices and project sites and to internally displaced people’s camps in Gulu and adjacent districts.Lectures are supplemented with field visits to NGO offices and project sites and to internally displaced people’s camps in Gulu and adjacent districts.

    While in Gulu, students stay in homestays with Acholi-speaking families that live walking-distance or a short public van ride from class. In Gulu, students have access to Internet cafes, restaurants, courier services, and banks.

  • Kampala, Uganda.  In Kampala, Uganda’s bustling capital city, students examine political and historical issues on a national level and the manner in which these issues have impacted the northern conflict and the pursuit of justice and reconciliation. Students receive lectures by faculty from Makerere University, political figures, and NGO professionals. Excursions to culturally and politically important sites in central Uganda, such as the tombs of the Kabakas of Buganda at Kasubi, prompt additional discussion and debate on topics introduced in the classroom. During this period, students also consider Uganda’s role in wider regional conflicts, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

    While in Kampala (approximately five days), students stay in guest houses, and lectures are held in the SIT office located on the Makerere University campus, or, alternatively, in other locations such as at an NGO office. The SIT office and resource center in Kampala includes computers for student use and a good collection of recent books on topics related to Ugandan history and development.

  • Kigali, Rwanda. The Rwanda segment of the program is primarily held in Kigali where students learn about the history of ethnicity and how this led to the Rwandan genocide. Students consider current efforts of reconstruction and reconciliation and the very practical aspects of post-conflict transformation in the Rwandan context. Emphasis is placed on civil society organizations, government agencies, and policy. Students visit the Gisozi Genocide Memorial and Information Center, the ICTR Kigali office, the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission, and the Commission for the Fight Against Genocide Ideology.

  • Butare, Rwanda. Butare is a university town located about 120 kilometers south of Kigali. Students stay in local guest houses within walking distance of classes. Lectures are held at the National University of Rwanda’s Center for Conflict Management, and visits include local sites of interest, including the Nyanza Palace, the Murambi Genocide Memorial, and NGO project sites.

  • Kibuye or Gisenyi, Rwanda. Students travel either to the town of Gisenyi at Lake Kivu or Kibuye to visit local organizations, memorial sites, and also to engage with and learn from rural populations in Rwanda.

Independent Study Project (ISP)
The ISP period is an opportunity for each student to explore in significant depth a narrowly-defined topic of particular interest to him/her, in consultation with academic directors, lecturers, and practitioners. Each student selects an academic advisor, who acts as a resource person during the ISP period. Though certain topics and geographical areas may not be permitted, projects can be conducted in a wide range of locations and on a wide range of topics in Uganda or Rwanda. 

Sample topic areas include:

  • Migration in northern Uganda
  • Economic disparity among returned Rwandans
  • The planned role of genocide memorials in reconciliation
  • Peace camp curriculum
  • Language use in contemporary Rwanda
  • National holidays and celebrations as markers of identity development
  • Print and radio coverage of conflict in Uganda
  • Economic dimensions of conflict