CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN KARAMOJA REGION A CASE STUDY OF KAABONG WEST SUB-COUNTY KAABONG DISTRICT

ABSTRACT

The study sought to examine civil society organizations and conflict resolution in. Karamoja Region: A case study ofKaabong West Sub-County, Kaabong District. The study objectives were; to examine the major causes of the conflicts inKaabong W~st Sub-County, Kaabong District, to analyze the contributions of civil society organizations in conflict resolution in Kaabong West Sub-County, Kaabong District, to identify the challenges facing civil society organizations in conflict resolution in Kaabong West Sub-County, Kaabong District. The study applied an explanatory research design to reflect aspects of perception, feelings, experiences, facts and

emotional feelings of the study respondents in finding out the relationship between civil society organizations and conflict resolution in Kaabong West Sub-County, Kaabong District, Karamoja Region. This is because the research questions that were generated necessitated observing explanatory, descriptive and analytical aspects of the research. The study population involved 58 participants where 14 top authorities of Civil Society Organisations, 16’ Traditional leaders, 15 village chiefs and 13 local peasants. A sample size of 50 respondents was determined through purposive and random sampling methods. Data was collected from primary and secondary sources using questionnaires ~nd interviews. After collecting data, the researcher organized well-answered questionnaire, data was edited and sorted for the next stage. The data was presented in tabular form, pie charts and bar graphs with frequencies and percentages. The study found out that 4% of the respondents strongly disagreed that major conflicts arise from cross boarder differences, 14% of the respondents disagreed, 18% of the respondents were undecided, 44% agreed and the remaining 20% of the respondents strongly agreed. This implies that majority of the respondents were of the view that most conflicts in the cornmunfty are caused by cross boarder differences. This has ‘been very common for instance Karamaj ongs often fight with their neighbors over issues of cross borders. The study concludes that the K4rirnojong youth believe that when they raid animals from a rival tribe, they are only taking away what belongs to them. The youth believe that the most practical way to get back what was taken is application of some excess force which in its performative act is considered a rite of passage; to raid means coming of age. The study recommends that there is need for provision of education to all so as to fight the illiteracy levels which proved to be one of the challenges hindering effective implementation of CSOs operations.