DOI: 10.36347/sjahss.2014.v02i05.014

Pages: 687-693

Gender refers to the cultural and social distinctions between male and female. These include the different attributes, statuses, roles, responsibilities, opportunities and privileges accorded to women and men as well as their access to and control over resources and benefits. In African Traditional society women were looked at as mothers. As such they were seen as co-creators of life with God. Hence they were not supposed to get involved in wars instead they were expected to play the role of reconciling warring parties. There is a good example among the Lugbara of Northern Uganda. However, both men and women in traditional societies in Uganda treasured living in peace and harmony. This meant being at peace with those around them, with God the creator, their ancestors as well as the entire spiritual world. But when war broke out in Northern Uganda, the rebels of Joseph Kony abducted both men and women and recruited them in waging war against the government troops as well as the civilians. Many women played an important role in bringing peace and reconciliation in Northern Uganda and Uganda as a whole. They have done this in different areas, such as being involved in the negotiations, sensitizing people about harmonious living from childhood to adulthood. Women like Betty Bigombe, Angelina Acheng Atyam and many others played a vital role in peace-building in Northern Uganda. The government of Uganda also played an important role in seeing to it that peace returns to the country.