Aringa
Encyclopedia
Aringa is an ethnic group in the northwestern corner of Uganda
, north of Lake Albert. The majority live in the rural areas of Aringa County in Arua District
just south of the Sudan
ese border, and to a lesser extent in other areas of West Nile sub-region
. They are considered the indigenous people of their lands, which was later settled by so-called "Nubians". They speak Aringa language
, a Central Sudanic language
.
Aringa, like the neighboring Kakwa people were blamed by other groups in Uganda for doing Idi Amin
's "dirty work" in the 1970s. Idi Amin was a Kakwa and his vice president Mustafa Adrisi
an Aringa. After the Uganda-Tanzania War
and the demise of Idi Amin's regime in 1979, Aringa were persecuted by the joint Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) and Tanzania People's Defence Force
, leading them to scatter, some to Congo (DRC)
, some to Sudan, and the rest throughout Uganda. Until they began drifting back to their villages eight or ten years later, Aringa county was almost completely depopulated.
When the Tanzanian occupying forces were replaced by UNLA during 1980, the UNLA engaged in brutal reprisals against the local civilian population, who were considered supporters of ex-Amin forces. In late 1980, guerrillas consisting of former Amin forces invaded from southern Sudan and forced some UNLA units out of the West Nile region. They included Uganda National Rescue Front
(UNRF), based principally among the Aringa people, and the Former Uganda National Army (FUNA), based mainly among the Kakwa. This led the UNLA to engage in further reprisals, large-scale destruction of property and massacres in both Arua and Moyo
, leading as many as 500,000 West Nile civilians, including Aringa, to flee to Sudan. Many remained in refugee camps in Sudan until the late 1980s when the National Resistance Army
(NRA) took power in Uganda. In 1987, Sudan People's Liberation Army
(SPLA) rebels attacked and burned the camps, forcing the refugees to flee back to Uganda.
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, north of Lake Albert. The majority live in the rural areas of Aringa County in Arua District
Arua District
Arua District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it shares its name with its administrative center of Arua. The district is named after the town.-Location:...
just south of the Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
ese border, and to a lesser extent in other areas of West Nile sub-region
West Nile sub-region
West Nile sub-region is a region in north-western Uganda that consists of the districts of Adjumani, Arua, Koboko, Maracha-Terego, Moyo, Nebbi and Yumbe...
. They are considered the indigenous people of their lands, which was later settled by so-called "Nubians". They speak Aringa language
Aringa language
Aringa, also known as Low Lugbara, is a Central Sudanic language spoken by the Aringa people in the West Nile region of Uganda. It is related to the language spoken by the Lugbara and Madi peoples....
, a Central Sudanic language
Central Sudanic languages
Starostin notes that the poorly attested language Mimi of Decorse is suggestive of Central Sudanic, though he provisionally treats it as an isolate.-References:...
.
Aringa, like the neighboring Kakwa people were blamed by other groups in Uganda for doing Idi Amin
Idi Amin
Idi Amin Dada was a military leader and President of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. Amin joined the British colonial regiment, the King's African Rifles in 1946. Eventually he held the rank of Major General in the post-colonial Ugandan Army and became its Commander before seizing power in the military...
's "dirty work" in the 1970s. Idi Amin was a Kakwa and his vice president Mustafa Adrisi
Mustafa Adrisi
General Mustafa Adrisi was Vice President of Uganda , and one of president Idi Amin's closest associates. In 1978, after Adrisi was injured in a suspicious auto accident, troops loyal to him mutinied. Amin sent troops against the mutineers, some of whom had fled across the Tanzanian border,...
an Aringa. After the Uganda-Tanzania War
Uganda-Tanzania War
The Uganda–Tanzania War was fought between Uganda and Tanzania in 1978–1979, and led to the overthrow of Idi Amin's regime...
and the demise of Idi Amin's regime in 1979, Aringa were persecuted by the joint Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) and Tanzania People's Defence Force
Tanzania People's Defence Force
The Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Force was set up in September 1964. From its inception, it was ingrained in the troops that they were a people’s force under civilian control. They were always reminded of their difference from the colonial armed forces...
, leading them to scatter, some to Congo (DRC)
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
, some to Sudan, and the rest throughout Uganda. Until they began drifting back to their villages eight or ten years later, Aringa county was almost completely depopulated.
When the Tanzanian occupying forces were replaced by UNLA during 1980, the UNLA engaged in brutal reprisals against the local civilian population, who were considered supporters of ex-Amin forces. In late 1980, guerrillas consisting of former Amin forces invaded from southern Sudan and forced some UNLA units out of the West Nile region. They included Uganda National Rescue Front
Uganda National Rescue Front
The Uganda National Rescue Front , refers to two former armed rebel groups in Uganda's West Nile sub-region that first opposed, then became incorporated into the Ugandan armed forces.-UNRF:...
(UNRF), based principally among the Aringa people, and the Former Uganda National Army (FUNA), based mainly among the Kakwa. This led the UNLA to engage in further reprisals, large-scale destruction of property and massacres in both Arua and Moyo
Moyo District
Moyo District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like many other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Moyo, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
, leading as many as 500,000 West Nile civilians, including Aringa, to flee to Sudan. Many remained in refugee camps in Sudan until the late 1980s when the National Resistance Army
National Resistance Army
The National Resistance Army , the military wing of the National Resistance Movement , was a rebel army that waged a guerrilla war, commonly referred to as the Luwero War or "the war in the bush", against the government of Milton Obote, and later that of Tito Okello.NRA was supported by Muammar...
(NRA) took power in Uganda. In 1987, Sudan People's Liberation Army
Sudan People's Liberation Army
The Sudan People's Liberation Movement is a political party in South Sudan. It was initially founded as a rebel political movement with a military wing known as the Sudan People's Liberation Army estimated at 180,000 soldiers. The SPLM fought in the Second Sudanese Civil War against the Sudanese...
(SPLA) rebels attacked and burned the camps, forcing the refugees to flee back to Uganda.