Gulu
| Gulu | |
|---|---|
| Municipality | |
 Gulu
|
|
| Coordinates: 02°46′54″N 32°17′57″E / 2.78167°N 32.29917°E | |
| Country |
 Uganda
|
| Region | Northern Uganda |
| Sub-region | Acholi sub-region |
| District | Gulu District |
| Elevation | 1,100 m (3,600 ft) |
| Population (2014 Census) | |
| • Total | 152,276 |
Gulu is a city in Northern Uganda. It is the commercial and administrative centre of Gulu District. The coordinates of Gulu Municipality are: 2°46'54.0"N 32°17'57.0"E. The distance from Gulu to Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city, is approximately 340 kilometres (210 mi) by road. The town is served by Gulu Airport and a railway line.
During British colonial rule in the 18th and 19th centuries, northern Uganda was less developed than the rest of the country. The people were conscripted into the army and the police, as a source for the security. Many were sent to fight in the First World War and in the Second World War.
Uganda gained independence in 1962, but this did not improve the situation for the people in the north.
Several rebel groups were formed by the end of 1986. However, these rebel groups were ex soldiers, i.e., the UNLA from the government prior to Museveni. By 1987 most of these rebels had joined Museveni's force. Then came another rebel group led by Alice "Lakwena" Auma from 1988 to 1989. The Lord's Resistance Army sprang up in the 1990s after Alice Lakwena left Uganda and went to Kenya. The LRA became increasing violent in Gulu and the surrounding communities. The UPDF government army has equally been accused of brutality against the civilian population.
In 1996 the Ugandan government ordered all civilians to relocate to internally displaced person (IDP) camps. Several campaigns, such as Stop the Genocide in Northern Uganda StGiNU, demanded the immediate closure of the "concentration camps" in the north of the country. Since the spring of 2007, there has been relative peace due to international pressure calling for the Ugandan government to stop the war and to reach a peace agreement with the LRA leader Joseph Kony. Furthermore, the power of the Lord's Resistance Army to terrorize and intimidate has dramatically been reduced due to a gradual whittling away of their power. The LRA became a much less significant threat, killing 39 in 2012, and being hunted by a 2500 strong force.
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