Who are the 'Lonetia'? Findings from southern Karamoja, Uganda

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Periodical article

Title:	Who are the 'Lonetia'? Findings from southern Karamoja, Uganda
Authors:	Stites, Elizabeth Marshak, Anastasia
Year:	2016
Periodical:	Journal of Modern African Studies (ISSN 0022-278X)
Volume:	54
Issue:	2
Pages:	237-262
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Uganda
Subjects:	adolescents men violence crime
External link:	https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022278X16000021
Abstract:	The increase in crime and violence committed by young men known as 'lonetia' in southern Karamoja, Uganda, has occurred in parallel to overall security improvements since the start of the 2006 disarmament campaign. This article examines the lonetia phenomenon from the perspective of the young men themselves. Panel data from four sets of interviews conducted in 2013 with approximately 400 young men provide details on the motivations of young men and the challenges they experience in the face of changing livelihood opportunities. We find that the lonetia category is highly fluid and that a set of behaviours and attributes correspond with the frequency of engagement in lonetia activity. Examination of seasonality highlights the contribution of hunger to lonetia frequency. We examine the perceptions of power and respect of young men in their communities as well as their propensity towards violence. The article concludes with thoughts on influencing lonetia involvement. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]