THE HISTORY OF STONE WALLS IN LAMWO DISTRICT IN NORTHERN UGANDA (1850 – 2025)
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Date
2026-10-18
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Gulu University
Abstract
The study investigated the historical origins, construction techniques, and symbolic meanings of the stone walls in Lamwo District, Northern Uganda, from 1850 to 2025, addressing a significant gap in the documentation of pre-colonial Acholi architecture. Utilizing a qualitative approach, the study adopted a historical and ethnographic design, combining oral interviews with elders and key informants to capture communal memory and indigenous knowledge. These accounts were validated through archival sources and field observations, including physical measurements and photographic documentation of the stone wall architecture and masonry patterns. The findings revealed that these dry-stone structures, locally known as Gogo, originated as defensive fortifications during the migration of the Palabek and Paloga clans and served as strategic centers during the era of long-distance trade and colonial resistance. The study also detailed a sophisticated indigenous engineering system that utilized interlocking “male” and “female” stones and defensive features such as opiding (portholes), while highlighting the walls’ function as a social picture that reflected chiefdom hierarchies and spiritual boundaries. The study concluded that the walls constituted a vital component of Uganda’s cultural heritage, which challenged colonial narratives of regional stagnation, contributing new knowledge regarding gendered stone classification and indigenous measurement systems. Consequently, the researcher recommended the formal gazetting of these sites for heritage tourism and called for further archaeological dating and conflict resolution regarding clan ownership to ensure the long-term preservation of this living history.
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Keywords
History, Stone Walls, Lamwo District, Northern, Uganda
Citation
Laker Angioleta Katya (2026) The History of Stone Walls in Lamwo District in Northern Uganda (1850 – 2025)