ABSTRACT

The study set out to investigate the role of mass media in the prevention of armed conflicts in Uganda. The study had four objectives: to examine the causes of armed conflicts in Uganda, to examine the forms of human rights abuses in armed conflict, to examine the challenges encountered in ensuring human rights in armed conflict to examine the role of mass media in preventing armed conflicts in Uganda A case study design with both qualitative and quantitative approaches was used in the study that involved a sample of 50 respondents drawn from a study population of 100 respondents among the internally displaced persons and victims of armed conflict from Northern and Western Uganda. The researcher used a time frame of the study which was cross-section. The findings from the study revealed that most armed conflict violates human rights. However, the study showed a highly positive relationship between armed conflict and human rights promotion since armed conflicts violate human rights. The study revealed various forms of human rights violations in war zones which included Genocide and massacre, Sexual violence, War crimes, Torture and detention, Child soldier, Forced Displacement, and Destruction of property Conclusively, the researcher found out that mass media has a positive relationship with armed conflict prevention.. Therefore, as a recommendation to the Human Rights Watch is that they should employ strategic policies of promoting human rights and mitigating armed conflict.