- 50 PER CENT OF ACHOLI IDPS NOW IN TRANSIT SITES OR VILLAGES OF ORIGIN

- FOOD SECURITY WORSENING AS PROLONGED DRY SPELL CONTINUES IN KARAMOJA, TESO REGIONS

- FORCED EVICTIONS REPORTED IN ACHOLI, TESO SUB-REGIONS; GULU DDMC CONDEMNS BREACH OF NATIONAL IDP POLICY

- HEPATITIS E EPIDEMIC UNCONTAINED IN KITGUM, THREATENS TO SPREAD TO NEIGHBOURING DISTRICTS

II. SECURITY AND ACCESS

SECURITY

In northern Uganda, general calm prevailed, with no reports of activity by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). A significant improvement in the security situation in Amuria and Katakwi Districts (Teso sub-region) has prevailed over the past two months, although a few incidents involving illegally-armed Karimojong continue to be reported. Kitgum and Pader Districts have similarly reported a decline in incidents related to aggressive Karimojong activities.

In the Karamoja region, the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) reported 21 raids occurred during the month, one of which was cross-border raid from the Turkana region of Kenya into Kaabong District. The Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) conducted 12 cordon-and-search operations, recovering 11 guns. UPDF sources report a total of 123 guns collected during the month. Additionally, one attempted ambush was reported in the region, on a vehicle travelling from Kotido to Kaabong districts. No injuries were reported. Notably, this is the only attempted ambush since February 2008.

In terms of regional security, tensions seemed to rise over perceived border disputes with both the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda during the month. On 3 May, Congolese security forces reportedly assumed control over a disputed piece of land on the border in the West Nile region (Arua District). Military officials from countries worked to defuse the situation and President Museveni met with the Congolese President Joseph Kabila in Tanzania on 11 May. In the southwest, Rwandan troops were reported to have deployed three to five kilometres from the common border with Uganda in mid-May. Press reports also indicated that a Rwandan helicopter gunship had violated Ugandan airspace. By the end of the month, the Rwandan Army had reportedly begun to withdraw its troops from the border area, presumably following talks between the two countries.

Additionally, more than a dozen alleged armed Congolese rebels were reportedly arrested after entering the country illegally in mid-May, while two persons believed to be associated with the forces of Congolese dissident General Laurent Nkunda were killed in a confrontation with the UPDF in Kisoro District.

ACCESS

Road conditions are worsening across the Acholi sub-region with continued rainfall and inadequate maintenance.