NORTHERN UGANDA
Two decades of armed conflict between the Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF) and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) have perpetuated a complex humanitarian situation in northern Uganda's Acholi (Amuru, Gulu, Kitgum and Pader Districts) and Lango sub-regions (Apac, Amolatar, Dokolo, Lira and Oyam), marked by violence, poverty and the internal displacement of more than 1.5 million people. Children and women represent 80% of internally displaced persons (IDP), and have been the direct targets of attacks, sexual violence and abductions perpetuated by the LRA and others. The right of access to essential services in health, nutrition, safe water, education, protection and shelter by the most vulnerable populations in the most disadvantaged parts of the districts remains largely unfulfilled. (1)
Ongoing negotiations between the Government of Uganda and LRA, based on their Cessation of Hostilities Agreement mediated by the Southern Sudan government, hold the promise of an increasingly secure environment in which return, rehabilitation and recovery would be enabled. At the time of this report, however, neither large-scale returns of IDPs nor the official release of children and women associated with the LRA - estimated to number as high as 1,500 - has occurred. While the reporting period witnessed continued IDP population movements from camps to new settlement sites and areas of origin, in those parts of Acholi and Lango sub-regions less acutely affected by the conflict, assessments by humanitarian organisations in almost all rural areas of return indicate a stark lack of infrastructure.
NORTHEASTERN UGANDA
Humanitarian indicators in the northeastern Karamoja sub-region, comprising Abim, Kaabong, Kotido, Moroto and Nakapiripirit Districts, remain persistently lower than national averages as the sub-region continues to experience an endemic conflict and banditry involving the agro-pastoralist Karamajong population, as well as Turkana populations (from Kenya and neighbouring districts) on occasion.
The sub-region in 2007 has faced severe food insecurity crises due to a poor harvest last year and the late onset of rains (end-May instead of early-February), leading to more than half the population (500,000 out of 900,000) reliant on external humanitarian assistance.
Following the Government's resumption in May 2006 of a forced disarmament programme to address insecurity created by the illegal possession of firearms by some Karamojong members, security conditions have deteriorated particularly in parts of Kotido, Kaabong and Abim which continue to witness armed confrontations between the UPDF and Karamojong warriors. Such hostilities have had a pronounced impact of civilian casualties, internal displacement and a pattern of out-migration to neighbouring districts as well as major urban centres. More recently, despite indications of better community relations and a gradual reduction in insecurity, incidents of banditry and individual killings have continued.
Note:
(1) See map, page 11.