NORTHERN UGANDA NOTES (July 1-14, 2007)

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KAMPALA 001160 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT PASS TO USAID AND OFDA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREF PREL MOPS ASEC CASC EAID UG SU SUBJECT: NORTHERN UGANDA NOTES (July 1-14, 2007) ¶1. (U) Summary: The following Northern Uganda Notes provides information on the situation on the ground and USG activities aimed at meeting Mission's objectives in northern Uganda. These objectives include promoting regional stability through peace and security, good governance, access to social services, economic growth, and humanitarian assistance. Post appreciates feedback from consumers on the utility of this product and any gaps in information that need to be filled. End Summary. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - PEACE AND RECONCILIATION PROCESSES - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶2. (SBU) The negotiators are in recess until next month while the Government of Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) consult with stakeholders. Minister of Internal Affairs, Ruhakana Rugunda, publicly invited the LRA to join in on the consultations with stakeholders in northern Uganda. The GOU also plans to bring together Uganda's top lawyers to devise a concrete mechanism that addresses the needs for justice, accountability, and reconciliation. At the GOU's request, the USG and other donors are looking for ways to support the consultation process. ¶3. (SBU) USG Activities: Ambassador Browning and USAID Director Margot Ellis traveled with a Senate Foreign Relations Committee staffer and an Armed Services Committee staffer to northern Uganda from July 4-6. During the visit, the staffers examined bilateral and military relations, the peace process, health and development issues, President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS relief (PEPFAR), counterterrorism and special operations efforts, and the establishment of the Africa Command (AFRICOM). On June 19, USAID released a draft Statement of Work (SOW) titled, "Stability, Peace, and Reconciliation in Northern uGanda (SPRING). The issuance of the draft SOW was designed to get comments and suggestions from firms, organizations, experts in the subject matter, and other interested parties. SPRING's objective is to reduce current conflict, prevent the escalation of social, economic and political tensions and strengthen institutions for the promotion of peace and reconciliation. SPRING will support a set of activities in three basic areas: (1) Peace-building and reconciliation; (2) Economic security and social inclusion; and (3) Access to justice. The �00A;deadline for submission of written comments is July 13, 2007. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶4. (SBU) USG Activities: CJTF HOA has received approval to build and repair several secondary schools in Pader, Lira, and Kitgum districts and a pediatric ward at Kitgum District Referral Hospital. Since October 2006, CJTF HOA has repaired 25 boreholes and is in the process of drilling an estimated 50 new ones. "Seabees", the CJTF HOA Naval Construction unit, conducted a pre-deployment site survey of Aromo bridge and culvert in Lira district. Their mission is to prevent conflict, promote stability and protect coalition within those three districts. They are successfully performing with borehole repairs, new borehole drilling, and construction and rehabilitation of schools and clinics. They hope to begin repairing the bridge in late September or early October, working with the Uganda People's Defense Force and Lira district's engineers. The project remains on schedule. ¶5. (SBU) Other: The latest monthly meeting of the Government of Uganda's Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) for the Emergency Humanitarian Action Plan for LRA-affected areas was held on June 29. The JMC continues to enhance accountability and communications between the central government, local authorities, and development partners. The JMC has been extended for an additional three months until end- September. During the extension, the primary focus will be on strengthened security through the continued deployment of police, and security and emergency roads. It was noted that even after JMC ends, the needs for humanitarian assistance will continue. Also, an alternative monitoring mechanism will be put in place for the Peace, Recovery and Development Plan (PRDP) to deal with humanitarian, transition, recovery and development efforts in northern Uganda. - - - - - - - - SECURITY UPDATE - - - - - - - - ¶6. (SBU) USG Activities: A community policing and integrated KAMPALA 00001160 002 OF 002 administration of justice pilot project funded by USAID and State/INL is starting up in Lira district. Trainers from the Department of Justice International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) note that police and other justice, law and order institutions in northern Uganda are facing difficulties due to the lack of essential supplies and equipment in the offices and courts. The absence of computers and communications hinders the ability of the police to re-establish a functioning civilian police system. They also lack transportation for both officers and investigators. There are only two motorcycles and one vehicle provided for the entire Lira district. The conditions of the offices are difficult due to water and termite damage. Poor communication reduces the ability of the police to respond in a timely manner to incidents and is a huge safety issue. On a more positive note, a conference of local residents was held to discuss the community justice project. - - - - - - - - - - - - - IN THE MEDIA AND THE WEB - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶7. (U) Human Rights Watch issued a statement on July 9 welcoming the provision for trials in the June 29 agreement between Uganda and the LRA, but cautioning that adequate penalties are needed. "If national courts handed down a slap-on-the-wrist sentence in the event of convictions for the most serious crimes ... such trials would be tainted even if they were otherwise fair and credible," commented Richard Dicker, International Justice Program Director at Human Rights Watch. ¶8. (U) Human Rights Watch also pointed out that although the International Criminal Court favors national trials, "a case can be returned to the ICC if it does not meet benchmarks for national prosecution." The ICC issued arrest warrants for LRA leaders for crimes against humanity and war crimes in 2005. BROWNING