NORTHERN UGANDA NOTES (MAY 3-30, 2008)

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KAMPALA 000735 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT PASS TO USAID AND OFDA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREF ASEC EAID UG SU CG SUBJECT: NORTHERN UGANDA NOTES (MAY 3-30, 2008) ¶1. (U) Summary: The following Northern Uganda Notes provide 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. (U) LRA leader Joseph Kony failed to appear for a meeting at Rikwangba, southern Sudan with northern elders and legal experts on May 10. In a statement on May 13, Northern elders condemned the diaspora who they claim were working against the peace. Kony allegedly wrote a letter dated May 19 removing hopes for a negotiation. The message, written in Luo was delivered to Martin Aliker, a Senior Presidential Advisor through a trusted intermediary. Kony said he was not ready to sign the agreement because he feared he would be hanged by a court in Europe or in Uganda. In the letter, Kony vowed to continue fighting rather than to surrender and get killed. A member of the GOU peace delegation said they have not received Kony's communication and that the final agreement remained available for him to sign. Post has not been able to authenticate the letter. ¶3. (U) On May 6 and 7, legal experts explained the provisions for justice and accountability to northern leaders who were to meet Kony on May 10. The major issues discussed included the traditional justice system (mato oput) and the Special Division of the High Court to be set up to try the rebels for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The GOU has not renewed the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, which expired on April 10. On May 22, Principal Judge Justice James Ogoola appointed Dan Akiiki Kizza to head the War Crimes Court, which would handle a trial of top LRA commanders implicated in crimes against humanity. Two other judges were appointed on the war court including Justice Eldad Mwangusya and Justice Ibanda Nahamanya. Justice Ogoola said a team from the High Court was working out the appropriate structures, personnel, and tools that would be required. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶4. (U) IDP returns continue at a slow pace across the Acholi sub-region. The latest UN population movement statistics from March 2008 show 12 per cent of IDPs have returned home, 36 percent of the IDPs have moved to sites closer to their homes in order to better access land, and 52 percent of the population remains in the camps. IDPs have voiced apprehension over Kony's refusal to sign a final peace agreement, but it does not appear to be adversely affecting the return process. Local leaders continue to support de-linking the peace process from return and recovery. ¶5. (U) UNHCR reports increasing incidents of forced eviction by landlord's who have been hosting the IDPs. Landlords are levying rent on IDPs remaining in camps in greater numbers, and pushing IDPs out who refuse to pay. It is important to note that levying rent in camps is not a new trend; many IDPs have been paying some low level of rent. However, there had always been a great deal of leniency. There is concern that more vulnerable households will be pushed to more marginal areas. Currently, good statistics on the magnitude of forced eviction are not available. Thuggery and theft are also reported on the increase in both return areas and camps. ¶6. (U) WFP and FAO continue to report that over 80 percent of the population has access to up to four acres of land, and the trend towards improved household food security continues. Direct distribution of agricultural inputs such as seeds and tools were required in only a few targeted area. The focus of food security interventions was shifting to farmer-based seed selection and storage for future seasons; strengthening local seed systems (versus direct distributions); and strengthening animal health care capacity. ¶7. (U) On May 20, Gulu District Disaster Management Chairman Charles Uma announced there would be no more emergency relief supplies for the IDPs. He explained that the security situation had improved and that many people were returning to their homes. He encouraged the communities to plan to be self sustaining. ¶8. (U) UNOCHA reports the Humanitarian Consolidated Appeal (CAP) for 2008 is 31 percent funded, and aid agencies and government officials report that emerging humanitarian activities in the north are being curtailed because of the decline in funding and rising food costs. Some of the decline might also be attributed to increases in recovery and development assistance that are not well tracked through CAP. In May, UNOCHA piloted an Integrated Assessment Tool to aid the community and local government's decisions on camp phase out. The tool covers health, education, water and sanitation, livelihoods, shelter, agriculture and food security and security (risk of mines and presence of civilian police). The first assessment was completed in Lalogi sub-county, Gulu District and will soon be rolled out in other areas. -------------- USG Activities: -------------- ¶9. (U) Extension of basic services such as education, healthcare and access to safe water, to return areas remained a concern. Humanitarian agencies and the GOU continue to report high numbers of children remaining in camps to access schools. Districts in the Acholi sub-region have prioritized the "return" of primary schools; however, the teacher:student ratio remains critically low. USAID, in conjunction with the Ministry of Education (MOE),supports in-service training, a recruitment incentive for hardship areas, and is looking at ways to help communities build teacher housing. USAID/OFDA is rehabilitating and constructing latrines at schools in return areas, and increasing hygiene education. This promotes girls participation in education as well as the return process. ¶10. (U) Hepatitis E continues to spread in Kitgum District. WHO reports 1991 cases to date. USAID/OFDA partners are increasing latrine coverage and hygiene promotion in the affected areas, promotion in the affected areas, and CDC deployed a team May 30. On Friday May 30, USAID/OFDA traveled to Hepatitis E affected areas in Kitgum district. Mortality rates are below emergency levels. However, due to low latrine coverage and poor sanitation the disease continues to spread. WHO reports a total of 1991 cases since the outbreak began in October 2007. USAID/OFDA partners IRC and AVIS are increasing water and sanitation activities in affected areas. USAID/OFDA recommends further support of these activities. On June 1, a CDC team arrived in Kitgum district to provide support to the MOHR. - - - - - - - - SECURITY UPDATE - - - - - - - - ¶11. (U) Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported on May 19 that the LRA had carried out more than 100 abductions in the Central African Republic (CAR),Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan since February. HRW said the captured boys are made to act as porters or are subjected to military training. The girls are allegedly used as sex slaves. HRW appealed to the international community to end the spree of new LRA abductions and sexual violence, and to execute arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the group's leaders. ¶12. (U) On May 20, armed LRA rebels reportedly invaded Kapili village, 75 kilometers northwest of Dungu, eastern DRC and displaced the entire population. An unspecified number of people were abducted. According to the Justice and Peace Commission of the Dungu Diocese, the rebels looted property and occupied houses that were left behind by fleeing Congolese villagers. Meanwhile, on May 25, the ICC said it was investigating the alleged abductions and attacks. ¶13. (U) A May report released by the Civil Society Organizations for Peace in Northern Uganda recommended that all former LRA rebels and persons holding illegal guns should be disarmed in order to achieve total peace in the region. The coalition of 77 local and international NGOs cautioned that the recovered weapons should be well documented, stored or destroyed. ¶14. (U) There were reports that the risk of unexploded devices was slowing down the return of IDPs to their homes. Seven children were killed in an explosion in the north mid-May. The army said the explosion was caused by a cluster bomb. Meanwhile, the killing of Local Council Chairman of Okede village, in Adilang Sub County, by Karamojong warriors, prompted IDPs, who had returned to their villages on the border with Karamoja region, to threaten to return to the camps, if the army did not deploy to protect them. -- - - - - - - - - - - - - FROM THE MEDIA AND THE WEB - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶15. (U) In a press statement released on May 26, the ICC appealed to the international community to put a stop to aid supplies to the LRA, in order to put a squeeze on its leader Joseph Kony. Media reports said the ICC was encouraging efforts to capture Kony. The ICC Registrar, Sivan Arbia was reportedly in Uganda to discuss the indictments and prosecution of Kony. ¶16. (U) On May 6 the leader of the LRA delegation, James Obita refuted media reports that Kony had been injured during clashes with his troops. He also dismissed talk that Kony had killed his current Deputy, ICC-indictee Okot Odhiambo. BROWNING