Jan Egeland, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, visited northern Uganda on 9 and 10 September, spending a night at a camp for internally displaced persons (IDP). He spoke to IRIN about developments in northern Uganda since his last visit in May.
The biggest change he observed was in security: "All indicators show improvement. There are no abductions, no security incidents. There has probably been more violence from the Karamojongs [northeastern pastoralists] than from the LRA [rebel Lord's Resistance Army] in the past couple of months.
"There is better humanitarian access and coverage. The humanitarian community is really doing better in the north, though we are still behind. There are still very few overnight stays at the camps by humanitarian agencies in northern Uganda. This, however, is changing for the better but it is slower than I would have hoped."
On the peace talks that are continuing in Juba, southern Sudan, Egeland’s next step on his three-nation tour of the region, he said this was the closest to ending the 20-year war that the two sides had ever come. "I think the conflict had reached a stage where there was a mutual stalemate. Both sides want an historic agreement to end this. I think there are many things moving in the right direction and the most important is the cessation of hostilities agreement."
Egeland had spoken to Vincent Otti, the LRA’s deputy commander, who assured him that the LRA leadership was fully committed to a negotiated settlement and an end to the conflict.
"My main concern that I raised with him was that the women and children still being held [by the rebels] should be released. The reason he called was that he knows I am going to Juba. I hope that my presence there can give some new momentum to the peace talks so that things can be speeded up. I will also discuss how the international community can help the talks through the southern Sudan mediation. I want to tell the people at the talks that the issue of settling the conflict is long overdue. I will ask them to try to reach a practical and durable solution to the conflict. I will tell them that I will do what I can to see that we facilitate the talks. We [the UN] have given logistical support to the mediation. We shall step that up."
One unresolved issue is that of the indictments drawn up by the International Criminal Court in The Hague against leaders of the LRA for war crimes and crimes against humanity. They are demanding the indictments be dropped before agreeing a peace deal.
"Everybody knows that they [the LRA] have been involved in a gruesome war. And as such they will be called to account. Even if their indictments were lifted, new ones may come later. There could be other people who could be held responsible for atrocities in Uganda in the past few years, and not only the people in the LRA.
"This has been a long war and of course on the side of the government there have been atrocities too. We are stating the obvious now. I have been active in 12 peace processes and every one has been difficult on issues of justice, reconciliation and peace."
As an alternative to the ICC method, some observers are suggesting that the traditional 'Mato Oput' process of reconciliation be implemented.
"I think traditional justice is very important especially for many others who will come out with blood on their hands. This justice message will be very important for those coming out. It could be good even for the other side. Many of the Acholi people are bitter about how they have been treated by the government side. What I would warn against is that there could be an exchange of goats and drinking of a bitter juice, [but] we somehow go on the edge because of that.
"My very firm position is that there cannot be impunity. But at the same time I am not refusing to talk to Otti. I am bringing up humanitarian issues to stop the killing as the number-one imperative. The number-two imperative is that we want to see women and children out [of rebel captivity]. Third is the need to resettle people and fourth is justice for all, including compensation."
The Ugandan government also had a role: "Our message to them is to stay the course, but also we shall ask them to invest more seriously in northern Uganda. They can really contribute to the peace and reconciliation process by carrying out large-scale social investment in the north and also to be open to discussions of compensation and issues of political influence of the north in general.
"As I try to raise more money from the international community, they [the Ugandan government] need to show that they are devoting more resources to the north. When I meet government officials, I will ask about the US $336 million that was announced recently." On 31 August, the Uganda government announced a three-year $336 million emergency action plan for northern Uganda.
The UN’s role in rehabilitating northern Uganda would be to help returning IDPs. "In our appeal for 2007, we will ask for more money to rebuild local communities where IDPs are returning. We call it quick early recovery. We will invest in agriculture, in vocational training, health, water and sanitation and education. We will try to help the people return home, but we will not discontinue relief to the IDP camps because the return must be voluntary.
"When I met [Ugandan] President Yoweri Museveni, I told him that it would take many months for people to be ready to go home. We think that many will return to catch the next planting season, which is at the beginning of the year. January may see big returns.
"We are putting together the appeal for 2007 and I will launch it with the [UN] Secretary-General [Kofi Annan] at the end of November. Under the running appeal for this year we asked for $253 million, of which we have so far received $187 million. I hope that we will get more than $200 million all together in view of the pledges. It is still small, but more than before."
On his visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo last week, Egeland highlighted the blight of gender violence. "The most cowardly crime of all is the rape and abuse of women and children, which has become rampant in northern Uganda, but is even worse in Congo. The end of the war is the best [way to] cure that. However, we need to have protection for women. What is good in Uganda is that some of the child mothers who have returned from LRA captivity are generally well received by the families and the community.
"In Congo, it is not the case. Very often families reject them - that they are impure. It is important that the local society integrates them and there are many NGOs helping them.
"I met a women’s group and they said they are working for the re-integration of women coming out of the LRA, many of whom are mothers. This crime must be fought in the armies not only in Uganda, but also elsewhere, so that commanders who fail to control their troops [are] held accountable. We have had that same problem of sexual exploitation by peace-keepers in the Congo. Now we do not tolerate that and when you are found, you are immediately sent home and reprimanded."
[See story related story on Democratic Republic of Congo]
vm/mw/eo
The biggest change he observed was in security: "All indicators show improvement. There are no abductions, no security incidents. There has probably been more violence from the Karamojongs [northeastern pastoralists] than from the LRA [rebel Lord's Resistance Army] in the past couple of months.
"There is better humanitarian access and coverage. The humanitarian community is really doing better in the north, though we are still behind. There are still very few overnight stays at the camps by humanitarian agencies in northern Uganda. This, however, is changing for the better but it is slower than I would have hoped."
On the peace talks that are continuing in Juba, southern Sudan, Egeland’s next step on his three-nation tour of the region, he said this was the closest to ending the 20-year war that the two sides had ever come. "I think the conflict had reached a stage where there was a mutual stalemate. Both sides want an historic agreement to end this. I think there are many things moving in the right direction and the most important is the cessation of hostilities agreement."
Egeland had spoken to Vincent Otti, the LRA’s deputy commander, who assured him that the LRA leadership was fully committed to a negotiated settlement and an end to the conflict.
"My main concern that I raised with him was that the women and children still being held [by the rebels] should be released. The reason he called was that he knows I am going to Juba. I hope that my presence there can give some new momentum to the peace talks so that things can be speeded up. I will also discuss how the international community can help the talks through the southern Sudan mediation. I want to tell the people at the talks that the issue of settling the conflict is long overdue. I will ask them to try to reach a practical and durable solution to the conflict. I will tell them that I will do what I can to see that we facilitate the talks. We [the UN] have given logistical support to the mediation. We shall step that up."
One unresolved issue is that of the indictments drawn up by the International Criminal Court in The Hague against leaders of the LRA for war crimes and crimes against humanity. They are demanding the indictments be dropped before agreeing a peace deal.
"Everybody knows that they [the LRA] have been involved in a gruesome war. And as such they will be called to account. Even if their indictments were lifted, new ones may come later. There could be other people who could be held responsible for atrocities in Uganda in the past few years, and not only the people in the LRA.
"This has been a long war and of course on the side of the government there have been atrocities too. We are stating the obvious now. I have been active in 12 peace processes and every one has been difficult on issues of justice, reconciliation and peace."
As an alternative to the ICC method, some observers are suggesting that the traditional 'Mato Oput' process of reconciliation be implemented.
"I think traditional justice is very important especially for many others who will come out with blood on their hands. This justice message will be very important for those coming out. It could be good even for the other side. Many of the Acholi people are bitter about how they have been treated by the government side. What I would warn against is that there could be an exchange of goats and drinking of a bitter juice, [but] we somehow go on the edge because of that.
"My very firm position is that there cannot be impunity. But at the same time I am not refusing to talk to Otti. I am bringing up humanitarian issues to stop the killing as the number-one imperative. The number-two imperative is that we want to see women and children out [of rebel captivity]. Third is the need to resettle people and fourth is justice for all, including compensation."
The Ugandan government also had a role: "Our message to them is to stay the course, but also we shall ask them to invest more seriously in northern Uganda. They can really contribute to the peace and reconciliation process by carrying out large-scale social investment in the north and also to be open to discussions of compensation and issues of political influence of the north in general.
"As I try to raise more money from the international community, they [the Ugandan government] need to show that they are devoting more resources to the north. When I meet government officials, I will ask about the US $336 million that was announced recently." On 31 August, the Uganda government announced a three-year $336 million emergency action plan for northern Uganda.
The UN’s role in rehabilitating northern Uganda would be to help returning IDPs. "In our appeal for 2007, we will ask for more money to rebuild local communities where IDPs are returning. We call it quick early recovery. We will invest in agriculture, in vocational training, health, water and sanitation and education. We will try to help the people return home, but we will not discontinue relief to the IDP camps because the return must be voluntary.
"When I met [Ugandan] President Yoweri Museveni, I told him that it would take many months for people to be ready to go home. We think that many will return to catch the next planting season, which is at the beginning of the year. January may see big returns.
"We are putting together the appeal for 2007 and I will launch it with the [UN] Secretary-General [Kofi Annan] at the end of November. Under the running appeal for this year we asked for $253 million, of which we have so far received $187 million. I hope that we will get more than $200 million all together in view of the pledges. It is still small, but more than before."
On his visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo last week, Egeland highlighted the blight of gender violence. "The most cowardly crime of all is the rape and abuse of women and children, which has become rampant in northern Uganda, but is even worse in Congo. The end of the war is the best [way to] cure that. However, we need to have protection for women. What is good in Uganda is that some of the child mothers who have returned from LRA captivity are generally well received by the families and the community.
"In Congo, it is not the case. Very often families reject them - that they are impure. It is important that the local society integrates them and there are many NGOs helping them.
"I met a women’s group and they said they are working for the re-integration of women coming out of the LRA, many of whom are mothers. This crime must be fought in the armies not only in Uganda, but also elsewhere, so that commanders who fail to control their troops [are] held accountable. We have had that same problem of sexual exploitation by peace-keepers in the Congo. Now we do not tolerate that and when you are found, you are immediately sent home and reprimanded."
[See story related story on Democratic Republic of Congo]
vm/mw/eo
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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